The Lament of Lúthien, Part 3

Part 1, Part 2

Now settled in their new home, the Valar gather in the central plain of Aman and construct Valmar—the City of Many Bells. To the west of the city on the hill of Ezellohar, Yavanna and Nienna display their powers of creation as the Two Trees of Valinor are brought forth from the earth. This ushers in the Years of the Trees—also called the Days of Bliss—a time of great prosperity in Valinor for the Valar and for the Elves in the distant future.

There in the center of the plain
the holy city’s stones were lain.
As Valmar’s bells began to toll
the Valar gathered o’er the knoll—
Ezellohar, the sacred mound.
For there did fair Yavanna sound
a hymn of beauty and of woe
that echoed in the earth below
with whispers of the primal song
the Ainur wove with Eru, long
before they came unto the earth—
before the hour of Arda’s birth.

But as the chanting filled the air,
Nienna offered up a prayer.
She, silent, wept upon the mound;
her tears began to soak the ground.
Yet seated on their golden thrones
the Valar watched as there arose
two slender shoots, silver and gold—
while remnants of the lamps of old
were woven subtly in the lay
that heralded the coming day.

For as the trees grew taller still
o’ershadowing the hallowed hill,
their branches then began to flower
in answer to the ancient power
within Yavanna’s sacred song.
And light began to shine erelong:
the first to shed its glow upon
Valinor was Telperion—
the elder tree. His silver light
emerged against the blackest night
and as it waxed throughout the realm
all life within Aman was whelmed
beneath his ivory branches. Green
and dusky were his shimm’ring leaves;
but white and silver were the hue
that poured forth from the luminous dew.

As aeons passed his light then waned,
but all the Valar stayed their gaze
and lo! As silver tree grew dim
his gilded sister stirred within.
For in that hour of twilight
a silver and a golden light
were mingled ‘neath the starry sky.
Awestruck, Queen Varda could but sigh
while witnessing that virgin dawn—
Laurelin’s blaze descended on
the holy realm. Her amber rays
heralded that the coming days
would be forever blessed so long
as the two trees—resplendent, strong,
and steadfast—stood defiantly.
So began the Years of the Trees.

Glossary

Ezellohar

A hill located in the center of Valinor, to the west of Valmar. It became the location of the Two Trees.

Laurelin

The Golden Tree of Valinor; brought into existence by Yavanna and Nienna. Her bright green leaves were trimmed with gold, and flowers grew in her branches that appeared as yellow flames. She bathed the land of Aman in warmth and light.

Nienna

Counted among the greatest of the Valar, she was known as the Lady of Pity and Mourning. She imparts great wisdom and courage to the grieving who seek her comfort.

Telperion

The Silver Tree of Valinor; brought into existence by Yavanna and Nienna. He was the first to bloom and the elder of the two trees. His leaves were a darker shade of green compared to Laurelin and were silver underneath. Shining, silver dew fell in drops from the flowers in his branches.

Valmar

The City of Many Bells—the dwelling of a portion of the Valar and the Maiar.

Varda

Varda Elentári—Queen of the Valar—also known as Elbereth Gilthoniel, whom the Elves praise in song and Samwise invokes as he clutches the Vial of Galadriel in The Lord of the Rings. Having control over light, she placed the stars in the sky and gave the Two Lamps their radiance during the Spring of Arda. After the creation of the Two Trees, she collected the light that fell to the ground in great wells at the base of Ezellohar.

Yavanna

Yavanna Kementári—Queen of the Earth and Giver of Fruits. She held dominion over all growing things—plantlife and vegetation—and planted countless seeds throughout Arda. The Two Trees are her greatest creations, and perhaps the greatest of any of the Valar.