Chapter 10
Summary: Laughrer echoes through the dark halls of Utumno

Manwë woke up in the room he knew all too well - he was back in his prison. He blinked a few times to focus and gave out a little sigh as he remembered everything.

Fair eyes of Elentari filled with anger.

Melkor's face when he shouted at him.

The sudden pain and darkness enveloping him completely.

He heard a noise and turned his head to look to his side. He gazed straight into Melkor's bright eyes. Pale face of his brother was just inches away from his own. Melkor was beside him, his fana clad in robes of white and red.

"You're awake," he said with relief clear in his voice. "I'm so glad."

"Melkor," Manwë whispered. Could it be his meeting with Varda was but a bad dream? He felt deep inside that it was real - Melkor had caught three of them, weakening them greatly. The faithful Ainur lost their leader, inspiration and healer. He closed his eyes as the feeling of failure and despair once again clouded his mind. This time it was born of his own mind, not casted upon him. And it quickly passed as Manwë opened his eyes again. He had to try again - he had to try as many times as he had to fulfil his duties.

"I was so worried about you," Melkor said just as he saw the spark he knew so well appear in his blue eyes. Manwë opened his mouth and closed it before he had a chance to speak. Melkor knew well what Manwë wanted to tell him - about sins, atoning, Iluvatar's grace and stuff like this. He was tired of listening to this rubbish. "I want to show you something."

Manwë's face turned pale. Had he caught someone again? Whom? Melkor smiled in his mind, glad to see this expression. He would like to make Manwë worry for some time longer, but he knew his younger brother would surely give him a lecture about love and ask him to free the captives until he'd be sick of it.

"I want to show you one f my experiments," he said, his voice calming. Manwë relaxed and gave a small nod.

They both stood from the bed and Manwë looked at his brother, feeling a bit guilty he had assumed he did something bad again. He was curious what the experiment could be - maybe he could use it to make Melkor realize that he was off his path? He took Melkor's hand before they left the room. It was such a simple sign of affection and trust - he wanted Melkor to realize he was not feeling angry at him for keeping him here against his will. Manwë felt sad and worried, but not angry - how could he be angry at his brother? Yet he knew deep inside that others would be annoyed by his misbehavior.

He looked at his brother as he was leading him down a corridor. Something about him was different - the white robe was resembling this change. Was it possible he realized how wrong he had been? Maybe seeing Varda made him realize this? Oh, how much he begged Iluvatar for his grace and forgiveness for his brother! He knew there was good in him, he was able to do right things, his potential was huge. Maybe Manwë's faith caused this change? It seemed to be a little one - Melkor was holding his hand gently and was smiling widely every time he was looking at him.

"So what is this experiment you want to show me?" he asked, wanting to talk more to him, to learn more about his activities in Utunno. As a prisoner he had no knowledge about the stronghold, beings living in Utumno and their duties.

"You'll see soon," Melkor replies with a grin. "I don't want to spoil the surprise."

So they were walking in silence for some time, until Melkor stopped before a closed door. He spoke a word and the door opened. The two Ainur entered a great chamber. It was different from chanbers of Utumno - in a way it looked just like a random cave, Red flames of torches were casting shadows on the rough walls.

Manwë felt Melkor pulling him farther inside, so he followed him. His big, innocent eyes were wide, looking at the shadows and shapes hidden in the dim light and smoke. His feet were moving, but the Vala felt like he was no longer able to control his fana, he was just letting Melkor drag him to the center of the cave.

Hideous beings were looking at them, silence filling the whole chamber. Manwë was unable to gaze for long in those eyes - he was too afraid of emotions and desires clear in their gaze. Melkor was walking in a steady, rather slow pace, so a moment passed before they stopped in a spot in the center of the cave. The huge, twisted and bulky figures around them moved closer, encircling them. Manwë felt as if something was choking him. He needed a moment to recognize what it was - the intense feeling of wrong. Those beings were made... Twisted by Melkor's hand. They were s mockery of Yavanna's creations. They were full of bloodlust, stubborn and...

