Forochel. April 7, SA 542
MAIRON could not help his lips curl into a smile.
Come closer, the Maia commanded. The Sinda's eyes which reminded Mairon of the aquamarine waters of Aman were unreadable until they landed on Mairon and his throne set up on the top of many stone columns he raised around the round stage. The horror reflected in the Elf's eyes was enough to make Mairon laugh out loud, but he bit down the mirth. Mairon could control the Sinda's body, but Thranduil's mind still kept him out. Mairon tried but he could not break into the ironclad mind. To have full control, he needed to see into Thranduil's head, but it was hidden behind a heavily locked door. That a mere Sinda could guard his mind so well surprised Mairon.
His Silmacil's mind had been as heavily guarded, but eventually, it broke, the lock powerless under Mairon's crafty hands. Now, Mairon had full control of that Silmacil who he could trust to follow his every command even without continuously exerting his power over the warrior.
As to Thranduil opening his mind to him, it was a matter of when not if. It took two moons for that Silmacil to surrender full control to Mairon. Thranduil should take less time, but Mairon did not have time. Elrond was on his way, and he wanted Thranduil ready to face the Half-elven. And the quickest way to achieve full control was to make the Sinda give it up freely.
"Welcome, Thranduil Oropherion." Mairon stood up from his throne and jumped lightly down onto the ice floor. "You have changed your looks, I see. The color suits you."
Mairon circled the Elf. The Sinda was rigid, his lips a thin line. Terror was evident in his eyes, but even with overwhelming fear, there was defiance there.
Having stopped in front of the Sinda, Mairon chucked Thranduil's face with his hand and looked into Thranduil's eyes.
"You should be grateful that I thought you worth keeping."
The Sinda's lips moved but no sound came. "Ah, I forgot to allow you to talk. Did you want to say something?" Mairon smiled into the Elf's face. "I am generous if nothing else. Talk, then, my slave."
"I. Shall. Never be. 'Your' anything." Thranduil's words trembled as they hissed between the Sinda's clenched teeth.
"Unfortunately, I disagree. You are mine. You belong to me now. You will die or live by my words." Mairon laughed aloud, throwing his head back. Then, he stopped and wrapped his long fingers around Thranduil's throat. "You should be honored. It is a rare gift I give. You do understand how easy it is for me to kill you." Mairon squeezed the white neck. These Elves, unlike his fellow Ainur, were so delicate. Beautiful but fragile, these Elves were like flames of a candle, flickering, frail, and oh so very easy to snuff out.
"I rather die than be used by the likes of you." Thranduil's eyes burned.
Mairon grabbed Thranduil's face. "'Likes of me'? I am the greatest of all the Maiar. You should be honored to serve me. I can be a generous leader."
"You are no leader. No true leader lies like you do to hold on to power."
"And what are these 'lies' you speak of? That my master was the greatest of the Valar? That is the acknowledged truth. He pitied the Noldor and helped the greatest of your kind to see the truth, a truth that other Valar hid from them."
"What do you know about truth? You know only lies and deceit."
"Ah, yes. The lies the Noldor spread to cover their revolt and their greed. Did you know why Noldor came to the Middle-earth, Thranduil Oropherion? Did you really think all of them came here just to get back their jewels or to take revenge? Don't be naïve, young one. They came because they wanted to rule over the people here. After all, Noldor think themselves above all of you. What do they call themselves now? High Elves? What does that make you? Low Elf? Is that what you think of yourself and your people?"
Mairon grinned, seeing the conflict raging in Thranduil's eyes. Lies were only good if listeners believed them. And people were more likely to believe the lies when they were clothed in some truth, especially if they are the things they believed in their hearts or things they wanted to believe. Was that not true for all things? Sellers were most successful when they sell items people want the most. When the buyers were eager to buy, they saw less of the defects, even when such defects were glaringly obvious.
Selective blindness. Ignorant or the wise, that did not matter. When one could not see clearly, no amount of knowledge helped them open their eyes. And the ones with the greatest amount of anger were the easiest to convince.
