A/N: This takes place in the middle of the First Age. I'm basing this fic on the assumptions that 1) The Orcs, like the Elves, are immortal, unless killed, since they were Elves once. 2) Not all the "original" Orcs were slain and they survived till this particular time. I am not using Orcs that were bred from the first , but the Elves that were actually taken shortly after their awakening.

The Tale of an Orc

Prologue

"…that those of the Quendi who came into the hands of Melkor, ere Utomno was broken, were put there in prison, and by slow arts of cruelty were corrupted and enslaved; and thus did Melkor breed the hideous race of the Orcs in envy and mockery of the Elves, of whom they were afterwards the bitterest foes…"—Of the Coming of the Elves; The Silmarillion

   In the years after the Shaping of the World was finished, did the Valar take heed of the evil of Melkor under the persuasion of Yavanna and Oromë, and Tulkas counseled to rise swiftly against Melkor.

   But Manwë bade Mandos speak, for the latter was the Herald of Doom as appointed by Ilúvatar before the descent of the Ainur into the world. And Mandos spake, and said: "In this age the Children of Ilúvatar shall come indeed, but they come not yet. Moreover it is doom that the Firstborn shall come in the darkness, and shall look first upon the stars. Great light shall be for their waning. To Varda ever shall they call at need."

   Thus, Varda took thought with herself, and from the dew of Telperion she formed newer and brighter stars than were ever made, and this was accounted as the greatest work of the Valar since the Shaping of the World.

***

   The Elves first awoke by the Waters of Cuivíenen, and their eyes beheld the stars, and those became the things that were ever treasured by them the most.

   Yet, ere Oromë found them, Melkor knew of them, and sought to put fear of the Vala into their hearts, and oft he would send out his servants astride black steeds, taking those who wandered far and alone.

   It was not said how many were taken, but it was accounted amongst the wise that the Firstborn who were taken were turned into Melkor's thralls, changed and mutilated by slow arts of cruelty.

   Many who were unwilling were corrupted by the power of Melkor. Yet, there were others who drew to his service. Those were very few, so that none knew their fate since, and they were forgotten.

***

   The Valar had swiftly gathered their forces and made war on Melkor, and they overthrew and chained him, and brought him back to Valinor to abide the judgment of Manwë. His punishment was to be chained for three ages ere he could sue for pardon.

   Utomno was not left unguarded, though it seemed so, for Melkor's lieutenant hid himself in the deep places, and the Valar could not find him.

   The Elves were summoned to Valinor, and many went; others would not hearken to the summons, and these were named the Avari, the Unwilling, and they had the most and bitterest battles with Orcs.

   Sauron commanded the forces of Utomno and Angband from the deepest pits of the black lands, for he was still afraid. The first Orcs bred and multiplied as Elves did, and Sauron's army grew.

   In the years to come, the Orcs grew sundered even from those whom they had descended from. Many were slain in battles with the Avari, but some of the old remained.