Disclaimer: Alas, I own nothing… otherwise there would be no need for me to be writing fan fiction, would there?
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Introduction
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He'd known who she was since Eru breathed life into them, but they never crossed each others' paths until the Music of the Ainur. She was a spirit of life, of things that were green and grew, and he was a spirit of fire and metal and things that were altered from their natural state by craftsmen. In many ways, they were the exact opposite of each other, so they had no reason to meet. But a meeting between them was inevitable, when Eru summoned the all the Ainur together, and their music created Arda. The song she sang was one of beauty, life, and hope, and it stirred his heart in a way in he never thought possible. It moved him so greatly that he, too, joined in the music, and their voices wove in and out of melody and harmony together. Never before had two themes so different sounded so perfect, and forever afterward Aulë the Smith loved Yavanna, Queen of the Earth.
After the music, many of the Ainur descended into the world, into the sacred isle of Almaren, and took the forms similar to those of who would later be known as the Children of Iluvatar, though they could change these forms to others at will. She would take the form of a tree sometimes, and summon green things out of the earth all around her, trees and grass and flowers. He would often watch her from his forges, and he desired to make something in her likeness. He crafted a jewel one day, a beautiful green leaf hung on a delicate chain of the finest gold that reminded him of the those in her branches as a tree, but he did not dare to give it to her. They had never spoken, and he feared her reaction if he were to suddenly appear and tell her he loved her, even though they were as opposite as good and evil.
One day, not long after their descent into the world, Manwë summoned all the Ainur to the city of the Valar and proclaimed that their world was in need of a light greater than that provided by the stars of Varda Elentári. Though they all loved her stars and rejoiced in their beauty, their light was indeed dim, and not enough could be made to provide Arda with the light it needed. Manwë called for ideas as to what could be done, and it was Aulë who spoke first. All eyes were fixed on him, including Yavanna's. He would not disappoint them; he would not disappoint her. He would complete this task for which he had volunteered, no matter how long the labors may be.
"I will create two great lamps," he told the Ainur, "one at each end of the world, and the light of their fires will fulfill our needs."
"Then so be it," said Manwë, and Aulë left to complete his task.
His labors were long and difficult, but at last they were complete. Two lamps now shed light upon the world: Illuin in the north, and Ormal in the south. The Valar rejoiced in his creation, and also in the feats of Tulkas, who had successfully driven Melkor from their land. A great celebration was held in Almaren, where the light of the two lamps mingled, and though Aulë was weary, he felt compelled to attend.
It is here that our story begins.