little he knew yet concerning men , for engrossed with his own thought in the music he had paid small heed to the third theme of iluvatar ; but now the whisper went among the elves that manwe held them captive , so that men might come and supplant them in the kingdoms of middle-earth , for the valar saw that they might more easily sway this short-lived and weaker race , defrauding the elves of the inheritance of iluvatar .