A/N

A thing requested from me on Tumblr. An AU where after the Battle of Powers it is Manwe who's captured by Melkor. But instead of being nasty the Dark Ainu is nice for his younger twin.

Orginally published on AO3 - 2015-02-18

Chapter 1

The taste of the food was the same with the taste of the mud, so he wasn't eating it, even if he knew it was the best stew ever. The air in the room was still like in the eye of a tornado. The Breath of Arda, the Lord of Airs was sitting in a comfortable chair, staring at the door. Melkor left him just a second ago, irked that his stubborn younger brother refused to eat. He didn't understand that Manwë felt like a bird in a golden cage. He could make his jail comfortable and full of wonders, but it was still a jail. Manwë by the first time in his existence was unable to go wherever he wanted. He could see how careful with him Melkor was and he was happy to see that, but...

He wasn't sure what was happening outside of his cell, Melkor didn't want to tell him what was going on. Were others captured too? Were the Children killed? Did Melkor committed an another mistake (Namo would say "sin", but Manwë believed that confused, troubled beings cannot be sinners, they just need help and guidance to frind Eru's grace) and caged them?

Manwë turned his head to look at a candle burning on a table in a corner of his chamber. He sent a small gust of breeze towards her and the fire danced, causing shadows in the room to follow the unsung melody.

Melkor wasn't evil, he was stubborn and short-tempered, liked to do things his own way. He had love and care in his heart. He was so gentle to him and tried to show Manwë how much he loves him the whole time Manwë was here, in this room. He came here, left Eru's side to work on the great Project of Arda. He just refused to follow the Plan because he wanted to do things his own way...

(he just marred the Song)

his poor, misunderstood twin...

(destroyer of the Lamps)

(foe of order and logic)

(stealer of power)

(liar)

(bringer of havoc and discord)

Those strange thoughts weren't his, those were the words of other Valar, they were telling them to him so many times, full of bad emotions directed towards Melkor.

Manwë understood them, but still... He believed that Melkor needed a second chance, that he was making bad decisions, mistakes... He wasn't evil, he couldn't be. He was just made that way, he was meant to be the power of change and extremes. He couldn't act in more ordered way, he couldn't do less than "everything" and more than "nothing".

Manwë sighed, almost hearing Varda's voice in his mind:

(but cannot he do something less than "everything wrong" and more than "nothing good" at least once?)

He was making so many wrong decisions and this one was the next one. Instead of leaving the Children in peace he tried to steal their freedom from them. Manwë had hoped that he will understand his mistake when they will show him that they will stand against him to protect the Firstborn.

He didn't.

The Battle of Powers was horrible and Manwë felt even worse than other Valar. They were sad because they needed to destroy a big part of the land. But none of them waged a battle against their brother.

The brother who was meant to be the strongest and most stubborn one,

The brother who caged the wind.

The brother who lost his path.

The brother who still loved and cared for him.