I have some inter-related queries relating to the Professor's conception or use of "fate" in his writings. As an initial matter, I am neither a student of philosophy nor a believer in pre-determination. Nonetheless, I find the Professor's references to fate to be ambiguous.

Eru gives the Atani a "new gift" so that "they should have a virtue to shape their life, amid the powers and chances of the world, beyond the Music of the Ainur, which is as fate to all things else."

My questions are : (1) are the Valar also constrained by fate?
In favor of this interpretation appear to be the express statement "to all things else" in the quote above, as well as the Dooms of Mandos which almost invariably involve the Valar.

(2)If the Valar are constrained by fate, then why is Arda considered "marred"?

(3) Doesn't the injection of the Free Will of the Atani disrupt or eliminate Fate? (I don't expect a canonical answer to this one but am interested in the views of others)