Quenta Arda

Join Andy Serkis’ Hobbitathon live on YouTube! A 12-hour reading of J.R.R. Tolkien’s legendary and magical The Hobbit in support of Best Beginnings Charity and NHS UK.

And in Utumno Melkor gathered his demons about him, those spirits who first adhered to him in the days of his splendour, and became most like him in his corruption.

— The Silmarillion

And Melkor made also a fortress and armoury not far from the north-western shores of the sea, to resist any assault that might come from Aman. That stronghold was commanded by Sauron, lieutenant of Melkor; and it was named Angband.

— The Silmarillion

In seven hours the glory of each tree waxed to full and waned again to naught; and each awoke once more to life an hour before the other ceased to shine. Thus in Valinor twice every day there came a gentle hour of softer light.

— The Silmarillion

“The weaver, the shaper of wood, and the worker in metals; and the tiller and husbandman also, though these last and all that deal with things that grow and bear fruit must look also to the spouse of Aulë, Yavanna Kementári.”

— The Silmarillion

“At last, in the year when Eärendil was seven years old, Morgoth was ready, and he loosed upon Gondolin his Balrogs, and his Orcs, and his wolves; and with them came dragons of the brood of Glaurung, and they were become now many and terrible. The host of Morgoth came over the northern hills where the height was greatest and the watch least vigilant, and it came at night upon a time of festival, when all the people of Gondolin were upon the walls to await the rising sun, and sing their songs at its uplifting; for the morrow was the great feast that they named the Gates of Summer.”

On this day in T.A. 3019, Gandalf the Grey is separated from the Fellowship of the Ring and confronts the Balrog Durin’s Bane alone on the Bridge of Khazad-dûm.

On this day in T.A. 3019, the Fellowship of the Ring arrive at the Doors of Durin, entrance to Khazad-dûm, at nightfall.

On this day 20 years ago, Ian McKellen arrived in New Zealand and joined the cast on January 10, 2000 to begin filming Peter Jackson’s epic the Lord of the Rings trilogy.

“By the command of Morgoth the Orcs with great labour gathered all the bodies of those who had fallen in the great battle, and all their harness and weapons, and piled them in a great mound in the midst of Anfauglith; and it was like a hill that could be seen from afar. Haudh-en-Ndengin the Elves named it, the Hill of Slain, and Haudh-en-Nirnaeth, the Hill of Tears. But grass came there and grew again long and green upon that hill, alone in all the desert that Morgoth made; and no creature of Morgoth trod thereafter upon the earth beneath which the swords of the Eldar and the Edain crumbled into rust.”