Editing Valinor (section)

===Years of the Trees===

[[File:Arda in the Years of the Trees.svg|thumb|upright=2|Valinor in the Years of the Trees, lit by the [[Two Trees of Valinor|Two Trees]]; the rest of Arda, including [[Middle-earth]], lay in darkness. The outlines of the continents are purely schematic.]]

{{further|Two Trees of Valinor}}

Valinor is first established on the western continent Aman when Melkor (a Vala later named Morgoth, "the black foe", by the Elves) destroys the Valar's original home on the island Almaren in primeval Middle-earth, ending the [[Years of the Lamps]].<ref name="Of the Beginning of Days" group=T/> To defend their new home from attack, they raise the Pelóri Mountains.<ref name="Of the Beginning of Days" group=T/> They also establish Valimar, the future dwelling place of many of Aman’s Elven residents, such as the Vanyar,  a more major the radiant Two Trees, and their dwelling-places.<ref name="Of the Beginning of Days" group=T/><ref name="Of Aulë and Yavanna" group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1977|loc=ch. 2 "Of Aulë and Yavanna"}}</ref> Valinor is said to surpass Almaren in beauty.<ref name="Of the Beginning of Days" group=T/> Later, the Valar hear of the [[Elf (Middle-earth)#Origins|awakening of the Elves]] in Middle-earth, where Melkor is unopposed. They propose to bring the Elves to the safety of Valinor, but to do that, they need to get Melkor out of the way. A war is fought, and Melkor's stronghold Utumno is destroyed. Then, many Elves come to Valinor, and establish their cities Tirion and Alqualondë, beginning Valinor's age of glory. Melkor comes back to Valinor as a prisoner, and after three Ages is brought before the Valar; he sues for pardon, vowing to assist the Valar and make amends for the hurts he has done. Manwë grants him pardon, but confines him within Valmar to remain under watch.<ref name="Of the Coming of the Elves and the Captivity of Melkor" group=T/> After his release, Melkor starts planting seeds of dissent in the minds of the Elves, including between Fëanor and his brothers [[Fingolfin]] and Finarfin. Fëanor uses some of the light of the Two Trees to forge the three [[Silmarils]], beautiful, unmarrable, and irreplaceable jewels.<ref name="Of the Silmarils and the Unrest of the Noldor" group=T/>