Avallónnë. First Age. - Tales should begin at the beginning if ever they are to have an end, and so too must this account of my own time with the Maia Tolkien and our time in Middle-earth begin. But, while the accounts recorded here are true, the impressions and reflections birthed by them are not necessarily so, for while I (being a Firstborn) confess to having a great interest in those called Secondborn, I nevertheless make no claim to infallibility with regards to them.

This tale grew in the telling, until it became a history of the Great War of the Ring and included many glimpses of the yet more ancient history that preceded it. It was begun soon after The Hobbit was written and before its publication in 1937; but I did not go on with this sequel, for I wished first to complete and set in order the mythology and legends of the Elder Days, which had then been taking shape for some years.”

So did Tolkien begin his notation upon his subcreation. It is not without significance that in bringing the lost history of Middle-earth to light that he would begin with a wordless thought, which then became a creative word. This is how all things came into being, whether created or subcreated: the thought was first in the Mind of God (He whom we call Eru and Illúvatar) and He spoke into existence the sum of all Creation (Ëa, the Universe; Arda, the world). Though Tolkien did labor to bring his subcreation to life, not so with God, for He needed only to think the thought and say the word and all that is then came to be.

So it is with all subcreations: it begins with a thought - for good or ill - and is manifested through intent. God has granted to His children, the Firstborn Elves and Secondborn Men alike, to share in His creativity.

Lest we fall into the error of Fëanor, however, we must take care to prevent that which we devise to be corrupted by our own bent natures. Elves and Men alike are subject to roaming wills and faithless desires, forgetting our First Love and pursuing that which cannot satisfy in the end.

All subcreations, whether physical or mental, must be a means of worshiping and glorifying God, and never the foci of our worship and devotion themselves. It is for Him alone that we have been created and only in Him alone that we will find our final destiny and joy.



Namárië.