Category: Lord of the Rings
Rating: T
Couples: Elrohir/Melkor, OC/OC and the canon ones also (some only in mention)
Warnings: Slight Slash; Not so slight AU; Blood; Angst
Chapter: 10
Copyright: Most Characters and Places © By Tolkien; Some characters and plot © by me
Author's note: I know the place where Melkor was imprisoned after the War of Wrath at the end of the First Age in Canon was simply the Void; the emptiness between the stars. That which was outside of the Timeless Halls of Eru, but for the sake of this story I have to throw him in a prison only reachable by the other Valar.
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
"He has betrayed us so often! He caused us so much harm! We will not ask for his aid!" Burning eyes never released the dragon.
"You have no choice." The calm was mocking. "You need him."
"Why? Whatever has he to offer us but pain?"
"Power. Power you shall need before this is over. 'He who arises in Might'" The Dragon shifted into a more comfortable position and started to clean her claws. "Unless you want him to be victorious off course."
A silence descended on the camp. None answered her. For none understood what she meant.
"What were his words again? Ah… yes; 'You will pay for this!'- he repeated that several times if I remember properly - 'This world will burn when even the last of my servants is death!'- and Sauron is death, isn't he? - 'Balrogs and dragons will destroy everything!'" A smile formed around her lips. "And with every bit of respect towards the Balrog- and Dragonslayers, but I doubt that without the Valar, all fifteen, you shall be victorious this time."
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
"How does she know that?" Fourteen of the Valar had gathered on Taniquetil and had turned their gazes eastward. "None but us were present when he uttered those words."
"Tumaran…" All thirteen cringed when the fourteenth whispered that word. "Have you forgotten what powers he had been gifted with? Farsight… Foresight…"
"So we must leave? We have no choice?"
"I am afraid not. But will we call him? Just so he betrays us again?"
"We don't have a choice in that matter either. Not really at least."
"Who will go?"
"I will, but later. First something else."
"Eärendil?"
"Yes."
"What shall we do with him? He swore an oath never to set foot on mortal lands again. And now he must."
"We cannot demand he becomes an Oathbreaker."
"We also can't keep him up there. He would never forgive us. Especially when news reaches him of what happened to Elrond. His firstborn."
"Which means he willingly would become an Oathbreaker."
"Does that change anything?"
"Yes."
"Very well. Varda, visit your favourite star and tell him. I will go to Melkor."
"How much should I tell him? Tumaran…"
"No, no Tumaran. At least not more than they know."
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
"And why are you here?" Hate dripped from these words. "After Ages you visit your brother?"
"This isn't an informal visit."
"Oh really? I never would have guessed! I mean… You won, so you'll come and laugh in my face, don't you? 'Hahahahahahahaaaaaaaa… I woooonnnn, Baby brother woooonnnn.'"
"No…"
That one word held so much sadness that Melkor finally looked at the Valar on the other side of the bars. He looked broken.
"Brother?" Of all the Valar, his twin had still been the nearest to his heart. "Whatever happened?"
"Tumaran."
Melkor hissed. "That madman? Don't tell me he's coming here. I don't want him as a visitor."
"No… no… nothing like that. But he's back in Middle-Earth and also reminded us of something you said. You swore."
"And why are you here?"
"Already the first problems are rising. One elvish City has already been destroyed by him. Many are facing their death shortly after their rebirth. Unless the Valar go to Middle Earth."
"Still, you need not have come here. And I doubt you come for my advice."
"He wants all of us to come…"
"All of you?"
"Us."
"Us? Wait… Me? Me!? He wants me as well?"
"Yes."
Melkor dropped onto the ground. His legs simply couldn't support him any longer. "And you? Would you want me?" His voice was weak and shivering.
Manwë reached through the bars and laid his hand against his brother's check. "I never wanted you to end up in here. I never did."
"It is so cold here, brother, and so lonely." And there, Melkor broke and wept.
