The Hiding of Valinor

The Hiding of Valinor is the ninth chapter of The Book of Lost Tales Part One, in Christopher Tolkien's series The History of Middle-earth. It features J.R.R. Tolkien's first full telling (through the narration of a character) of the hiding of the lands of the Valar. This tale was written between 1920 and 1921.

The chapter follows "The Tale of the Sun and Moon", and is followed by "Gilfanon's Tale: The Travail of the Noldoli and the Coming of Mankind".

Chapter synopsis
After Lindo has narrated the Tale of the Sun and Moon, his wife Vairë tells of the Hiding of Valinor to Ælfwine, Gilfanon, and others at the Cottage of Lost Play.

The tale
After the placement of the Sun and Moon in the skies, the Valar are concerned of both the accumulating threat of Melko (Melkor) and the new-found enmity with the Noldoli after the Kinslaying. Deeming that Valinor is becoming unsafe, council his held between them and the Elves loyal to them. After long bitter debate, it is decided that Valinor be enclosed from the rest of the Earth, instead of assailing Melko. In an effort led by Lórien and Vána, Valar set to fortifying the Encircling Mountains and making the land's outskirts inaccessible, among other things. Bitterness comes between the Solosimpi Elves and Ulmo. Oromë creates the Rainbow betwixt Kalórmë, in the far East of the world, and Manwë's courts, as a near untraversable bridge to Valinor from Middle-earth.

Vairë then gives two more tales, called The Haven of the Sun and The Weaving of Months and Days and Months and of Years, of the further decisions of the Valar and their new conventions of time upon the appearance of mysterious characters, Danuin, Fanuin, and Ranuin.

Editor's commentary
Christopher Tolkien gives extensive notes and commentary on changes to plot-points, concepts in the tale, and names.