40 days to the release of
Return of the King!
Friday Fact:
In the Two Towers film, Arwen says "May the Valar protect you". The Valar are the first and most powerful creations of Iluvatar, called Eru (the One). They are god like, but it might be more accurate to call them arch-angels; they can shape creation and Middle Earth, but they cannot create new life entirely by themselves. There were fourteen Vala who became deeply involved in Middle Earth: Manwe, whose province is the winds and airs (the eagles are his particular servants); Varda, called Elbereth, most beloved of the elves, whose province is the stars; Ulmo, whose province is the ocean and all waters; Aule, whose province is "all the substances of which [Middle Earth] is made", ie earth, stone, gems, etc, and who asked Eru to create the dwarves who are most deeply tied to the earth; Yavanna, "Giver of Fruits", whose province is all growing things, from trees to moss, and who asked Eru to create the Ents to help protect her beloved trees; Namo, called Mandos, the keeper of the Houses of the Dead, and the Doomsman of the Valar; Vaire the weaver, "who weaves all things that have ever been in Time into her storied webs"; Irmo, called Lorien, master of visions and dreams; Este, healer of hurts and weariness; Nienna, who "is acquainted with greif", she brings "strength to the spirit and turns sorrow to wisdom"; Tulkas the Valiant, strongest and fleetest of the Valar, delighting in "deeds of prowess" and "contests of strength"; Nessa, almost as fast as Tulkas, she loves the deer but can still outrun them, and she loves to dance; Orome, who hunts monsters and fell beasts, and who led the elves to Valinor; and Vana the Ever-Young, all flowers "open if she glances upon them, and all birds sing at her coming." There was also Melkor, called Morgoth, who fell from grace and became a force of evil in Middle Earth. The other Valar strive ever against him and his works.
(Source: The Valaquenta, from the Silmarillion.)
I promise, next week's fact will be shorter again!
8:23:40 AM 
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