With Amazon's recent release of their new series, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, fans already have many questions. The series goes right into the second age of Middle Earth. It isn't a wrong move considering all the ground that would need to be covered if series creators were going to touch on all the material in the first age. It is too vast, and if creators were to cover the first age...well, the series would have cost even more than its 1 billion dollar budget.
Although it may seem problematic for viewers who have never picked up The Simarillion, The Shaping of Middle Earth, the Unfinished Tales, or any Middle Earth history predating the Lord of the Rings main series, it isn't. Viewers can jump right in without knowing anything about the films or the books. This is a brilliant commercial move, because it opens the world and stories to a new audience. However, fans both old and new who aren't aware of the filler still have many questions, including some about the Deep Ones and the larger part they have played in the series as a whole.
3 Melkor/Morgoth, The Valar, & The Making of Arda
In the beginning, Arda (the world as a whole) was created by Eru/Iluvatar. Before creating Arda, though, he created eternal beings known as the Ainur. These eternal spirits would sing for Eru, and eventually, he proposed that all the Ainur sing together in a concert for him. During this concert, each spirit would sing differing themes, and each Ainur spirit had differing aims. They would sing either for harmony or domination, depending on their temperament of nature. Some proved to be more powerful than others.
One notable Ainur that Eru took notice of was Melkor. His song was potent. It was so mighty and filled with his desire for greater power that some other Ainur had to adjust their songs to his. Eventually, two songs emerged that made war with each other. Eru took notice that the entire composition's chaos was both terrible and beautiful.
A select few of the Ainur chose to be part of this earthly creation and decided to dwell in it as the Powers of Arda. Eventually, men would call and consider them to be gods of this world. They would go on to be referred to as the Valar. Melkor is one of them. When Melkor couldn't have the power that he desired in Arda, he turned against the rest of the Valar. During this time, the other Valar began preparing for the elves' arrival into this world. Two great lamps were lit and were snuffed out by Melkor who then retreated to his kingdom, Utumno.
After the lamps' destruction, the Valar pulled back to the continent of Aman and built the kingdom of Valinor, also known as the Undying Lands. Melkor was at this time pretty much doing whatever he wanted as he no longer had any opposition for the time being. He essentially had free rein of Middle Earth. Once the Deep Ones/Elves/Noldor came into the picture, Melkor came out of hiding. Already he had managed to create terrible creatures that skulked around Middle Earth, and he intended to use these creatures to wage war on the Valar and all that they created or aided. He was also the first to discover the elves in the world, and managed to capture a few and turn them into orcs as an insult to the elves' very being. This is important to remember for things to come concerning the Noldor.
2 Bad Blood, Why The Noldor Left Valinor, & Notable Noldor Figures
The Deep Elves, also known as the Noldor, have a lot of familial drama that leads to their dealings with Melkor/Morgoth, and ultimately Sauron. Are the elves being dramatic? As fans may remember from when Galadriel made Frodo look into that mirror, there is nothing but drama in the history of the Noldor.
Before the Noldor came the first elves; the Noldor were more like the second wave of elves. One of the original elves to walk on Arda was High King Finwe. To make a long story short, he had one son, Feanor, with his original wife Miriel. She eventually passed to the Halls of Mandos, in Elf limbo of sorts. Finwe remarried and has two sons with his new wife, Fingolfin and Finarfin. Feanor was quite talented and powerful, and wasn't a huge fan of his half-siblings. He also has the prideful trait that has been notorious for the fall of many of Middle Earth's protagonists.
In the meantime, it is worth mentioning that the lamps were replaced with the two trees of Valinor, which Melkor promptly destroyed, slaying High King Finwe in the process. Eventually there was the War of Powers, where the Noldor contained Melkor for a short time, and a saga of drama began over Feanor's art project (the simarils) being stolen by Melkor.
Eventually, Melkor/Morgoth broke loose and turned his attention to Feanor and his half-siblings. His plan? To initiate more family drama between the Noldor. Feanor began slaying people who were in his way as he led the Noldor. Finarfin and Fingolfin were blameless, and excused by the Valar. Feanor started more drama between his brothers' clans, but was slain by Gothmog the Balrog.
The families remained feuding, but it quickly ended. Morgoth was finally destroyed. Three important Noldor elves emerge from this time of conflict: Galadriel (Finarfin's daughter), Gil-galad (Fingolfin's grandson), and Celebrimbor (Feanor's grandson).
1 The Forging Of The Rings & The Coming Of Sauron
The Noldor ultimately traveled to Middle Earth because in Valinor they had limited and equal power of sorts. And, of course, they wanted more "flexibility" and station. In Middle Earth, they were greater and more powerful beings. The problem was that the Noldor grew jaded because, although they had greater power in Middle Earth, the passage of time was present. The passage of time wore on them, and they soon became apathetic. Many spoke of begrudgingly returning to Valinor.
It is worth mentioning Sauron's history briefly before explaining the second part. His original name was Mairon, and he was a Wizard like Gandalf, Saruman, and Radagast. They were known as the Maiar, and were primordial spirits who were tasked to act as heralds for the Valar. There are many of them, many unnamed. Sauron worked under Aule, who was a great smith. Mairon too was a talented forger. He eventually wanted to achieve his own aims, and allied with Morgoth believing that he would aid him.
Sauron approached the depressed Noldor disguised as Annatar, the Lord of Gifts. He took note of their misery and promised he could bring them the paradise that they longed for. It is worth mentioning that Elrond, Galadriel, and Gil-galad weren't really buying it. Celebrimbor, though, welcomed him and was taught by Sauron how to forge.
Celebrimbor, under the influence of Sauron, and managed to forge the three great elvish rings. All of this was to help preserve the passage of time in all things. He had, essentially, brought Valinor to the Elves. Of course, Celebrimbor was tricked, unaware that Sauron had fashioned his own ring to bind all others to his will. That's right — the precious, the one ring. Luckily Galadriel, Gil-galad, and Cirdan, the recipients of the three rings, caught on before real harm was done. Unsurprisingly, Sauron slayed Celembrimbor, and the rest is history.