"Do not mistake, Thranduil. Valar do not care about you or your people. Nor do they care about this land. If they did, do you think they would have sat and watched while the innocent lives bled? Remember what happened when the Valar finally sent their army? They tore the lands asunder, sank the most beautiful part of the Middle-earth. Your beautiful home sits now at the bottom of the churning ocean. Your Valar did that, not Lord Melkor. They killed your people and took your home from you. Oh, my apologies. Actually, Noldor did that one."
Thranduil glared at him, but the fire burned less brightly in his eyes.
"These Noldor will act as if they are the wisest and the most enlightened, but mind my words, Thranduil Oropherion. They scheme to rule over your people and all living things on Arda. They left Valinor out of their desire for power. You think Noldor will remain peacefully in the west and let you and your father's people live in peace in the east? Think again, my young slave. Once they are settled enough in the west, they will slowly spread to the east. They will not stop until they rule over all of you. If Lord Melkor was not there to stop them, do you think anyone would have stopped the Noldor from eventually taking over Doriath? How long do you think those Noldorin princes would have satisfied themselves with taking only those Sindar outside Doriath as their people? Those who were rightfully the people of Thingol, hmmm? In the end, who was it that destroyed your beloved home? Not us."
"I. Am. Not. Listening. To. You."
"You need not listen to me. But these Noldor are not your friends. You should look to your own kin."
Mairon snapped his fingers, then pointed to the ice wall behind him. The wall which had been dark illuminated to reveal a large cell whose four walls consisted of ice. Through the clear walls made of ice, you could see someone sitting inside. The prisoner stood up when the light shone over his cubic cell.
Mairon noticed Thranduil suck in a quick breath, but the Sinda did not cry out.
"Your friend is safe, as you can see. I made sure no harm befell him." Mairon grinned.
The Sindarin prisoner was pristine as Mairon had given the Sindarin warrior a chance to clean himself and given him a change of clothes. One thing these Elves and he shared was their dislike of dirt, grime, and blood. Left alone in a cave with fresh water by his feet, the first thing the Elf did was to clean himself of the Orc blood and dirt.
"How do I know if he is real? He may just be a shadow. I know how you deceived Gorlim."
"Good. You question before blindly following. People who follow blindly without demanding evidence and examining it are fools. And if I wanted fools who follow blindly, I have Orcs for that." Mairon whistled a tune and the front side of the cell wall slid away.
"Aron," Thranduil called, and the prisoner who had stepped back looked out.
"Thranduil?" The Sindarin soldier stepped out of the ice prison and came an arm's length away from Thranduil when the chain around his neck pulled him back.
Thranduil's muscles flinched. Mairon knew Thranduil wanted to go to Aron, but he had not given the Sindarin princeling the freedom to move.
"Your mind may not be mine yet, but your body belongs to me," Mairon whispered into Thranduil's ear.
"Are you hurt?" Thranduil called out to his friend, ignoring Mairon.
The prisoner shook his head. "No. They didn't hurt me. How about you? Do not listen to him, Thranduil. He controls the Orcs. One who controls Orcs must not be listened to."
"Do not fear for me. Take care of yourself."
Mairon signaled the Orc standing by Aron's prison. The Orc yanked back the chain, forcing Aron back to his icy cube. He stepped back into the cell, clutching the chain around his neck.
Thranduil turned to Mairon. "You got what you want. Let him go. You don't need him anymore."
"You are right. I don't need him anymore. I could just kill him."
"No!" Thranduil's face crumpled.
"Or I could let you kill him."
Thranduil's eyes widened, but he shook his head.
"Doubt me? You still do not know your position. Have you not realized yet that I can make you do anything?" Mairon let that sink in. "Take out your dagger," Mairon commanded.
Thranduil shook his head, but his hand grabbed the dagger from his waist.
"Go strike your friend."
Thranduil's eyes grew wild as he took a step toward Aron.
"No!" Thranduil's word came through his gritted teeth, sharp and pained. He halted.
Mairon could feel the strain as Thranduil struggled to fight his command.
