Chapter 9
Summary: When the wind meets the light

A/N: This chapter is related to my other fic - Captured light. Go and check it if you want to.

The room was shadowy, the only source of light were a few candles in candlesticks on a table and a nightstand. A huge bed was in the center of the chamber. Long curtains were obscuring the person laying on the bed - but Manwë could hear them breathe slowly, as if in deep sleep. Melkor went to a richly ornamented chair and sat there, crossing his arms in front of his chest and looking at him. A small smile was curling upwards the corners of his mouth.

"You can do anything you want to here," he said quietly. Manwë looked at the bed again. The curtains were made from red silk, golden snakes were embroidered on it. He took a step forward.

"Brother..." he started. Could it be...? Was it...? Melkor chuckled, no joy in this sound..

"Just look at her and see that you all will end that way," he said, waving his hand. The Vala felt his heart break - his brother didn't see how a great fool he was. For Manwë the fact that Melkor held him as a captive was not as horrible sin as capturing other Ainur. And that meant Manwë couldn't protect him.

He turned his head in direction of the bed. It could be an illusion, like with the Maia who had tormented him earlier. He tried to clung to this thought, it brough him some hope. He was torn between his love to his brother and his duties and friends.

"Plese, do not try this trick with shapeshifting Maiar again, Melkor. I can recognize them," he said to his older brother. All bad deeds of Melkor towards him he could chose to ignore, but tormenting others... He prayed to Iluvatar to learn that Melkor was indeed trying to fool him.

"See for yourself," Melkor smiled.

The Vala approached the bed slowly, but without hesitation. He made his choice to look at the imposter and reveal Melkor's attempt to play with his mind for the second time. Manwë reached his hand out and brushed aside the curtain, gazing upon the figure resting on the bed.

It was a woman clad in dark blue robe, silver stars embroidered on the hem of her dress. Manwë sat on the edge of the bed without realizing this motion. He didn't notice that Melkor lifted his head, looking at his face like a predator could look at its prey. Bright blue eyes were scanning the sleeping woman's face, trying to find a sign it was an imposter.

She had upon her forehead the seal he knew so well, her hair dark grey, but with the faint glow - a sign of her weak state. Her face was flawless. As he reached for her hand - the gesture they both knew so well - he felt her fingers were warm.

"Varda," he whispered, his voice faint and full of tangled emotions. It was her, his blovd one, his soulmate from time before time. She was his hope and inspiration, his strength in times of self-doubt, sorrow and confusion. She was the kindler of light, able to chase away darkness. Dark blue eyes opened slowly and focused on him. He could read in those starry eyes how confused and tired she was.

"Manwë," she spoke and licked her dry lips. Her voice was a mere ecko of her song. His heart broke at the sound of his name in her mouth and the joy from seeing her after so long faded. She was a captive, just like him, powerless and weak. He could feel her physical strength was almost gone, her hand in his grip was motionless. Sadness and guilt brought tears to his eyes. He didn't wipe them off his cheeks, just blinked so he could still see her.

"I suppose you believe me now. I have three of you and will have all of you soon," Melkor spoke, still sitting on a chair near the door. Manwë turned to look at him and Varda just glanced at him, love disappearing from her face, replaced by pure hate. "Darling, you look even prettier when you're angry and weak."

"Melkor..." she started, but Manwë was faster.

"Brother, please, let her go," he pleaded. "I will stay willingly beside you, just let her go."

"That's great!" Melkor chuckled. "You really think you are in a position to give me requests like this? I have you both and I will keep you. Varda is a sign, her broken spirit at my side will make the rest lose hope. And you will show them there is no point in fighting the mightiest of the Ainur. I will rule over Arda and enslave the Children. I will do what I please, not what he wants."

Manwë felt Varda's hand tremble and covered it with his fingers. One glance at her face told him she was not shaking from fear, but rage.

"I will put you in the heart of a pulsar," she whispered, looking at Melkor's smile. "I will tear you to little bits... I will purify Arda. I wil..."

"You will do whatever I order you to do," Melkor replied, his voice cold. He was focused on the Valie for a long while before turning to his brother. "And you will stay at my side, brother. If you do something to displeaase me I will punish her. Remember this, Manwë."

"Do everything against him," Varda said to Manwë immediately, determination in her voice. "Do everything in your power to go against his will. I do not mind pain if it's for a good thing. You are the Elder King and Iluvatar's steward..."

"It's enough," Melkor waved his hand and the gem above her brow twinkled. Her eyelids closed as she fell asleep again. Manwë still held her hand as he turned to look at Melkor.

"Brother..." he started. He could see Melkor was angry and unhappy. Probably Varda mentioning Iluvatar and asking Manwë to oppose him made him annoyed.

"Silence," Melkor stood up. Everyone but Manwë would be afraud of him, but Manwë wasn't. It was his brother and he still loved him. "Don't waste my time and stop begging for her freedom. She is useful to me. And when she is no longer useful I will take her power for myself. Maybe then I'll let her go and see my vision of Arda."

"That would break her heart," Manwë whispered, shocked by his words. How could one desire more power? How could one desire to take it from someone else? Melkor stood beside the bed and looked down at the sleeping Ainu.

"Why do you think I don't want to do this?" he asked. "I hate her, I want her broken and begging me for death. I want to twist her and corrupt her. I want her to lose everything she is." His eyes were full of pure hate, determination and rage. Manwë knew the reason for that - she had rejected him, she was his sworn enemy. Manwë was his brother and had no desire to oppose him actively, but Varda was different, she wanted to fight him. Maybe they were too similar to get along... Manwë squuezed Varda's hand and laid it on the cover before he stood up. Melkor looked at him. "That includes you. I want her to see you at my side, Manwë. You are my twin, I need you," his voice for a moment was soft. "Don't turn your back on me, Manwë. Join me and I will let you keep her as long as she's under my control."

Those words, the tone of his voice, made Manwë's eyes fill with tears again, but he wiped them in silence.

"See? I give you a choice. You can willingly join me and keep Varda or you can remain my prisoner and I will keep her," he smiled. This smile was just a facade, he tried to hide beind it all his hate. Manwë felt as if Melkor wanted to make him forget all those bad things he had told him just a moment ago. The rage and hate almost disappeared under this smile.

"I cannot join you, Melkor," he shook his head."You make a great mistake, commit a terrible sin. Please, leave this path. I don't want to lose you... Or anyone else," he glanced at the sleeping Ainu. "You must stop immediately, Melkor. It isn't too late! You must let all your prosoners go! You have no right..."

"Shut up!" Melkor almost roared, his presence filling the room, his darkness almost choking the younger brother. "You are in no position to order me!" he waved his hand between them and Manwë gasped as a sudden pain took over his whole being. He fell on the bed as he lost his consciousness.