Feanor stood before the throne of Manwe, Lord of the Valar. Manwe summoned him from his banishment for the festival, and Feanor came, though he wore not raiment of festival nor any other ornament. His seven sons remained with his father, Finwe, in Formenos with the Silmarils. Those jewels were treasured by all, for they held the light of the Two Trees and were invulnerable to all harm. Feanor could feel the scorn and lust of those who desired his Silmarils, the work of his hands which none other could repeat.
His half-brother Fingolfin, the reason for Feanor's banishment, stood in front of the throne of the Elder King. Whispers had reached Feanor of how Fingolfin would try to take his inheritance by convincing their father, Finwe the High King of the Noldor, that he, Feanor, was arrogant and brash.
Feanor responded in kind, wielding the first sword of Elven make against his brother. He recalled his words that day: See, half-brother! This is sharper than your tongue. Try but once more to usurp my place and the love of my father, and maybe it will rid the Noldor of one who seeks to be the master of thralls.
The Valar had accused him and sentenced him from Tirion and the other Noldor. He had left for Formenos, alone and bitter. Melkor, once freed from his three millennia long imprisonment, had awaited him, hoping to steal the Silmarils. He denied the fallen Vala and from that day hence, none would deny Feanor. His eyes shone with the light of his spirit and all who looked upon them would follow his will.
Fingolfin took Feanor's hand, saying "As I promised, I do now. I release you, and remember no grievance."
Then Fëanor took his hand in silence; but Fingolfin said: "Half-brother in blood, full brother in heart will I be. You shalt lead and I will follow. May no new grief divide us."
"I hear you," said Fëanor. "So be it."
Even as they stood there, the Light of the Two Trees mingled and Valinor was full of resplendent lights of silver and gold. Then the Light faded and darkness covered all. Without the Light of the Trees, the only light was the glow from Mahtar, beloved of Nienna.
Though he could not teach the Noldor his craft, they still held some warmth for him, for he taught them ways to improve their own.
Mahtar reached out to Oromë and Tulkas and they vanished, appearing in front of the Two Trees. A great Unlight lay there that was impenetrable to the eyes of Manwe and that absorbed the Golden Light of Mahtar. Grief emanated from Mahtar, the Light of the Trees was gone and those who did so vanished.
Melkor, foolishly released from his three millennia long imprisonment, had escaped Valinor after his attempt to subvert Feanor and gain the power of the Silmarils. Surely he had now allied with Ungoliant, who Mahtar would not fight in fear of giving her more power, to destroy the Trees as he had the Lamps before Mahtar's arrival to Arda.
Orome rode away with such fury that his steed's hooves sparked flames and thus light reentered Valinor. Tulkas ran after him, hoping to capture Melkor. Mahtar flew away from them, searching for Mairon.
His friend stood in front of the cells where the Shadow Elves were being held, secret from the Noldor, for the Valar had not managed to break the bonds Melkor had laid upon their souls.
"Mahtar, friend of mine, have we done good by the world?"
As was his custom, Mahtar spoke not, waiting for the response: "We serve the Valar, yet we could not save these Elves. Others still remain in Middle Earth, either out of fear of the Valar or fear of what lives in the darkness."
"Feanor is the greatest in spirit of the Noldorin Elves, and his crafts may even rival yours even before his shard activated. But his arrogance is greater yet, he holds the Light of the Trees in his Silmarils and shares it not with the world."
"Surely now that the Trees have been destroyed, he will surrender them so that we may remake the Trees?"
Mairon shook his head sadly, "I fear he will not. They, more than his family, are the pride of his life."
"What are you saying?"
Mairon frowned, "Melkor's goal is simple, he simply wants to create something of his own and have it recognized as such. That is not an evil goal. Manwe seeks to rule the world and destroy any of Melkor's creations to ensure Eru's vision for Arda comes to pass. They need not be at odds. I remember much of the vision and I will help Melkor preserve it. I will bring order to the darkness so that there may be light. I ask not that you join me, only that you do not aid the Valar against us."
"If Melkor wants to create his own life, something more-"
Mairon scratched his head, "I remember the shard. But you have send that you cannot guide the shards anymore. You can access them and teach the Ainu to tap into some for crafts, but no more than that." He gestures toward the Shadow Elves, "I intend to free them, teach and guide them so that they can protect themselves with their powers. Will you stop me?"
Mahtar his head, turning away. He could not simply turn his -metaphorical- back on his friend of thousands of years. When he looked back all the Shadow Elves and Mairon, later called Sauron, had vanished.