In the beginning of time, there were others that were with the Valar from the Music of the Ainur, and these were called Maiar. They were of the same race as the Ainur, but of less degree. A number of them also they descended upon Arda, but they were tasked merely to be servants and helpers to the Valar.

They were beings of spirit whom seldom also take forms visible to Elves and Men, and they dwell at most times in Valinor, seldom to Middle-earth. Of their number who appeared is not known, but here are some of those names that were written in the history of the Eldar (Elves). And many names there were given by the Elves and Men, of those that had seen them:

• Eönwë - Appointed as the Chief among the Maiar in Valinor, Eönwë was the banner-bearer in the might of arms, and herald of Manwë. His might and strength in arms are no matched by any in Arda, saved the Valar.
  

• Ilmarë - She was a maid and mentor to Varda, and also a chief among the Maiar along with Eönwë.
  

• Ossë - A servant and messenger of Ulmo, He that rules over the Seas, Ossë also loved the Seas and the sound of the roaring waves, but he loved more the coasts, the shores and the isles, and delights in the winds amid the gushing waves. His spouse is Uinen, lover of creatures that dwell in deep waters as well as that dwell in the shores and the beautiful corals. To her often the mariners cry, for when the seas shook in gales of storm, she can lay calm to the seas, as will to the wildness of Ossë.

• Sauron - A servant of Aulë, the Maker of Things and master of crafts, Sauron was at first a faithful servant, and a fast learner, his thirst for knowledge has never been satiated; thus all the more he seeks to gain more knowledge of Beings and things of the world; which aforetime, was fair. In shining stones and gems of great smithcraft he delights the most. Before time, he was clothed in raiment of light and fair as was his face to behold.
  

• The fiery spirits - There are those of a form of flaming spirits whom are chosen as guardians of fire and protector of the realm of Valinor. Arien was one named, and the mightiest, for she could withstand any fire that none could surpassed; and she was a maiden and guardian of Vána. There are others of lesser might than Arien, and many names they were given.

• Tilion - A faithful servant and hunter in the company of Oromë, he loves everything that were made of silver. His weapon was a silver bow, made by Aulë as a gift.

• Aiwendil - He is the lover of birds and beasts; thus he would go under the tutelage of Oromë, and he was learned of many skills of tongues of birds and other beasts, as well as tamer of wild beasts. But of birds, he is most skilled. He was later known as Radagast by the Elves and Men and he did not appear to them until the beginning of the Third Age.

• Curumo - He was one of the wisest among the Maiar, of like mind with Sauron, but he helped Aulë and Yavanna in the building and tendering of the city of Valimar more than pursuing his own desire of knowledge of Realms without. He was later known as Curunir in the tongues of Elves, or known by Men as Saruman.

• Olórin - Among the wise, it was told that he was the wisest of all Maiar. He was also akin to the fiery spirits; and he dwell for the most part in Lorien, and obtained the skills of visions and dreams of Irmo. But due to his fiery form and mood, his ways often took him to the house of Nienna; where it was told that there he learned pity and patience, and his fires were quelled, though somewhat the trace did not wholly departed from him. Of his tales nor did it surface until the Third Age; whom his name was spoken by the Elves as Mithrandir; otherwise known in Middle-earth as Gandalf.
  

• Melian

There Melian came, the Lady grey,

and dark and long her tresses lay,

beneath her silver girdle seat,

and down unto her silver feet.

- Her name also means the Beloved; in Sindarin tongue, she is more akin to Yavanna, of like beauty if not of Valar, and Elves and Men that beheld her could not find words to declare her fairness and beauty, and would otherwise fell into a swoon of many thoughts that are fair. It was also told that those of Elves and Men alike that look into her eyes have known to remove them from curse and evil spells that bound them. Along with Olórin, she dwelt long in Lorien, as a maiden to both Vana and Estë, thus she grew both in great wisdom and gentleness; yet obtained skills in healing and songs.

Herein her story is unfold, much as is told in the Quenta Silmarillion, based on Melian's account, in much detailed.

Of the Ainur, they are many. Some abode still with Illúvatar beyond the borders of Eä, but others among them whom many are the greatest, took leave of Illúvatar and descended upon it. The Ainur named the place of their dwelling Valinor. But Illúvatar made this condition; that their powers should be contained and bounded into the World until it's end, and they take forms and shapes of men and women and that they might clothe themselves of which aforetime, they were unclad. Even in a naked form, the Elves cannot clearly see them, though they are present. And to these, they were named the Valar, the Powers of the World.

These are the names of the Valar and Valier (female) in due order. There are seven of them; and to the Queens, seven also :

Manwë - Perhaps the chief of the Valar and brother to Melkor, he was appointed by Illúvatar to be the ruler of the Kingdom of Arda. He was the Lord of the Breath, and he delights in the winds and the clouds and the breeze of the grass. All birds and eagles comes at his bidding. Thorondor, Lord of the Eagles, is his most trusted ally. With him dwell Varda, the Lady of the Stars, the fairest and of beauty too great to behold, in the summit of Taniquetil, highest of the mountains of Earth.

Ulmo - He is the Lord of the Waters, and he dwells alone within the depths of the sea. The sound of roaring waves were his music and voice, and he had no resting place. He walk seldom upon the land, and come less to the councils of Manwë, his closest brethren; unless at utmost need. All the seas, bays, rivers, lakes are his veins, thus his spirit reside in all over the world. These great gifts only to him alone Illúvatar had given, thus even Melkor has no power over the seas, and he hated it.

