Válinor

Valinor is a continent in J.R.R. Tolkien's legendarium, a central location in the history of Middle-earth and the Elder Days. It is a land of eternal light and beauty, blessed by the Valar, the angelic beings who shaped the world. Valinor is situated in the Uttermost West, beyond the Sundering Seas, and was the home of the Valar and the Maiar. It was also the place where the Elves, the firstborn children of Ilúvatar, awoke and were brought by the Valar to live.

The landscape of Valinor is described as idyllic, with perpetual sunlight and the Two Trees, Telperion and Laurelin, which illuminated the land before the Sun and Moon. The greatest city of Valinor is Valimar, the City of Two Silences, where the Valar dwell. Other significant locations include the Undying Lands, where the Elves eventually sailed to after the First Age, and the Grey Havens, from which ships departed for the West.

Valinor played a crucial role in the history of Middle-earth. The Valar intervened in the early ages to combat the evil of Morgoth, the first Dark Lord. Their wars and influence shaped the course of events, including the creation of Middle-earth and the eventual defeat of Morgoth. The Valar also guided the Elves and Men in their early development.

However, the peace of Valinor was shattered by the Noldor Elves' rebellion, led by Fëanor, who stole the Silmarils, sacred jewels containing the light of the Two Trees. This event led to the Elves being exiled from Valinor and brought much sorrow and war to Middle-earth. The Valar ultimately played a lesser role in the affairs of Middle-earth after the First Age, but their presence and the memory of Valinor continued to influence the Elves and the fate of the world.