I'm sorry to hear that, and I hope everything works out. No need to apologize - we value your input, but if you can't make it 'live,' that can happen in the editing stage.
Episode 6: 'Who Will Rid Me of these Troublesome Lamps?'
Open in Rivendell in the Hall of Fire. Elrond begins telling 'the rest of the story' of the Lamps. Brief flashback of Gilraen making her way to Rivendell with two-year-old Estel.
Everything-is-awesome establishing shot of Almaren and the Lamps shows significant tree growth since the last episode - we have forests now!
Tulkas and Nessa announce that they will be getting married (*whatever that means to Valar*) and there are some wedding preparations in progress. Tulkas asks Manwë to preside over the wedding. Perhaps Yavanna and Vana develop flowers at this time,
[Edit: and bees - so honey and honeywine, aka mead for the wedding!] and everyone praises them for their work. Melkor is annoyed that everyone seems to have forgotten that without 'his' Lamps, none of this would be possible. This rankled feeling is driven home when someone turns to him and says, 'oh, I just wanted to thank you again for your *help* with the Lamps - they really are awesome'
Melkor decides he is not getting the respect and recognition he deserves, and that the Valar and Maiar don't deserve to enjoy 'his' Lamps if they won't give him credit for them. He grumbles about this to the proto-balrogs, giving a speech that emphasizes how THEIR hard work has been taken for granted while slipping in comments about the respect he deserves.
Gothmog, the leader of the [up to 20] proto-balrogs, decides to destroy the Lamps, and incites the other balrogs to join him in this. He basically argues that if no one will show proper respecte to Lord Melkor, then they should not enjoy the work that he did. Arien defects at this time, and attacks the other balrogs to try to stop them.
Tulkas and Nessa get married, and everyone stops their work for this time of 'festival'. We see the couples among the Valar and Maiar together. There is some sort of dance
[Edit - 'steal' dance], which ends with Tulkas and Nessa pledging themselves to each other with Ilúvatar as witness. The wedding celebration is interrupted when one of the Lamps begins to fall.
The balrogs destroy the Lamps, and in the process lose their fair angelic wingéd forms to become the demons of fire and shadow we all know. The audience sees this, but the Valar do not see it happen.
Ulmo rushes in to save Almaren, raising up walls of water to combat the molten fire that is spreading. Manwë requests Melkor's help urgently to do the same, and Melkor's response is more, 'oh, now you need me?' But Manwë does not have time to deal with him. As they are working frantically to save Almaren, the second Lamp comes down. While before we had Almaren in the center of one large continent, now we have the continents of Middle Earth and Valinor separated by a [narrow] Sea.
Everyone is horrified by the destruction. Accusations start flying, and in particular, Ulmo points the finger at Melkor. Manwë refrains from accusing Melkor of his reluctance to help. Melkor acts affronted. Ungoliant is mentioned
[Edit: by Nessa].
Arien limps back to Almaren, wounded from her conflict with the balrogs, too late to warn everyone, but a witness to what happened. She says it wasn't Melkor, but the Valaraukar who did this. Ulmo questions her, saying, 'Are you certain he didn't want this to happen?' and she's silent for a moment.
Melkor immediately throws her under the bus, accusing her of destroying the Lamps. She seems completely taken aback. Very few people seem to buy this turn of events, though Aulë seems thoughtful and troubled (he's at least entertaining the idea and thinking it through).
Varda intervenes with Manwë and points out that Arien is injured and this can wait. Varda and her handmaiden Ilmarë tend to Arien, who will later join them.
Tulkas is upset everything is going wrong, and he lets his anger be known, but isn't much help with coming up with any sort of coherent plan moving forward. Nessa tries to comfort him.
Melkor, meanwhile, throws a bit of a fit - everyone is so quick to accuse him when something goes wrong. Clearly, it couldn't have been him, as he was here the whole time, but just like when Ungoliant was hurting people, they point to him. He stomps off in a fit of pique.
We see the balrogs emerging from the wreckage of the Lamps.
Back in the Frame: Estel is visibly upset by this story. After he leaves, Gilraen is subdued. We get another brief flashback of her arriving in Rivendell and Elrond greeting them, with the statement, 'He'll need a new name.' Elrond tries to point out what he thinks was helpful in this story not just to Estel, but to Gilraen as well, by asking her 'Why did you name the boy Hope?'
