[akhtene]

The Valar were most probably preordained by the Music, as the themes were given to them by Eru himself and they were to be the tools (if I may use the word) to carry out Eru’s design. But then weren’t it they who created the MUSIC on Eru’s THEMES? “Behold YOUR Music,» said Eru. That doesn’t allow me to think that everything was planned to the smallest detail from the very start, at least not by Him. IMHO Eru outlined the course for the Valar (he didn’t tell them all his designs, right? so they couldn’t reflect them in their Music which was the instrument of Creation). The Valar could direct the fates of elves (maybe because they had taken part the Second Theme) by their actions – eg. by summoning them to Valinor-, or inactions – by allowing the Marring of Arda or the theft if Silmarils. The Men in turn seem to be led by elves – those ones who dared to entwine their fates with Firstborn. The Valar stand as rewarding or punishing forces – the aftermath one has to think of.

As for elves going to Valinor… Wouldn’t they be happier in M-E if they didn’t know of a marvelous place awaiting for them somewhere beyond the seas? I’ve got the feeling that M-E lost elves the moment they were invited to Valinor. The ones who departed – well, they departed. And the lives of those ones that stayed were marred by thought of Paradise Lost (or the lost chance to find it). Men dominate Arda because it’s their one and only home, and they have to make the best of it (as well as they can).
And anyway what would have happened if the Valar took ALL elves to Valinor in the First Age as they had intended? Were the Men meant to fight Melkor or redress his wrong alone and unaided?