"Do it!"
The Sinda's body shook. His legs trembled. Mairon asserted himself into the dragon's blood. The golden collar around Thranduil's neck flashed.
"Aaaargh!" Thranduil's body trembled as he roared out a growl, but he was no match to the combined power of the dragon blood and Mairon's sorcery. Thranduil dragged his feet and took a step, then another. Slowly, but inevitably, his steps increased in speed.
On Mairon's hand gesture, the Orc standing by the prisoner yanked the chain, forcing Aron to kneel. The prisoner looked up as Thranduil dragged himself and finally stood above Aron, the dagger shaking in his hand.
Strike him, Mairon commanded. Thranduil's hand holding the dagger shook, but he refused to move his hand.
Mairon frowned. This Sinda, this insignificant, lowly Elf of these mortal lands, pushed against his Maiarian strength. Where did this Sinda's strength come from? From the warriors of the Silmacil, Mairon had expected the strength and the will to defy him, but from this Sinda born of these lands? Without a drop of blood from their superior Noldorin kin?
Mairon fisted his hand. The air crackled with his power. Thranduil raised his daggered hand for a strike.
"Please." When Thranduil's sword pointed at Aron's neck, the proud Sinda begged.
"Don't give into him, Thranduil. Do not let him use me as bait. I rather die than be that. I rather die by your hand…" Thranduil's hand struck.
But before the dagger could strike Aron, Mairon pulled back Aron's chain, then sealed the ice cell with a clear wall allowing both Thranduil and Aron to see each other but not hear each other. The dagger grazed the ice wall.
"Stand down," Mairon commanded.
The dagger clattered onto the floor, and Thranduil stumbled back as if his legs could no longer support him.
"I could have allowed you to kill your friend if I truly wanted that. But I am not that cruel, Thranduil. As long as people do not force me into becoming one, that is. Believe it or not, I do not like blood. And unnecessary bloodshed, even more so. But, if you force my hand, I can and I will. So, do not test me."
Thranduil glared up at Mairon. "What do you want with me?"
Mairon turned and snapped his fingers, revealing another icy cubical cell.
"Recognize him?"
Thranduil sucked in a breath and went rigid.
Unlike Aron, the second prisoner was in a pitiable state. His disheveled clothes and hair were spattered with both black and red blood. Breaking the old Elf was necessary to dishearten the warriors of the Silmacil. They needed to see how weak their leader actually was.
The old Elf who lay crumpled on the floor of the ice cell looked up.
"What have you done to him?" Thranduil's voice trembled.
"Do you really care, Thranduil? Has he not tormented you? I am giving you a chance to return to him all that you have received."
"Why would I?"
"Why would you not? Do you not want revenge for what he has done to you?"
"What has he done except to teach me?"
"Ah, I see. The Noldor have tamed you, have they not? You have become their dog to be commanded. Pity, that."
"That's not true." Thranduil shook his head.
"Is it? So, you forgave them for all the death they caused? For all the loved ones they took from you? Your mother and brother…"
"Do not talk about them," Thranduil growled. His eyes flashed like the spark of fire when one hammers a heated sword. "You know nothing of my loss or the grief of my people."
"I know more about loss than you think." A fire erupted from Mairon, igniting his red hair into a flame. The grief he had guarded carefully for uncounted millennia burst out of him. With an effort, Mairon seized the fires that surrounded him and held them back. The look in Yavanna's eyes still hurt even after all those uncounted years. Why the image of her face suddenly came to his mind, Mairon did not know, but he did not like it.
Thranduil stepped back, his eyes filled with fear.
"You want to keep your friend alive, then kill him instead. That is the choice I give you." Mairon raised his hand and the front wall of the second cell slid open. Gilmagor sat up and looked out.
"Thranduil?" Gilmagor's voice was hoarse as he looked at Thranduil then at Mairon.
"I won't kill him. I won't kill for you." Thranduil shook his head vigorously.
"Then, you will lose your friend as well as your Lord Commander. You can lose both or kill one. Your choice."
