The Theft of Melko and the Darkening of Valinor

The Theft of Melko and the Darkening of Valinor is the sixth chapter of The Book of Lost Tales Part One, of Christopher Tolkien's series The History of Middle-earth. It gives J.R.R. Tolkien's earliest form of the tale of Melkor's escape from the Valar, his theft of the Silmarils, and his plot of destruction with Ungoliant (named Wirilomë).

This chapter follows "The Coming of Elves and the Making of Kôr", and is followed by "The Flight of the Noldoli".

Chapter synopsis
Ælfwine, after meeting Meril-i-Turinqi and hearing many tales of the Valar, Melko (Melkor), and the Coming of the Elves from her, returns to the Cottage of Lost Play. Wanting to understand more of the ancient times of the Elves and the conflicts in Valinor, he asks that Lindo tell more of their history. So Lindo narrates what took place following what Ælfwine had learned from Meril.

The tale
When Melko still served under the Valar in penitence, he secretly attempts, barely with success, to turn the hearts of the Noldoli (the Noldor) against the Valar with lies and half-truths, in his growing jealousy for the Elves. In uncertainty, the Noldoli that heed him are put into restlessness, and in Kôr they cease some of their music-making arts while gaining forbidden knowledge of from Melko. Recognizing their discontent, Nólemë decides with the leaders of the Elf kindreds to bring this to Manwë's attention.

Before the Valar in Valmar once more, Melko lies to Manwë about the change borne in the Noldoli, and manages to deceive him. Melko is sent back to the lands of Mandos. During the greatest of the feasts of Valar and Elves, the seven-day feast of "Double Mirth", Melko secretly invades a treasury of the Noldoli, taking the Silmarils, and slays Fëanor's father, all to the unawareness of the hosts of Valinor at presently at Taniquetil. Melko escapes, and later, great enmity is first made between Fëanor and the Valar upon seeing what Melko had done.

Melko rides far away, comes to the region of Arvalin, and meets the terrible dark being Wirilomë, the "Gloomweaver". Friendship forms between them, and he leads her to the place of the shining Two Trees of Valinor. There Wirilomë devours the substance of their light, draining and destroying them permanently. Valinor begins to be darkened, and after a pursuit, Melko escapes from the Vala Tulkas and is gone.