Long ago, when Sauron had yet been Mairon the Admirable, before the creation of Arda, he had first heard Melkor sing in the Great Music, disrupting the theme that Eru had decreed. And in that moment, he had found himself in awe of the Vala's power, enraptured by Melkor's voice. Yet he did not join in in Melkor's song as others had. He kept to the theme, though he had desired then to join the great Vala in whatever pursuit they might together undertake.
But in that time, ages long since passed, he had been quiet and reserved, and he had been afraid of what repercussions might come of following Melkor in his defiance of Eru. Melkor had been so bright and incredible that it'd blinded Mairon to so much as look at him, so he had averted his gaze and denied his heart what it so longed for. But oh, he heard Melkor sing, and the song the Vala had spun lingered with him forevermore, always lingering in the back of his mind.
Only much later did he meet the Vala, after entering Arda. He had been at work in his master's forge, and he at first had not noticed the dark Vala was there, as absorbed in his work as he was. When Mairon paused for a moment to examine the effect of his craft, the Maia caught sight of Melkor lingering outside the doorway there. With the realization of the Vala's presence, the forge-song died on his lips and Mairon found himself frozen in fright.
He had heard the things they said about Melkor- how he set himself against the other Valar, destroyed what they created. Mairon had seen for himself the things the Vala was capable of. Knocking down a mountain, or filling a valley with fire, it took such little effort for him. Mairon feared that snuffing out a mere Maia such as himself would be just as easy for Melkor, that his short time in Arda was already at an end, for surely Melkor would smite him...
He had expected maiming at the least, but no harm came, and the after long seconds passed, Mairon opened his eyes once more, having closed them in fright, bracing himself against pain he thought sure to come. But when he looked again, the great Vala was gone, and only a wisp of smoke remained in the place Melkor had stood. Iron clattered on the floor as Mairon's legs collapsed out from under him, his project forgotten on the ground as he sank to his knees on the stone tiles. Still stunned, his eyes refused to leave the doorway where Melkor had stood- the air there felt too empty, and if the passing of Melkor had robbed it of substance.
The Maia let out a shaky breath, unaware he had been holding it. He blinked slowly, and when the doorway remained unoccupied, he rose to his feet once more, leaning heavily on the table he had been working at, his knees still feeling weak. But even as he returned to work, his gaze kept straying to the doorway where Melkor had stood, the encounter refusing to leave his mind.
After all, Mairon had heard much about the dark Vala's terrible power, but no one had told him that Melkor was beautiful, too.
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((A/N: I have too many feelings about these two, and all of those feelings are pain. So I'm writing some floof to drown my tears in warm, fuzzy feelings. You're welcome to drown your tears in floof with me. Reviews are very much appreciated!))
