Chapter 1
Aule stood quietly before the Valar at Mahanaxar. The center of judgment, usually reserved for the firstborn, was now held for him. He looked up to his seat and saw his wife sitting beside it quietly. He looked at the sorrow in her eyes, the pain of knowing that judgment would be fulfilled soon. His impetuousness, 'impatience' as Yavanna called it, was folly again.
Sweet Iluvatar, he thought, let my brother understand and have mercy.
Manwe looked at the Vala before him. He saw the silent strength and understood the compassion his brother had, but this was too much – meddling in the affairs of Arda reborn – the age of Men, was forbidden by Iluvatar himself. Taking a breath, he stared at his brother before he began.
"Aule, you are here today because you have interfered in the course of a human's life. The One Being, himself, has decreed that the fifth age of man was not to be disturbed by the Valar. We are to watch and report on man's development and prepare for the time of the last song. You were given grace when you created the dwarves, and we held hope when you fought against Melkor and assisted the Noldor's return to Arda, but this last incident has created an uproar and disturbed the balance of the Great Song. Why, my brother have you disobeyed the Great One?" he asked, painfully, slowly, as if fearing the answer.
"Brother, I had no choice. It was by my hand that Melkor destroyed Eregion and the Firstborn, and I could do nothing except save a few Noldor children. One child, alone, carried the legacy of the great artisans from Eregion – I could not allow him to die, and then I learned that his father had survived, but they were separated. This child was the victim of Melkor's minion, Sauron. His destiny was not meant to be written such as it was. The human's destiny is tied to the Firstborn, for they are related. You also know that it was my children, the ones that Iluvatar had taught, that were divided and fought against the Firstborn in the first age, and allied themselves to the Firstborn in the Third Age. In my folly, I created them, for I so dearly wanted children to love, and now in my folly I had mercy upon one who was born out of her time. Her birth was unforeseen and would have jeopardized the last age of man had I not interfered; but I did not do it for my glory, I meant only to unite a house long divided. My brother, I seek your forgiveness for acting without your consent, and I beg the forgiveness of Iluvatar for my rash actions."
Manwe and the Valar sat and reflected upon the deeds of Aule. Once again, he had acted rashly, but yet, his motives were pure. He did not act out of malice or ambition, but still, there had to be consequences. A human, no peredhel, being sent back to Arda of old was unacceptable, yet she could not be punished for the stupidity of his brother's sentiments. Her existence created difficulties with the choice given to the children of Earendil. This child of the two races would need to be given the choice between the Grace of the Eldar and the Gift of Man; but Aule had not considered this. Ultimately, the Great Song was changed, and the consequences could be detrimental to the destinies of the First Born. For the first time in all of his existence, he, Manwe, first of the Valar, felt a headache. 'This is what Elrond Peredhel suffers,' he mused.
"Aule, you will wait here for our return. We will deliberate in private." Saying this, Manwe and the other Ainur faded from their chairs and went to the Enchanted Isles to speak freely. Eonwe stood before the Vala and smiled, waiting for his liege to return.
Earendil crossed the sky three times and Ithil rose quietly to watch over the Vala as he awaited his brethren and sisters' return. Finally, on the fourth rise of Anor, they returned without fanfare and sat upon their chairs. Yavanna rose and walked to her husband, taking his hand silently as a lone tear slid down her face.
Manwe stood and the sky darkened considerably. "Aule, my brother, after much deliberation and consideration of not only your actions, but the fate of Arda, we have decided your fate. Our judgment is tempered by the fact that you acted in mercy, but we are still in the position that you did not consider the free will of the life you have affected. We hold you responsible for this life, and decree that you must atone for your actions by living on Arda as one of the Atani until you find the lost eldar that fathered this peredhel. You will not have the Gift of Man, and neither blade nor illness will affect you. When you find the lost Eldar and he willingly returns to Aman, this judgment will be lifted and you will be free to resume your place amongst us."
Looking at Yavanna, the serene, Manwe addressed her next. "My sister, you are wife to Aule. I neither hold you in judgment nor condemn you to his fate, but I ask you, do you wish to have the opportunity to visit him once per yen?"
"I would agree to this fate, my Lord. I would visit him with your grace and blessing once per yen."
"Then so be it, as it is sung in the Great Song, let it be done according to Iluvatar's will."