Prolog

Hope is Born

Arda shook with the impending thunder of evil as the darkness of Mordor slowly regained its strength. Sauron sat patiently, biding his time, still seeking to fulfill his master's desire for revenge by corrupting the land that the Valar held so dear. It was only a matter of time.

"We cannot let that scum destroy the homes of our children, the fruits of ages of labor must not be tainted!" Shouted the imposing form sitting across the circular room from Manwe.

"Peace Aule" he sighed gently and the vala sat back in his chair, still fuming. "We have given them as much guidance as we dare" he continued, "Our hopes for the future of Arda are continually dashed by the vulnerability of its peoples. We have been betrayed time and time again as we seek to help them and for this reason I have lost hope that the future we had set for them can become manifest." Many of his fellow Valar nodded their reluctant agreement. So much pain and suffering had plagued the world they loved already, how could there be hope in such a dark place?

"But my lord Manwe" admonished a clear voice from the corner of the room, "That is exactly why we must not stop trying." All heads turned in surprise to behold Este the Gentle for she so rarely entered the counsel halls of the Valar. She stepped gracefully to center of the chamber, "if we, the first creation of Lord Eru, do not have hope, how can we expect those who look to us for guidance to be able to battle the forces of evil unleashed by Melkor and his servant Sauron?"

"Yes my lord," agreed her husband Irmo from his position in the circle of Valar, "Hope can be the key to braving the darkness that looms ahead."

"And how shall we administer this hope?" Namo inquired in his dark and brooding way.

Este was quick to answer with a confidence that seemed foreign in such an atmosphere of despair. "We must send another Maiar," she advised, which resulted in doubtful murmuring amongst her kin. But Manwe looked thoughtful.

"We have already sent five," he mused, "back when the world was still young. But Alatar and Pallando the Blue have disappeared into the East and Curumo, whom they call Saruman, has grown dark with greed and corruption. This leaves only Olorin the Gray to administer to the people of Arda for Aiwedil the Brown has been tasked to care for growing things and pays little heed to the goings on of Men."

"But whom should we send?" asked Varda the Star Queen.

"There is a Maiar in the service of my husband and I who is well equipped for this task," replied Este. "It has trained under both of us and has even spent time training with you my lord Manwe."

"Yes, a fine choice," boomed Aule, "the servant of the master of dreams and the lady of healing and rest is the perfect herald of hope to the children of the Valar."

"It is decided," Manwe agreed, "Olorin shall be their guidance and this Maiar shall be their Hope. Summon the Maiar here and we shall appoint it to it's task." Este complied and soon a small orb of energy joined the Valar. This formless, nameless being was about become an agent of change in Arda. Manwe cupped the Maiar in his powerful hand and spoke words of power upon it. "I name you Estelanar, the bringer of hope, go now and battle the forces of evil that seek to pull the land of Arda into despair." With the sound of a great wind the Maiar was swept away to begin it's task.