"I refuse to play your game."
"But the game will play you, Thranduil Oropherion," Mairon raised his hand.
The chains attached to the roof of the two ice cells moved and each cells containing Aron and Lord Gilmagor moved over the bubbling magma that surrounded the round stage Mairon had erected in the center of the chamber.
"Thranduil," Gilmagor called out in his shaky voice. "He will try to take your soul. Don't let him, lad. Stand firm. Don't give in. Think not of us, but yourself. He will kill us all no matter how you de…"
Gilmagor's words cut off as Mairon snapped his fingers and the wall closed, blocking any sound from him. He allowed the front wall to be clear so they could see even if they could not hear.
"Kill me now because I will not do it." Thranduil glared at him, but Mairon had expected that much. Had Thranduil gave in too easily, he would have been disappointed.
"Is your life so expendable that you would give it up so freely?" Mairon sneered. "Have you already forgotten that I can control you?" Mairon glanced up at the two prisoners hanging just above. They were banging on the ice wall, trying to tell Thranduil not to listen to him. But only he could hear what they were shouting as the clear ice wall suppressed the sound so that only someone with his Maiarian ability could hear it.
"Listen well, Thranduil Oropherion, as I offer this only once. I set up a stage you see before you because I want to be entertained. I am sure my dislike of Elrond is not unknown to you. I want to see this son of Earendil fall. But killing him would be too easy and rather boring. I would like you to fight him for me."
Thranduil scoffed aloud. "And why would I entertain you, and by killing a friend?"
"Well, you wouldn't have a choice. I can command you and you will obey as you almost did with killing your Sindarin friend. Then, you will lose not only Elrond but also Aron and Gilmagor as well."
Thranduil's eyes burned with hatred. Mairon was glad to see it. The more Thranduil hated, the easier it became to control him.
"But there is another option. Fight Elrond. If you win, I will let Aron and Gilmagor live."
"And why should I believe you? I won't kill Elrond. Even if I wanted to fight Elrond which I don't, Elrond's skill with swords is such that I don't know if I can win against him."
"I didn't say you need to kill him. A stab in the heart would do. If the half-breed survives, then that is his luck. I will let all of you live. But, if you lose, I will not only kill him, but all of you as well."
"And why should I believe you? What guarantee is there that you will let them live, even if I defeat Elrond?"
"You should know that a promise given by any Ainur must be kept. Only lower beings break their words. You ought to know that."
"Is that how you tricked Gelir to surrender his body?"
"'Tricked'? I kept my word and prevented his friends from being surprised by the Orcs. It was Gelir who tried to trick me by offering me a body he thought would not survive. Had I been a lesser spirit, he would have gotten away with his bad faith."
"And Gorlim?"
"I promised to unite him with his wife, and I did. If he had misunderstood, that was no fault of mine."
"Ah, so if I misunderstand, it is my fault, is it?"
Mairon laughed out loud. "But, I would think you are wiser than that man. Are you not? How about this? I will allow you to word the terms. Of course, those terms have to be acceptable to me. What I want is for you to defeat Elrond utterly, either have him kneel before me or strike him in the heart. It really should not be a difficult choice. Their death or a chance to save all of them."
"Why should I believe that you have done all these, kidnap Aron and the other soldier, just to see Elrond and I fight?"
"You need not. That kidnapping was a diversion to focus Gil-galad's attention elsewhere. I only noticed you and Elrond later when you were on the trail of the prisoners. I had a chance to lure both of you here and I took it."
"Why were you trying to divert the king's attention?"
"Enough!" Mairon frowned. "Let's focus, shall we? My patience is running thin, Sinda. And I am more than willing to throw those two into the fire. Name your terms or choose to die along with your kind. I do not care one way or the other. I aim to see Elrond dead or defeated." Also humiliated and disheartened, Mairon added with a secret smile. And most of all, to lose all trust and faith.
Thranduil glanced up, his eyes unreadable. He looked up at Aron and Gilmagor inside the ice cubes for a long while. The two prisoners seem to have given up and sat leaning against the one wall. For a moment, Mairon thought the Sinda would not bargain.
