Aulë was responsible for fashioning and crafting the substances of which Arda, the world, was composed. He delighted in the nature of substances and in works of skill, but was not concerned with possession or mastery. Besides the shaping of Arda, Aulë's greatest works were the Two Lamps of the Valar, the vessels of the Sun and Moon, and the Dwarves.
As Aulë was a smith, he was the Vala most similar in thought and powers to Melkor, as both gloried in fashioning artistic and original things, and came to create beings of their own. But Aulë strove to be true to the original intent of the Music of the Ainur, and submitted all that he did to the will of Ilúvatar, while Melkor wished to control and subvert all things, and would try to twist or destroy others’ creations because of his jealousy. There was long strife between Aulë and Melkor both before and after the creation of Arda, though Aulë traditionally opposed attempts to fight Melkor, for fear of the damage that would be wrought to Arda.
When the Elves came to Valinor, the Ñoldor became the students of Aulë. Fëanor was his greatest pupil, and from him learned to make gems through craftsmanship that was later forgotten. This would eventually lead to the Silmarils, the greatest creation of handiwork within Arda. On the Flight of the Noldor, the Noldor who returned to Valinor under Finarfin named themselves the Aulendur, Followers of Aulë. Despite his lordly skill, Aulë was humble and compassionate, and indeed the Dwarves survived only because Aulë submitted them to the will of Ilúvatar. His spouse was Yavanna, with whom he dwelt in central Valinor.
