The Last Battle

by Varda-(Valar)
started June 5, 2001
updated Aug. 20, 2001, March 27, 2002

   What do we know of the Last Battle called Dagor Dagorath?
    It is referred to in the Silmarillion.
    "Of Aule and Yavanna", Silmarillion: In telling of the beliefs of the dwarves concerning their afterlife, it says that in the End, they will have a place among the Children. "Then their part shall be to serve Aule and to aid him in the remaking of Arda after the Last Battle."
    In the "Akallabeth" of the Silmarillion, it says, "But Ar-Pharazon the King and the mortal warriors that had set foot upon the land of Aman were buried under falling hills: there it is said that they lie imprisoned in the Caves of the Forgotten, until the Last Battle and the Day of Doom."
    "Of the Coming of the Elves and the Captivity of Melkor" in the Silmarillion tells that Varda set the constellation, Menelmacar, "with his shining belt, that forbodes the Last Battle that shall be at the end of days."
    A poem concerning Manwe also mentions the Last Battle, wherever that is.

    In Unfinished Tales:
    "The Istari".
    Quote p 413:

Manwe will not descend from the Mountain until the Dagor Dagorath, and the coming of the End, when Melkor returns. To the overthrow of Morgoth he sent his herald Eonwe. To the defeat of Sauron would he not then send some lesser (but mighty) spirit of the angelic people, one coeval and equal, doubtless, with Sauron in their beginnings, but not more? Olorin was his name. But of Olorin we shall never know more than he revealed in Gandalf.

Below that is a poem including the subtle actions of Manwe, the Elder King:
Wilt thou learn the lore
that was long secret
of the Five that came
from a far country?

One only returned.
Others never again
under Men's dominion
Middle-earth shall seek
until Dagor Dagorath
and the Doom cometh.

How hast thou heard it:
the hidden counsel
of the Lords of the West
in the land of Aman?
The long roads are lost
that led thither,
and to mortal Men
Manwe speaks not.

From the West-that-was
a wind bore it
to the sleeper's ear,
in the silences
under night-shadow
when news is brought
from lands forgotten
and lost ages
over seas of years
to the searching thought.

Not all are forgotten
by the Elder King.
Sauron he saw
as a slow menace....

    What can we speculate about the Last Battle?
    We know The Last Battle is referred to along with "the Day of Doom", the Doom, and "end of days". The Last Battle is also called the Dagor Dagorath.
    It is suggested that the Valar communicate with men by dreams. Manwe's wind/voice is sent to the sleeper's ear, as in dreaming, probably using Irmo's ability to send dreams.
    We know Ar-Pharazon and his men who were buried under falling hills in Aman after their attack will no longer be lying imprisoned in the Caves of the Forgotten. Will they come out to fight for Melkor or to redeem themselves with the Valar and Eru?
    We know "Manwe will not descend from the Mountain until the Dagor Dagorath, and the coming of the End, when Melkor returns". This means Melkor will leave the Void and come back to Middle-earth. This means Manwe himself will come down from Mount Taniquetil. These two super opposing forces will surely make a titanic battle and their followers would join them.
    Varda set the constellation, Menelmacar, "with his shining belt, that forbodes the Last Battle that shall be at the end of days." The belt would be a sword belt warning that the Valar will fight. The name Menel "the heavens" + Macar like the Vala of fighting in the Book of Lost Tales suggests the warrior heavens. Stars fighting? We can be sure that Earendil, who became the star, would fight. Varda, the star queen, fighting?
    We know Arda will be remade after the Last Battle at least partly by Aule with the help of the dwarves.

References: Silmarillion, Unfinished Tales
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