The Building of Valinor

Eriol pondered all that Rúmil told him in the gardens. He was lost in thought when Littleheart came to him: "'It is the words of Rúmil the Sage that you are fainting in the Arbour of the Thrushes for hunger and for weariness of his garrulous tongue -- and thinking that very like to be, we are come to aid thee'" (p. 65, The Book of Lost Tales - Volume I). I love seeing Tolkien's Elves in a playful manner; often they are pictured lamenting the change of the world or bravely fighting the long defeat. Noble to be sure; but by the Third Age they seem to be enshrouded in sadness.

Eriol ate but did not leave the gardens still thinking about the great tidings he had never heard before. Upon returning the the Cottage in the evening be begged Lindo to hear more of the building of Valinor. Lindo offered up the great tale. He began with Manwë and Varda the Beautiful. Together they made the three airs (the cosmology of Middle-earth changed much through the years: "Vaitya is that which is wrapped dark and sluggish about the world and without it, but Ilwë is blue and clear and flows among the stars, and last came they to Vilna that is grey and therein may the birds fly safely" (p. 65, The Book of Lost Tales - Volume I).

Lindo told of the other Valar who accompanied Manwë and Varda. Melko among them causing trouble. But there were other beings who came that did not survive the final works: sprites, days, pixies, leprawns, etc. Plus a few original Valar did not survive subsequent writings: Makar and his sister Meássë, fierce quarrelsome spirits that often hearkened to Melko. As well as Ómar youngest of the Valar.

Together they built the Great Lands and lands further out: the Magic Isles, the Twilit Isles in the Shadowy Seas, and the Bay of Faëry where the Mountains of Valinor are raised. the chief mountain being Taniquetil. Melko had fortified the North and South of the world for his purposes and by now Melko distant from the Valar but persuaded by Aulë Melko built two great towers for the Valar: Ringil in the North and Helkar in the South.

Manwë and Varda gathered much light that Aulë fashioned into lamps and set upon Ringil and Helkar. But Melko deceived the Valar for his towers were fashioned from ice, a substance unfamiliar to the Valar. From the heat of the lamps the towers melted a crumbled. The waters flooded the world and the Valar knew of Melko's treachery.

The Valar went to work and the Two Trees were created to light the world. Laurelin the silver and Silpion the gold. They waxed and waned in concert giving forth radiant light. "...whereat Lórien could not contain his joy, and even Mandos smiled..." (p. 72, The Book of Lost Tales - Volume I).

Lindo went into great detail of the building of the dwellings of all the Valar in Valinor after the trees were made. I will point out a couple of items that I liked that you may not be familiar with:

• Úvanimor was the term for monsters, giants, ogres, and the like
• Ómar the Valar who did not survive was a specialist in speech and song (dear to Tolkien's heart I'm sure). 
• Makar & Meássë built a grim hall for themselves of unadorned iron. It was near Mandos' hall and filled with tumult and blows as they encouraged their vassals to fight and war.