by Varda-(Valar)
July 26, 2019
The Valar of Time were dropped from the story line by J.R.R. Tolkien as the idea of the Valar developed, but their story may be found in The Book of Lost Tales I, "The Hiding of Valinor", near the end of the chapter, along with notes and commentary afterwards by Christopher Tolkien.
The idea of the Valar having children was dropped, although some of the children were kept as Maiar aiding a particular Vala or Valie. This meant that if these Time characters had remained, they could have been incorporated with Aluin as the Vala while Danuin, Ranuin, and Fanuin being of like mind but less power would have worked with him as Maiar.
The idea of how time began changed as well, with time later starting as the Ainur entered the vision put forth by Eru Ilúvatar.
This old story also shows an early version of how
Arda (Earth) would end, as one might expect when considering time.
The Valar were not "gods" although some including the character narrating the story (Vairë, elf of Tol Eressëa, wife of Lindo) in The Book of Lost Tales mistook their nature for that, but only Eru Ilúvatar could be considered a god. The Ainur, including their strongest called Valar, were his creations and considered themselves the older siblings of Eru's later creations of Elves and Man with which they had no part. We could consider the Dwarves as another type of the children of Eru, as their bodies were made by Aulë but life was given them by Eru.
The Valar of Time are named Aluin, Danuin,
Ranuin, and Fanuin.
Aluin remained beyond, where the Ainur originally came from, but sent his three children temporarily to aid the Valar in Arda with a serious problem. All appeared to be extremely ancient, strong, and alert.
The children of Aluin are Danuin, Ranuin, and Fanuin: they are also called Day, Month, and Year.
Danuin, "Day", is exceedingly small and short, with short hair and a small beard. (Previous versions of his name were Danos and Dana.)Ranuin, "Month", is of middle stature, with mid-length hair and beard. (Previous versions of his name were Ranos, Ranoth, and Rôn.)
Fanuin, "Year", is long and tall, with the beard of the third sweeping the ground before his feet as he walks. (Previous versions of his name were Lathos and Lathweg.)
They are the children of Aluin, "Time", who is the oldest of the Ainur and serves Ilúvatar.
The "great gods" (the Valar) were discussing how to handle the problem of controlling the travel of the Sun and Moon as would charioteers handle their horses, when to them came what appeared to be three aged but powerful men: Danuin, Ranuin, and Fanuin, and saluted Manwë. Manwë knew they were not of those that dwelt in Valmar or their own gardens, and the Valar wondered how they had come to the place at all.
Danuin said they were brothers, of exceeding subtle craft, and would help with the problem of the Sun and Moon, but they would only tell who they were and where they had come from and where they would go, after completing their work.
The Valar feared a trick, probably of Melko (Morgoth) and debated, but being desperate, they agreed to the terms. The three required a private room for their work. Hidden inside Aulë's house, they crafted: spinning and weaving.
After twelve hours, Danuin came out with his handiwork but his hands seemed empty. The Ship of the Sun returned and Danuin went to the stern and laid his hand on it. He bid Ulmo, as usual, draw the Ship over the waters to the Door of Night; but when Danuin stepped back, Ulmo could no longer draw it. All seeing this were afraid; Danuin released the sun and left and could not be found.
After twenty-eight nights, Ranuin came out with his invisible crafting. He waited until Ilinsor (Tilion) brought the Rose of Silpion (the Moon) to Valinor, then set his hand on a jag of glass on the isle and the Moon could not be moved far from Ranuin against his will. Ranuin said nothing and left, releasing the Moon, and he could not be found.
After Rána (the Moon) waxed and waned thirteen times, Fanuin came out of the room and asked the Valar to detain Ilinsor (Tilion) so that at Sári's (the Sun's) coming both ships might stand in Valinor at the same time. He then requested their aid to pull out what he had wrought because it was too heavy for him alone. Seven of Tulkas's strongest staggered out pulling what seemed to be an invisible cable. Fanuin went to Sári (the Sun) and to Rána (the Moon) moving his hands as if attaching a great rope to each vessel.
He then said to Manwë that the ships of light were now fettered to time that neither the ships nor the Valar could break, for although invisible the fetters were the strongest of things.
Then suddenly Danuin and Ranuin were beside
Fanuin.
Danuin gave Manwë the end of an invisible, slender cord. The movements of the Sun would be the most timely and inevitable of all things on Earth.
Ranuin gave Manwë the end of an invisible rope. It would allow the steering of the Moon as best as could be, given the wayward nature of the Moon, but would also be a measure of time for elves and men.
Fanuin gave the cable's end to Manwë, and it was fastened on a rock upon Taniquetil. It would hold both Sun and Moon to coordinate and interweave their fates.
The rope of Fanuin is the Rope of Years, and
Urwendi (Arien) going through the Door of Night will wind it
tangling with the daycord round and about until the Great End. This
will bind the world and dwellers within, including Ainur, Elves, and
Men to the bonds of Time. They should not fear, because it is the
Music of the Ainur.
But there was reason for the foreboding of the Valar, when first the Door of Night opened. Before the Great End comes, Morgoth will contrive a quarrel between the Sun and Moon. Ilinsor (Tilion) will try to follow Urwendi (Arien) through the Gates, and when they are gone, the Gates of both East and West will be destroyed, and both Ilinsor (Tilion) and Urwendi (Arien) will be lost. Fionwë (Eönwë) for love of Urwendi (Arien) will be Melko's (Morgoth's) bane and destroy the world to destroy his foe. And so shall all things be rolled away.
In an early Qenya word list, a form of this story is given:
"The Sun, after fleeing from the Moon, dived into
the sea and wandered in the caverns of the Oaritsi."
"Oaritsi" is not defined, but "oaris" = mermaid.
"Nothing is said in the Lost Tales of the Moon giving chase to the Sun; it was the stars of Varda that Ilinsor, 'huntsman of the firmament', pursued and he was 'jealous of the supremacy of the Sun'."