Vala called 'the Weaver'. Ainur spirit of the Timeless Halls that entered Arda and became one of the Valar, Vaire is the wife of Mandos, the Doomsman. She is the weaver of fate, for she weaves the tapestries which hang on the walls of the House of the Dead and tell the tale of the world to the end of Time.

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When Ea, the 'World that is', was given substance, there came into it a part of the first race, the Ainur, the 'holy ones'. In the Timeless Halls they had been beings of pure spirit who the 'Valaquenta' records entered the World and, taking earthly form, became divided into two peoples. The people that were less powerful were numerous and their tale is recounted in the name of the Maiar; the greater powers were fifteen in number and they are known as the Valar, the Powers of Arda.

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Of the Maiar, the servants of Valar, there were many who were of the element fire. Melkor came among these fire spirits in the earliest days and corrupted many of them, turning them against Iluvatar and the Valar. From brilliant beings they were transformed to demons that burned with hate: they were hulking monsters robed in darkness and they carried whips of flames. Feared by all, these corrupted Maiar were named Valaraukur, 'scourges of fire', but more commonly known in Middle-earth as the Balrogs, the 'demons of might'.

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In the centre of Valinor in the Undying Lands was the city of the Valar and Maiar. It was called Valimar, the 'home of the Valar'.

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The first realm of the Valar and Maiar within the World was Almarin. Their second realm was Valinor, the 'land of the Valar' on the vast western continent of Aman.

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Whether it was from bird or beast that Melkor bred the evil bloodsucking Bat of Middle-earth is not known, but in the First Age of the Sun, it is told how, in this winged form - made large and armed with talons of steel - Vampire spirits came into service of Melkor.

In the Quest of the Silmaril, Thuringwethil, the 'woman of secret shadow', was a mighty Vampire and was the chief messenger to travel between Angband and Tol-in-Gauroth, where Sauron ruled the Werewolf legions. When Tol-in-Gauroth fell, Sauron himself took on Vampire shape and fled.

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Vala called 'the Ever-young'. Vana is the eternally youthful spirit of the Valar who is happiest when surrounded by flowers, birds and gardens. The sister of Yavanna the Fruitful, and spouse to Orome the Huntsman, Vana is the personification of spring. She can be found in her gardens in Valinor which are filled with golden flowers and many coloured birds.

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Of the Three Kindred of Elves who undertook the Great Journey from Middle-earth to the Undying Lands, least is told of the Kindred which is counted first and whose king, Ingwe, is named High Lord over all Elven peoples. This race is the Vanyar, who are also known as the Fair Elves. They are most in accord with the Valar and are much loved by them.

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Vala Queen of the Stars. The greatest, most beautiful queen among the Valar, Varda is the wife of Manwe, the King of Arda. She lives in their palace of Ilmarin on the top of Taniquetil. Varda is often called the 'Queen of Light' for light is her element. It was she who made and rekindled the stars, lighted the Lamps of Valar, collected the dew of light from the Trees of the Valar, and placed the Moon and the Sun in the heavens. Varda is the Vala Queen of Heaven, most beloved by Elves, and by them is known by many titles: Tintalle, Elentari, Fanuilos, Snow-white, Gilthoniel, Elbereth and Lady of the Stars.

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The land of Numenor was blessed in its beginning by the gifts of the Valar and the Eldar. Among the gifts of the Elves were the many fragrant evergreen trees that were brought to Numenor by the Teleri Sea Elves from the Lonely Isle of Eressea and much valued for the heavenly scent of their flower, leaf, bark and wood. Among them was the Vardarianna, which as the name implies was a tree 'beloved of the Varda', the Valarian Queen of the Heavens.

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In the land of Khand, south of Mordor, there lived a fierce folk called the Variags during the Third Age of the Sun. They were allied to the evil Easterlings and Haradrim and were servants of the Dark Lord Sauron.

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