Changes

== History ==

== History ==

=== Beginning ===

=== Beginning ===

In the beginning there was Eru Ilúvatar, and from him came the Ainur. Eru created the universe, '''Eä'''. Some of the Ainur entered into Eä, as the powerful Valar and lesser Maiar, who worked a to shape the world.  

In the beginning there was Eru Ilúvatar, and from him came the [[Ainu (Middle-earth)|Ainur]]. Eru created the universe, '''Eä'''. Some of the Ainur entered into Eä, as the powerful [[Vala (Middle-earth)|Valar]] and lesser [[Maia (Middle-earth)|Maiar]], who worked a to shape the world.  

In the east was the continent Middle-earth, and in the west the island Valinor, land of the Valar.  

In the east was the continent Middle-earth, and in the west the island Valinor, land of the Valar.  

=== Second Age ===

=== Second Age ===

In the Second Age, the [[Ainu (Middle-earth)|Maia]] [[Sauron]], who had been the servant of Morgoth, rose to great power and took his master's place as the malign spirit opposed to everything good in Middle-earth. The Men who were friends to the Elves were given the island [[Númenor]] as their new home. The [[Rings of Power]] were forged by the Elves and Sauron.  

In the Second Age, the [[Maia (Middle-earth)|Maia]] [[Sauron]], who had been the servant of Morgoth, rose to great power and took his master's place as the malign spirit opposed to everything good in Middle-earth. The Men who were friends to the Elves were given the island [[Númenor]] as their new home. The [[Rings of Power]] were forged by the Elves and Sauron.  

When the King of Númenor, though Sauron's counsel, rose to make war on Valinor the shape of the world was forever changed, the island of Númenor destroyed and the road to Valinor hidden. The survivors of Númenor loyal to the West, the "Faithful" or ''Elendili'' ([[Quenya]] "Elf-friends") led by [[Elendil]], fled to Middle-earth where they founded the realms [[Arnor]] and [[Gondor]].

When the King of Númenor, though Sauron's counsel, rose to make war on Valinor the shape of the world was forever changed, the island of Númenor destroyed and the road to Valinor hidden. The survivors of Númenor loyal to the West, the "Faithful" or ''Elendili'' ([[Quenya]] "Elf-friends") led by [[Elendil]], fled to Middle-earth where they founded the realms [[Arnor]] and [[Gondor]].

High King Gil-galad of the [[Noldor]] and King Elendil of the Dúnedain formed the '''''Last Alliance of Elves and Men''''' to fight Sauron. At the end of the '''''War of the Last Alliance''''', Sauron was defeated at the foot of [[Mount Doom]], and his great [[One Ring (Middle-earth)|Ring]] was cut from his hand by [[Isildur]], son of Elendil. Sauron's body was slain and his vanquished spirit fled into the wilderness, which ushered in the Third Age.

High King Gil-galad of the [[Noldor]] and King Elendil of the Dúnedain formed the '''''Last Alliance of Elves and Men''''' to fight Sauron. At the end of the '''''War of the Last Alliance''''', Sauron was defeated at the foot of [[Mount Doom]], and his great [[One Ring (Middle-earth)|Ring]] was cut from his hand by [[Isildur]], son of Elendil. Sauron's body was slain and his vanquished spirit fled into the wilderness, which ushered in the Third Age.