[Edit - She responds by giving Elrond the Ring of Barahir for safekeeping.]
Episode 7: Should I Stay or Should I Go?
Frame: One or two human riders (dirty, scruffy-looking ranger types) ride into Rivendell. Estel is interested and goes to meet the horses, while the riders go to deliver their news to the Lord of Rivendell.
[Gilraen is there and overhears that
Edit - we don't need to see her eavesdropping] there has been an attack on a nearby settlement.
[Edit - it may be the same trolls that Bilbo and the dwarves will meet later, but no one knows that yet.] The sons of Elrond (and Glorfindel?) ride out to do something about this. Estel sees them readying their horses, and asks if he can go, too - he is of course turned down immediately. It is time for his lesson, so he goes to meet with Elrond.
Ancient Arda: Melkor meets up with his balrogs, and gives them tacit approval for their actions in taking down the Lamps. He does not quite hide his unease with their new forms.
We return to the ruins of Almaren. It is clear that the place will not be salvageable in any way. Nienna is with those who are mourning, comforting them and weeping with them. Manwë seeks out Oromë, and says that they will have to find a new place to rebuild. Oromë goes off to look (perhaps headed south?) while Manwë takes flight and heads west. We see the damage of the ruined Lamps from the air.
Meanwhile, Mairon goes to seek out Melkor, who has gone to found Utumno after his 'rejection' over the Lamps. Mairon hits the correct note of flattery and appeals to Melkor's vanity - clearly, we need you - and urges him to come back.
Manwë alights on the peak of Taniquetal, and surveys the land all around him. He says something to himself like, "I think this is the place," and a voice behind him responds, "It is." We meet Námo, who takes Manwë to the Halls of Mandos to meet his silent wife, Vairë, who is weaving on a loom. She courteously acknowledges Manwë and continues working. Manwë describes how he would like to establish a new place for the Valar after the destruction of Almaren. Námo looks at the tapestry Vairë is working on and says that on his next visit, they will visit Lorien and meet his brother, but for now, Manwë is needed back at Almaren.
Manwë returns to find Melkor giving a speech urging everyone to go to a new place he has prepared for them. Eonwë sees Manwë's return and calls everyone's attention to him. The entire crowd shifts attention to Manwë, and in one instant, Eonwë has earned Melkor's undying hatred
. Manwë explains his plan to found a new home in the West, where each Vala can have their own land. Ulmo voices a concern over abandoning the rest of Arda, and Melkor seizes on that opportunity to jump in and condemn Manwë's plan - he gives a very passionate and persuasive speech about how they must not leave Middle Earth on its own, but can't help but hit a few notes that show his own interest in dominance. He ends with a call for everyone to join him in Utumno.
We see the various reactions throughout, with a focus on Mairon. Mairon was pleased that Manwë had such a clear plan moving forward, and approves. He is interested in Melkor's speech, but turns to look at Aulë and ultimately cannot abandon him (yet).
Some (no more than 1/5) of the gathered Maiar leave with Melkor, who is clearly disappointed that he did not attract a larger following. The others (including all of the Valar), go with Manwë to what will become Valinor. We see the raising of the Pelóri and other work to begin Valinor.
The wounded Maiar (Arien, Ungoliant's victims, anyone damaged by the Lamps) are brought to the gardens of Lorien, a beautiful, peaceful place. We meet Irmo and his wife Estë (who wakes up to greet her guests). They make it clear that they have been preparing this place for the arrival of the Valar, and we certainly get the impression that the move to Valinor was 'meant' to be.
Meanwhile, Melkor and others build Utumno.
Back in the Frame: Gilraen waits for Estel to leave his lesson and then confronts Elrond. She has spoken to the men who came in and asks what Elrond is doing about such things. He replies that he sent out riders immediately, and she rejoins that that will not save those who already died - her people are dying and he is hiding in his safe home away from it all. The audience should see a clear parallel between Rivendell and Valinor, and he has to explain his 'long' view and big picture to her without mentioning his elvish ring.
That is more or less what we came up with - does anyone have any suggestions or additions?