Before they could begin to search for him however, Melkor came forth from Utumno with sudden war, and cast down the Lamps. Decay arose in the North, and the Valar thus knew that Melkor had returned. To defend it he raised the Iron Mountains as a ring around the north. During this time, Melkor re-entered Arda with the various Maiar spirits who had attuned themselves to his music, and delved a mighty fortress at the very north-most part of the World and named it Utumno. To give light to the world, they constructed two Great Lamps in Middle-earth and set their place of dwelling in the midst of them. Melkor fled before him, and left Arda for a time.Īfter Melkor's departure, the Valar managed to quiet the tumults of the world, and set about ordering it in preparation for the coming of the Elves. Fortunately for them, the mighty Vala Tulkas eventually descended to Arda, and his strength tipped the balance in favor of the Valar. During this time, Arda was kept essentially shapeless, as Melkor ruined virtually every early work that the other Valar attempted to create. For a long while, Melkor fought alone against the might of all the other Valar and Maiar of Arda, and he long held the upper hand. Whenever the Valar worked to better the world, Melkor disrupted their efforts. Bitter, Melkor set himself against the other Valar. However, the other Valar took Manwë to be their lord, for while Manwë was not nearly so powerful as Melkor, he understood the thought of Eru better than any of his peers. When the Valar entered into Arda and began to shape the unwrought matter, Melkor saw the Field of Arda and claimed it for his own. Melkor then took in the interest of the World and descended to it with the other Valar. Thus when the Music was made incarnate as Arda, it was already flawed through the Discord, and immoderate heat and great cold stalked it. This rebuke shamed Melkor, but brought on anger in him as well, though he hid it. As such, even the Discord redounded in the end to the glory of Eru's work. When Eru brought the Music to an end, he rebuked Melkor, praising his strength but reminding him that, as an aspect of his creator's thought, anything that he could bring into being ultimately had its source within Eru himself. The Third was the theme of Elves and Men, and while it was not overwhelmed by the Discord as the Second theme was, it too failed to correct it. But Melkor succeeded in holding back the Second theme, of which Manwë was the chief instrument. To correct the Discord, Eru introduced a Second, and then a Third Theme into the music. Some of those nearby attuned their music to his, until two musical themes were warring before the Throne. When the Ainur sang the Great Music before Eru, he wove some of these alien thoughts into his music, and straightaway Discord arose around him. Melkor (front) weaves his music with Eru's It was during these lonesome periods that he began to have ideas and thoughts of his own that were not in accordance with his fellow Ainur. He continued to search, however, and as such was often alone and apart from his fellow Ainur. But the Flame was of Ilúvatar and resided with him, and Melkor never discovered it. Impatient with the emptiness of the Void outside the Timeless Halls, and desiring to create things of his own, he often entered the Void seeking the Flame Imperishable. Melkor was created by Eru Ilúvatar in the Timeless Halls at the beginning of creation he was greater in power and knowledge than the other Ainur.
As punishment, he was banished from of Arda into the Void, though it was prophesied he would one day return. After committing many evils across the First Age and preceding eras, such as the theft of the Silmarils which resulted in his name Morgoth, and the destruction of the Two Lamps and the Two Trees of Valinor, Morgoth was defeated by the Host of Valinor in the War of Wrath. Originally the most powerful of the Ainur created by Eru Ilúvatar, Melkor rebelled against his creator out of pride and sought to corrupt Arda. Melkor ( Quenya "He who arises in might"), predominantly known as Morgoth ( Sindarin "Black Foe of the World"), was the first Dark Lord, and the primordial source of evil in Eä.
They shall die without hope, cursing both life and death." - Morgoth to Húrin, The Children of Húrin Whatsoever they do shall turn against them. Whenever they speak, their words shall bring ill counsel. But upon all whom you love my thought shall weigh as a cloud of Doom, and it shall bring them down into darkness and despair.
The shadow of my purpose lies upon Arda, and all that is in it bends slowly and surely to my will. Valar, Aratar (earlier) " I am the Elder King: Melkor, first and mightiest of the Valar, who was before the world, and made it.