Prologue
"This should have never happened! It is inconceivable!" Exclaimed Aulë over and over, pacing his working area to and fro.
Ilúvatar was walking by when he heard all the complaining, "Aulë, you sound uneasy. What troubles you?"
"One of your children has seduced a son of Durin! Blasphemy! MUTATIONS! They were not supposed to mate! Was there not an unspoken rule against it?" Exclaimed Aulë with exasperation.
"Oh, a matter of defective products. It happens once every 200 years. Do not panic, it can be fixed easily, just watch." responded Ilúvatar with extreme calm, as he began to move the figurines that represented each race on an Arda board. He scrambled them until there was no specific order. The result was disturbing.
"I just solved your problem. In three Arda days from now, there will be a great battle that involves five armies, all struggling for power. Your worry will be wiped off in the blink of an eye." Said Ilúvatar.
The impatient Aulë approached the Arda board to study the moves Ilúvatar played in detail. That's when he realized with horror what Ilúvatar just did... "Three sons of my Durin line have to perish?!" He exclaimed in absolute shock.
"What did you expect? Each of my children, no matter how lesser, is worth three of your best ones. Didn't you want the mistake corrected? I feel generous this day." Said Ilúvatar indifferently, as he flowed out of Aulë's workshop.
Aulë was morally devastated, thinking over and over, "What have I done? What have I done?" In his depression, he did not notice another presence that entered his workshop. A soft feathery hand caressed his shoulder, startling him. It was Yavanna, his wife...
"I saw some activity in the containers of souls. Have you been creative again?" She asked gently.
"No, but I am afraid I have made a mistake" replied Aulë, placing his forehead against hers. "I should have taken care of it myself. But in my impotence, I informed Ilúvatar. He has marked my Durin sons for destruction; three of them to compensate the loss of one woodland daughter" Aulë sighed.
"Death? How strange, I would have sworn that life was being created. An instant ago, I noticed two souls of conception missing; One from the elf container, and another from the dwarf one. Word got to me that they spiraled together as they descended to Arda. This is why I thought you were creating new races" Explained Yavanna.
Aulë widened his eyes, "Oh no, this is worse than I thought!" He held hands with her and took her to the Arda board so she could see for herself the mess Ilúvatar made. "I feel numb. Can you help me find the missing souls here?" He asked.
Yavanna saddened when she saw the bloodshed, in which the precious Durins of her husband would be murdered. The view in itself made her heart uneasy. But she promised Aulë to help him find the missing souls. Together, they scanned and searched the figurines one by one for a while. Yavanna finally smiled, pointing at the woodland daughter's figurine... "There they are! she is with child. Her stage is very early. And he is the father!" She said, pointing at one of the Durin sons.
"They have been marked for banishment, as defective products." He sighed with impotence, his head hanging low.
"I cannot allow this, I cannot support the destruction of unborn life." she said, removing both figurines from the Arda board and placing them on a smaller Valinor one that was unused. "Let the new race be my child. I will respond for it. But I will have to erase the parents minds first." Said Yavanna, all excited about owning life that was neither flora, nor fauna.
"You forget about Ilúvatar. He will be angry when he finds out!" said Aulë with concern.
Yavanna smiled at him, caressing his face... "What connects them with us is their minds. With no memories of their ancestors, Ilúvatar will not find them. This small board of Valinor will be my masterpiece. If he asks, tell him these two are my anniversary present. They will be able to bear the new creation, away from danger." she said, convincingly.
Aulë smiled at her, "How can I find the strength to deny you anything? Every single request of yours has turned to be of great importance, as it enhances our creations. What would I do without you?"
"Do you really want an answer?" She chuckled.
"I guess not..." was his response, as he turned to his wife for a gentle kiss...
To be continued...