Finding Námo Part I: Have Another Pie

Irmo sat next to his brother, worrying and fighting his conscience. He never entered anyone's mind unless they gave him explicit permission; forcefully breaking in was a violation of someone's most private and personal parts, often dangerous and traumatic. It went against all his morals... but from what he had seen and felt, his brother was beyond giving permission, and he did need help. Irmo had allowed Námo to sleep for a while, but his mind showed little sign of healing itself. The Vala of Dreams now had to choose between forsaking his duty -which he would never do, especially not where his brother was concerned- and forsaking his morals, which he would never do either, normally. Normally being the key word there. Taking a deep breath he closed his eyes and tentatively stroked his brother's mind with his own.

Please brother… let me in… don't make me do this…

Námo kept his mind firmly closed off to Irmo.

I don't want to hurt you. Please let me in, I promise I'll be careful.

Still the older Vala gave no answer, not even a sign that he had actually heard his brother's plea. Irmo braced himself.

I'm sorry for this. Please forgive me.

Focusing his power, he cut through his brother's mental defenses. He met quite a bit of resistance, but it was all instinctual, Námo didn't consciously put up a fight. It allowed the Vala of Dreams to get in more easily than expected, but it was also worrying. Was his brother so far gone that he couldn't even defend his own mind anymore? Irmo hoped not…

When he opened his eyes, he found himself in the Halls of Mandos… or better, Námo's mental projection of them. They looked exactly like the real halls, but devoid of fëar. Carefully, Irmo took a few steps. His footsteps echoed through the dark marble halls, but further nothing happened. Normally, when he entered someone's mind, he could feel their conscious in the projection, like a presence behind the décor. This projection however was lifeless, as cold as the stone it seemed to be made of. It was eerily silent.

"Námo?"

No answer. He hadn't really expected an answer, but still… the silence was deafening, and the lack of conscious presence more than a little disconcerting. As he knew his way around the Halls quite well, he decided to simply walk around for a bit and see if he could find a trace of his brother…

(Pagebreak)

"Have another pie!"

"SPLAT!"

The sounds came from down the corridor. Irmo hastened towards it, and was met with a rather peculiar sight. In the middle of the room stood a large table, loaded with pies of all sorts; cherry pies, apple pies, chocolate pies, pumpkin pies, meat pies, lemon pies, elderberry pies, and even what Irmo suspected was a mud pie. It was a rather strange sight, but no matter how strange the presence of large amounts of baked goods in Mandos might be, at the table sat a collection of people that was even stranger. Chained to a high-backed chair sat Melkor, or Morgoth as they now called him. Apparently the chains did allow him to eat, because he was rather happily munching on a piece of strawberry pie. On the left side of the table stood a pie-covered elf that Irmo identified with a little effort as Maeglin. On the right side of the table stood an equally pie-covered elf that he suspected was Eöl.

"It's all your fault!"

"Really now? I didn't betray Gondolin, did I?"

"SPLAT!"

That was a pie for Eöl.

"You made me as I am! You cursed me!"

"SPLAT!"

That was one for Maeglin.

"You ran away while I gave you everything!"

"I hate you!"

"SPLAT!"

That was a badly aimed pie hitting Morgoth.

"Excuse me, some people are trying to eat here!"

"SHUT UP!"

The two elves chorused as one, and then aimed their pies at the chained Vala. They both hit target, but Morgoth remained unfazed. Daintily he tasted from the pie he had gotten against the side of his face.

"Hmm, chocolate."

Irmo blinked. What in Eru's name had happened to his brother's mind? While he stood there in the door opening, Morgoth noticed him.

"Oh gentlemen, we have a guest!"

Immediately, Eöl and Maeglin turned, both armed with a pie. Inadvertently, the Vala of Dreams took a step back.

"Err… I'm sorry… I didn't mean to interrupt…"

"Oh, you're not interrupting, there's enough pie for everyone!"

"You just have to pick a side first."

"A… A side?"

"Yeah. Who of us is right?"

Irmo looked disbelievingly from one elf to the other.

"But… you were both wrong!"

Morgoth shrugged.

"That's what I've been saying for ages, but…"

"SHUT UP!"

From below two new pies the Vala continued, slightly indignant

"But as you can see, this is what I get every time. No one appreciates honesty here."

They were just projections of Námo's mind, Irmo reminded himself. They were not actual fëar... The whole situation was rather surreal. The threesome was looking expectantly at him; Morgoth was mysteriously free of pie remnants again, the other two… not so much.

"What are you doing here then?"

"If you're not picking sides, you should get out."

"Or share his fate."

They pointed at Morgoth, who smiled charmingly. Irmo swallowed thickly, not wanting to get covered in pie, imaginary or other.

"I'm looking for my brother Námo…"

The fighting father-son pair looked up in surprise.

"Really?"

"He's hiding. We're not supposed to tell, but…"

"You've always been rather good at telling things you're not supposed to, haven't you?"

"Have another pie, father."

"SPLAT!"

"As my son so treacherously betrayed, the one you seek is hiding. You won't find him!"

Morgoth had helped himself to another slice of pie, and remarked.

"Well, I would help you look for him, but as you can see these fashionable adornments…" He held up his arms to show the chains, "don't allow me much liberties. Besides, these are some really good pies. You should have a slice."

"Could you… perhaps point me in the right direction?"

The three of them solemnly nodded, and then pointed into three completely different directions.

"Of course. This way."

"Don't listen to him, it's that way."

"They just disagree for the sake of it. It's through that door, and you better watch out for shiny things there."

Irmo decided to go with Morgoth's direction, as he seemed the sanest out of all three of them. Which was admittedly a strange realization. But "watch out for shiny things"? He had a very bad feeling about that…

(Author's Apologies)

Poor, poor Namo... his mind is a mess xD

Irmo is in for a long and confusing trip through a weird landscape, that I can tell you... And meanwhile, the other Valar still have to solve their Who-Takes-Care-Of-Mandos-Problem... Disaster ensured! Any idea as to what shiny things Morgoth is warning our dear Vala of Dreams for? Ehehehe...

Also, Eöl and Maeglin may not have been your first guess as to who would be troubling Namo, but keep in mind... it's a dreamscape, and the people Irmo will encounter are more than simply who they look like...

PLEASE REVIEW!

I love you all, dear reviewers! Every review makes me a little happier... (and given my Retake Exams, which are a bit like Balrogs in fireproof christmas wrapping paper, I can use all the happiness I can get...)