Of Odwaid
A short tale about one of the Easterlings in Beleriand at the time of Hurin/Turin. A question of how someone might have behaved at a time when there were few people around to advise him on the correct way of behaving. No Elves, Gods or Eru at least! Thanks to Iggy for Betering, please R*R thanks, Ham.
Quote from Eru: 'And thou, Melkor, shalt see that no theme may be played that hath not its uttermost source in me, nor can any alter the music in my despite. For he that attempteth this shall prove but mine instrument in the devising of things more wonderful, which he himself hath not imagined.' Really? Well, there might be those in the later days of Beleriand that would seriously question this supremely confident statement from Eru. Read on!
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It was a grey evening in early spring on the marshy grasslands of Hithlum. A village was close by and smoke rose into the sky, made golden by the setting sun. Two boys were playing in a stream. 'Come in, Ellord, the water's lovely!' cried one and jumped in, laughing and splashing.
Ellord, Odwaid's younger brother, sat by the stream. 'Look at the light, it is getting late we should be back home soon. Remember what mum said!'
'Oh, she only wants us to help move that table, I'd rather play!' Odwaid declared.
Later when they both went home to their mother they were scolded for being late. 'It was Ellord. I told him to come home early but he insisted on staying!' said Odwaid with a sneaky smile.
'Not true!' yelled Ellord.
Well you would say that, wouldn't you?' Odwaid sneered.
'Odwaid is my natural son, Ellord. You are adopted so you're some kind of oink, therefore he is telling the truth,' concluded his mother with dubious logic. Odwaid then had sugar with his tea while his younger brother had to clean the mud near their village hut.
So it was that with incidents like these, Odwaid learned the value of craftiness and of using his position for his own benefit. In years to come this young boy would grow into a man whose name would become a byword for evil, foul deeds, and horror, even through the later days. Whether he deserved this fate or whether he even cared about his legacy is a matter for the ages to decide.
A few years later, Odwaid had grown into a young man. He saw his father come to his village with many armed men. They were going to battle. War was gathering between the Union of Maedhros and the lord of Angband, Morgoth. Odwaid was told many things about how glorious, brave and noble this war was, and how he could be a heroic soldier. But Odwaid had also heard alternative accounts of how war involved pain, death and destruction. Seeing as how even training had hurt him he secretly agreed with the latter! So Odwaid was careful to make sure he wasn't in the first wave of attacks. One thing he was told of by one of the King's councillors, Whitesnake,'Obey only personal commands from your father and our councillors, no others are worthy of your trust.'
Odwaid wondered, but he had heard strange rumours. Initially he had heard that his folk were against the evil, Dark Lord of Angband and in favour of confederates of the alliance of Elves and Men. The going became tough, however, against all the mighty forces of Morgoth. But Odwaid was thinking they might just win through in spite of the blood and fallen bodies on the field.
Then the order to charge was called and Odwaid's people attacked… the Elves. Odwaid had no time to wonder in all of the hurly-burly of the battle but it was clear that his father had changed sides. Odwaid thought this was strange, but one thing was clear to him, he had to stick with his people. At least this worked out well for them. The Easterlings charged at the Noldor and cut through them, sword upon sword, armour clashing with armour, sinew straining against sinew.
It was too much for the Noldor who fought with desperate vigor. Odwaid watched in horror as Maglor slew his father. He saw his father's arms spread wide as he pleaded for mercy, but it was denied and his father's head flew high as it was severed from his shoulders.
Odwaid's mind was in turmoil. He grieved for his father but as a calculating person he also realized that, especially with the death of his uncle, he was now King! He gained vengeance as his folk slew many Elves, who fled before them. Then his forces took on the remaining Men.
Odwaid saw them refuse to surrender and fight to the last, against insurmountable odds. Odwaid was initially impressed as the few crouched down, gathered themselves, and drew together. But they didn't last. Only one survived. But orders came to take him, Hurin, alive, despite Hurin having slain many.
Every time Hurin slew he cried, 'Day will come again!' Odd thing to cry, thought Odwaid. He knew he would see day again in his kingdom. But in the murky, gloom, Odwaid and his men finally captured Hurin. As he helped wrestle Hurin's axe away from him, Hurin gave Odwaid a personally poisonous look and said, 'We will get you!'
'Well, why pick on me, lots of others are involved,' thought Odwaid, but victory it was.
Later, Odwaid was given much praise as one of the heroes, at least as far as his people were concerned. Though, Odwaid did think that changing sides, the way it had happened, was a bit confusing to say the least. He had a talk with the chief councillor, Whitesnake, about this over supper. He now needed Whitesnake's advice as his father was dead. Whitesnake put his arm around Odwaid's shoulder saying, 'Do not let such moral matters concern you too greatly, my lord. You are a victorious hero, think only on how you sided with Melkor the strong, a wise move for us. He is the main power in the world. We should side with him. You have seen what has happened to those that don't.'
Odwaid agreed, though he frowned as he finished his ale. Later he was to see the truth of this. Odwaid had to execute, on the orders of Angband, many who were too stubborn to adapt to the changing strategic landscape. 'You don't want to end up like them!' Whitesnake whispered to him as the rebels were hung. But more Men refused to surrender, despite Morgoth's increasing influence.
So Odwaid offered a parley. His opponents were suspicious, but on the appointed day Odwaid invited a few of their leaders to a meeting with him and a few of his captains so as to gain their trust. They met and negotiated into the night. Then Odwaid raised his hand and many Orcs that were hiding underground emerged and massacred the men. Odwaid was now in command.
Over to the East were Dwarves in a mighty city called Nogrod. But they were proud and independent of everyone, good or evil. This wasn't good enough for Morgoth, who was jealous of their independence. He decided to use Odwaid as his tool to attack the Dwarves at a certain time.
But Odwaid had his own problems trying to deal with a small but stubborn band of outlaws in his territory. Just when he thought he had achieved control there was, to his horror, an assassination attempt upon him. It had nearly succeeded and it was only hesitation on the part of the would-be assassin that had saved him.
Odwaid was enraged and attacked Nogrod, but strangely, on this one occasion, his rage overcame his good sense. He attacked, and his forces were victorious in battle and took prisoners and reduced the Dwarven influence. It was a long journey, however, and he was pleased when his force returned to their homelands.
Though Whitesnake wasn't impressed. 'If only you had waited a little while my lord. You could have gotten an overwhelming victory over these people, conquered them entirely rather than just a minor victory. You let rage overcome your good sense!'
Odwaid drained a glass. 'You are hard to please! Melkor himself sent a message congratulating me!'
'A rather grudging one. And mention it softly but even our overlord is not always the wisest of people when it comes to strategic matters. It is possible that even he is not aware of the chance we had. But I and some of us are. Yes, I can be hard to please at times, that is my job,' Whitesnake replied. Reluctant as Odwaid was to admit it, Whitesnake was often correct in matters such as this.
End of Chapter One