"See? I created life, just like Aulë," Melkor spoke, gesturing in direction of the nearest beast - a huge, grey male with pale eyes and long, muscular arms reaching to his knees. Manwë took a deep breath - the air was even worse than in his cell - and looked at his brother. "Well, maybe I took something already existing and reshaped it, but I did it to such an extent you can say that I created it," Melkor added, turning to Manwë. "I see you're impressed, brother."

"Melkor..." he started and licked his lips. How could he do this? How could he reshape beings of flesh like this, surely against their will. Manwë couldn't imagine any being wanting to look like those encircling him.

"And now I want you to bless them like you blessed Aulë's creations. So Iluvatar can give them a spark of his precious Flame and make them his children," Melkor continued. "I am sure with your blessing they can walk in light of the Trees. For now they turn into stone every time a ray of light of Laurelin touches them," he made a grimace. "I tried to send them to Valinor... You know, to show you all how big and strong my minions are, but they couldn't cross the barrier of the light."

Manwë was staring at his brother for a long moment before answeing.

"Who.. Who they were before...? Can you turn them back? Please?" he pleaded, pity arising in his heart. Those beings were wrong, were... Tainted with darkness. They were a mistake.

"No," Melkor shook his head. "What's done is done. And I wouldn't it even if i could. I need an army, Manwë, a loyal, strong army. Now bless them, brother. Give them the blessing of Iluvatar's favourite Ainu."

Manwë knew it would be wrong. It would be like disrespecting the gift Iluvatar had given to Aulë's children. Nothng so twisted and eager to kill should be blessed. Manwë knew there were predators, bound to kill their prey to survive, that the Children would eat flesh of Yavanna's creations. But in eyes of the beings around him he could read that they wanted to kill for a different reason. To pass their pain to others, to feel better, to please themselves. How a being could be so wrong?

"So?" Melko asked. He knew Manwë's blessing would hold no power, since his strength was sealed. But the mere act of accepting Melkor's order, of surrounding to his will would be enough. He wanted to make Manwë realize there was no use to oppose him, to try to stop him. He wanted to reshape Manwë to becoe a brother he should be - obedient and loyal, quiet and weak. He knew it depended from how he'd react to his experimental soldiers. Would he say yes or no?

Manwë wasn't even shure his blessing could grant those beings the right to walk in the pure, holy light of the Trees, sacred creations of Yavanna. He looked around, at the monsters around him, and took a deep breathe.

"I..."

The floor under their feet shook, trembled fiercely so suddenly Manwë lost his balance and fell to his knees. A few loose rocks fell from the walls and the ceiling of the cave, crashing to pieces or hurting the monsters.

"What...?" Melkor stood on his feet, but lost his majestic look. He was surprised... Worried?

The light of the torches grew brighter, paler. In matter of seconds it became pure white and piercing eyes of those who were looking that way. The monsters fled, hiding in shadows as the whole cave shook the next time.

Manwë lifted his head. He knew this light, so did Melkor. He could see in the bright radiance fear in Melkor's eyes.

Varda was free. And angry.

For a second they both were looking at each other - the dark Ainu clad in white and the other, kneeling beside him, with a seal upon his forehead. Manwë knew that he should immediately find Elentari and try to calm her down. Her rage was like a blazing heart of a supernova. And destructive like a black hole. The Vala stood up, but had no chance to walk, Melkor's hand caught his wrist.

"Stay with me!" he cried, fear in his voice. "I want you to stay with me, brother!"

He dragged Manwë off the cave and started to lead him down a corridor. They passes a few turns, moving as fast as they could when everything was shaking from explosions in some distance behind them. Manwë's mind was spinning. Were those his friends? Did they find Utuno and freed Varda? Or was it Iluvatar, wishing to punish his brother? Manwë wasn't sure if he was relieved that they left the cave or not. Now his brother was in danger... More, the whole continent was in danger. Why did no one try to calm down the Starkindler? Was she looking for them?

Then Melkor froze and Manwë started to listen to the sound the gust of fresh wind brought to their ears.

A sound of laughter. Some man was laughing and he was in the same corridor, walking in their direction. Melkor turned around, but as he did so he saw two figures walking in their direction. They were far, on the other end of the corridor, basket in white light, but both Manwë and Melkor could recognize them. The dark Ainu stepped to his side, just to stand behind Manwë. The person laughing couldn't be as bad as Varda and Estë.