"Give me your word that you will allow Aron, Lord Gilmagor, and Elrond to leave this mountain and return to their homes safe, alive and well, untouched by you or your underlings."
"I can promise that, but what of your promise to me?"
"In return, I will pierce Elrond's chest. If he survives, you will allow him and me to leave and return home."
"If I am to give up two lives, three if Elrond survives your sword, I think I at least deserve to keep one life. You will stay to serve me."
"Then I am the only one who takes all the risks. If I win, my friends live, but I lose. If I lose, all of us lose our lives. How is it a bargain when one party takes all the risk? Either kill us and be done with it or take the chance as I do. If there is no hope for me, why should I risk it all to fight for you? Would you?"
No, he wouldn't. Why would anyone take a risk where there is no benefit to himself? Mairon glanced up at the two prisoners. Their death or survival did not matter to him. They were just two flies caught in his trap. Even Thranduil and Elrond were only small baits. The real prize was at the end of the web. His aim was far-reaching, far beyond Mairon's desire for revenge against Elrond and all that he represented. For a bigger prize, he could make this little concession. After all, the chance that the Sinda would win against Elrond was slim.
And even if Thranduil managed to win, Mairon could make sure Elrond did not survive, or better yet, a drop of the dragon blood he had applied to the sword tip would make certain he will benefit either way. Yes. He really had nothing to lose even when Mairon recognized how Thranduil avoided saying he would 'penetrate the heart' as he wanted the Sinda to say.
"Fine. I accept your terms."
"So begins the deal with the demon," Thranduil said. "So be it."
"Now then, kneel," Mairon commanded. He watched with satisfaction as the Sinda bent his knees before him.
Thranduil's eyes widened for a moment, his breath turned rough, but the Sinda quickly erased emotion from his face.
Mairon took out the black sword he had remade from the broken sword found at the foot of Amon Gwareth where Gondolin once stood. Mairon had never thought about the broken, half-burnt body lying next to the sword until he read about Maeglin and his father Eöl from the Noldorin history. "Take it. With both hands. This will seal our deal."
With shaking hands, Thranduil took the black sword. The Sinda gritted his teeth, but his body had no choice against Mairon's command. Mairon smiled, knowing how this would look to the two prisoners who could see but not hear what was happening below them.
"Do you know to whom this sword belonged? Although I had reforged it, this used to belong to Maeglin or rather his father, Eöl. I believe, it used to be called Anguirel, Iron of the Everlasting Star. Maeglin stole it from his father and used it against the Gondolindrim. How appropriate that you would use it against Elrond."
Mairon laughed out aloud. Oh, this was going to be so much fun, the duel between Thranduil and Elrond.
Gorlim—one of the twelve warriors under Barahir, the lord of Dorthonion and Beren's father (so Elrond's forefather through his mother Elwing). Sauron used the image of Gorlim's wife to lure and capture him. Promising to unite him with his wife, Sauron convinced Gorlim to reveal information that led to the capture and death of Barahir and his men. Sauron killed Gorlim, thus 'uniting' him with his dead wife.
Amon Gwareth—hill on which sat Gondolin, the last Noldorin city to fall in the hands of Morgoth (Melkor)
Maeglin (Sindarin, Sharp Glance)—son of Eol and Aredhel, Turgon's sister. He was in love with Idril who married Tuor (Earendil's father). Captured while seeking ore, he betrayed the location of Gondolin to Morgoth when the Vala promised Maeglin Idril and the rule of Gondolin. While the city burned, Maeglin tried to kill Earendil and take Idril, but was thrown off Amon Gwareth by Tuor.
Anguirel—twin sword to Anglachel (sword Thingol gave to Beleg and later remade into Gurthang used by Turin). Eol forged both swords out of a meteorite. He gave Anglachel to Thingol as a price to leave Doriath and establish his own place in Nan Elmoth. Anguirel he kept for himself but Maeglin stole it when he left Nan Elmoth with his mother and fled to Gondolin.