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After his defeat, Melkor was imprisoned for three ages, totaling around 3,000 years. Upon his release, he feigned repentance, but the more astute Valar, like Tulkas, remained suspicious of his true intentions.

The War of Wrath

The War of Wrath marked the end of the First Age and the beginning of the Second Age. After enduring Melkor’s tyranny for centuries—during which countless lives were lost—Eärendil, a half-elf motivated by love, undertook the perilous journey to Valinor to implore the Valar for their aid.

Valinor, however, was off-limits to mortals, and thus Eärendil’s defiance was viewed as a severe infraction. Nevertheless, the Valar decided to grant him an audience, moved by his sacrifice. This decision led to a monumental transformation in the battle against Melkor.