Aulë - He was the Master of Crafts and Smiths, builder of stone and forging of lands, decorated with gems and gold of the Earth. Melkor was most jealous of his gifts; and where he could create nothing like Aulë, he would seek to destroy it, or corrupt it in his mockery. Thus there was a long strife between both, and ever did Melkor marred and unmake the works of Aulë, and Aulë grew weary in restoring the tumults and the disorder of Melkor. In Aulë the most that were to meet with the outcome and fate of the Elves. With him dwells Yavanna, the Giver of Fruits. To the trees and other things that grow from the earth, she most tendered and care.

Námo and Irmo were the Fëanturi, the Master of Spirits. Námo, the elder of the two, is the Judge and Keeper of the Houses of the Dead, and he dwells in Mandos. He is the doomsman of the Valar, and he pronounces his doom and his judgements on the Elves and alike, except those chosen by Illúvatar outside the keeping and judgements of Valar (Men). Vaire was his spouse, the weaver of history into her storied webs; and as the halls of Mandos widen in ages, so as her webs that adorned its halls.

Irmo, the younger, was the master of visions and dreams. He dwells in the gardens of Lorien, filled with many spirits and memories, with spouse Estë; the Healer of weariness. And it was said that many will come often to the fountains of Lorien to draw refreshments in the easing of their burden of Arda.

Nienna, sister of Estë, dwells alone in the uttermost borders of the world, for she is acquainted with grief and sorrow, and often she mourns for the wound of Arda that Melkor afflicted. And seldom she comes into the land of the Valar, where there is joy and gladness. And to those that would listen to her, may learn pity and hope.

The last to come to Arda, are the mighty Lords of Valiant. Not to be confuse with the Lords of War, as they make not War, but delights in challenge and contest of strength; and they came indeed in hour of need when the Shadow of Melkor has ever becoming rife and rampant in the lands of Arda. One such was named Tulkas, the Mighty, he who laughs ever, in sport or war, and does not know the meaning of fear. He is said to be slow to anger but slow also to forgive. His weapons are his hands, and he need not a steed, for his feet are as fast as the winds. His spouse is Nessa, whom also fleetfooted, and loved the fair creatures of speed but delights more in dancing in the greens of Valimar, the city of the Valar. There was another named Oromë, brother of Nessa; and he was a mighty hunter and tamer of beasts.

Oromë prefer the lands in Middle-earth, and often there he rides his white steed Nahar, the mightiest of horse, to hunt for monster and evil beasts. But he loved horses and hounds, and often he would tame the beasts of the wild lands, and many would come at his bidding, and would train them for the pursuit of the fell and evil creatures of Melkor. He also has spouse named Vána, the Ever-Young.

Melkor no longer counted as a Valar.

Coming next: Of the Maiar

In the beginning, there was Eru, the One, in Elvish tongue is named Illúvatar, He that is Alone; and he made first the Ainur, the Holy Ones, before anything else is made. To each of them were given thoughts and themes of music, and they sang and before Him. Through the Music of the Ainur, Eru revealed to each of them inner thoughts and visions, that each may understood his purpose and intent, and the themes are woven together in unison and harmony.

Among the Ainur, Melkor is bestowed the greatest gifts of power and knowledge, and he often seek the places of the void alone, which it seem to him that Illúvatar took no thought of it. In time, he grew impatient of the void and his desire grew more into bringing Being things of his own, and he begin to conceive his own thoughts. These thoughts have woven into the Music, and brought discord onto the theme of his brethren, and the Music broke down into a cacophony of sounds, one that is deep and beautiful, and the other that is loud and vain. Twice Illúvatar proclaimed a new theme, but twice Melkor contended to it, until the third time, Illúvatar rose, high and terrible, and the Music ceased.

To this chaos Melkor brought, Illúvatar rebuke him, and the Ainur were afraid. Those things that Melkor seek from the void and sung, Illúvatar proclaimed to show them forth, but warned that no music may be played that is not from Him. Thence Melkor was filled with shame, and sowed anger in his heart. Then Illúvatar brought them into Eä (the World) and behold them the vision of their Music, giving them sight which before it was only hearing, set in His design the things that were sung before. But not all things were revealed unto the Ainur, for Illúvatar has kept hidden the things that were to come forth an in age, the coming of the Children of Illúvatar, the Elves and Men.

In the beginning, the World was empty, stretched out miles immeasurable, and Illúvatar had chose a place for Ainur, in Arda (Realm of Earth), set apart from the place that He had prepared for the Elves and Men. In the mind of Illúvatar, the forming of lands, stones and mountains were set in perfect precision and order. Seas were formed symmetrical. Thus begun the long labour of the Ainur of the building and shaping of Arda in accordance to the visions wrought into the theme of Music until a time; wherein Illúvatar will set a place for the Firstborn, the Elves.

Melkor the mightiest of the Ainur saw these visions too and his mind was ever bent towards that place. And thus he feigned to aid the Ainur in the building and ordering for the good of all things; but deep in his heart, he desired rather to subdue the Elves and Men into his will, to control them and to make him their formidable Ruler and Master, and to them his servants.