War of the Powers
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| Previous war: First War with Melkor | |
| Next war: Wars of Beleriand | |
| War for Sake of the Elves | |
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| File:Primordial lightning.jpg | |
| Beginning: VY 1090 | End: VY 1100 |
| Place: North of Aman, northwest Middle Earth | |
| Outcome: Decisive victory for the Valar, Downfall and Chaining of Melkor | |
| Major battles: Battle of the Powers,Siege of Utumno | |
| Combatants | |
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Valarian forces of Aman |
Melkor and his servants |
| Commanders | |
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File:FirstdawnoftheSun Taniquetil cropped-TNasmith.jpg Oromë | |
The War for Sake of the Elves was fought by the Valar, under orders from Manwë, the Elder King, against Melkor to liberate the newly-awakened Elves from his influence. It culminated in the near-apocalyptic Siege of Utumno, where Melkor was captured, enchained, and imprisoned for three ages of the world.
Prelude
After the Fall of the Two Lamps, the Valar held council among themselves and spoke of the message they had received from Eru Ilúvatar of his coming children, the ElvesTemplate:Ref. Yavanna spoke among them and said:
- "Ye mighty of Arda, the vision of Ilúvatar was brief and soon taken away, so that maybe cannot guess within a narrow count of days the hour appointed. Yet be sure of this: the hour approaches, and within this age our hope shall be revealed, and the Children shall awake. Shall we then leave the lands of their dwelling desolate and full of evil? Shall they call Melkor lord while Manwë sits upon Taniquetil?"
- ― The Silmarillion, Of the Coming of the Elves and the Captivity of Melkor
Tulkas likewise agreed with the necessity of immediate action. But the Valar chief, Manwë, bid Mandos to speak, and he replied:
- "In this age the Children of Ilúvatar shall come indeed, but they come not yet. Moreover it is doom that the Firstborn should come in the darkness, and shall look first upon the stars. Great light shall be for their waning. To Varda ever shall they call at need."
- ― The Silmarillion, Of the Coming of the Elves and the Captivity of Melkor
Varda then created other stars to help to light Middle Earth for the coming of the Elves. Using silver dews from Telperion, she created many new stars, including Wilwarin, Telemendil, and others.
As a challenge to Melkor, high in the north, she hung the seven stars that make up the Sickle of the Valar. After Varda's long effort, the Elves, the Firstborn Children of Ilúvatar awoke in the starlight by the shores of Cuiviénen, the Water of Awakening.Template:Ref
While Oromë conducted his hunting trips on his great steed Nahar, he heard the sound of many voices singing, the newly-born Elves. He met them and spent time among them, and yet perceived the influence of Melkor anong them. Oromë reported these happenings to the Elder King, who once again called a gathering of all the Valar, even the far-off Ulmo. He then proclaimed:
- "This is the counsel of Ilúvatar in my heart: that we should take up again the mastery of Arda, at whatever cost, and deliver the Quendi from the shadow of Melkor."
- ― The Silmarillion, Of the Coming of the Elves and the Captivity of Melkor
The War Begins
The titanic conflict between the Valar and Melkor now began in earnest.
