Do not own Tolkien characters! And the supposed "song" that Mirrililli sings isn't real; it's just a mishmash of the kind of goody-goody phrases that Sues usually sing.

The Game of the Gods, 2

Varda studied the Sue Morgoth had picked for a long moment. "That is an interesting choice," she said, and Menelvagor glimmered and flashed.

Morgoth looked suspiciously at the constellation, then back at Varda. "You are giggling. The stars always flash like that when you are giggling."

"Nonsense," said Varda. "Why would I giggle? You have chosen a Sue who is already in Middle-earth, so that I cannot apply reality to her passage between worlds. And, as you know, that is the easiest place to stop a Sue."

Morgoth smiled. "Then you want another weapon?"

"Reality will still be enough," said Varda serenely.

Morgoth snorted, and flicked the Sue, a lovely young Elvish woman with long flowing hair, into life.

---------

Mirrililli brushed the leaves out of her hair, and smiled. She was almost to Mirkwood; she could see the forest banking ahead of her like a great green wall. And soon she would meet Legolas Greenleaf, and tell him how much they had in common. Mirrililli even modestly dared to suppose that love might be waiting for her there. Of course, love lay in the hands of Eru, and might grow in the hearts of any untended. But she had seen the Elven Prince from afar as he passed through Lothlórien one day two centuries ago, and since then she had been unable to forget him.

I hope that he will remember me, she thought, and then smiled as she thought of what her mother would say to such a thing. Stop putting yourself down, girl! Of course you will win over the Prince's heart. How could anyone not love such a beautiful girl, with such dark hair and glowing gray eyes?

Mirrililli stepped lightly into Mirkwood, certain that she would soon be mistress of its green shades.

*******

Mirrililli pushed her hair out of her mouth and panted. The summer sun was hot, even here beneath the leaves, where she had seen no glimpse of it for many a day. The twilight pressed down on her like a hand, and she had spots of sweat showing through her dress in many places. She shuddered to think of what she would look like if she met Prince Legolas now.

But one thing was even more pressing than the state of her dress.

Water.

Mirrililli hadn't brought any water into Mirkwood with her, certain that she would find some soon enough. And she had- but the sound of the water seemed to drift away from her when she went seeking it, so that the stream was always beyond the next hillock. Now she was near it at last, and she walked softly, singing the song that had won her so many hearts in the Golden Wood. It might suffice to win the stream over.

"So don't let me down,

Don't let me see you frown,

Always brighter tomorrow, someday,

In a good way..."

She came over the hill, and smiled prettily to see the stream rushing along before her. At once she ran down the hill and plunged her face into the dark water, drinking to her heart's content.

And as suddenly, she fell asleep on the bank, seeing her dazzling arrival at Prince Legolas's castle. He had a home even fairer than Caras Galadhon, and he welcomed her with shining eyes. Of course he remembered her, he assured her, and there was no reason to fear that any she-elf had a competing hold on his heart...

********

Mirrililli woke, frightened and disoriented. Where was she? It seemed to be a close little chamber, so close that she could hardly move, and the walls clung to her when she shifted.

"Hello?" she called, but her mouth was muffled. She reached up to tear off the covering, and found she couldn't move her arm. She screamed.

Something clicked next to her, and then there came a piercing bite on the back of her neck. Mirrililli stiffened, and found that even her lips seemed frozen. Helpless, she hung in the web as the giant spider fed.

----------------

Menelvagor flashed. Morgoth jumped back from the game-board, swearing.

"Tulkas! Túrin! Earendil! You cheated! You cheated!"

Menelvagor ceased flashing, and Varda's eyes narrowed. "Oh?"

Abruptly the light around Morgoth was bright and strong, and formed itself into an image he knew all too well: Angainor. Morgoth whimpered and fell back into his seat.

"I no more cheated than Angainor still confines you," said Varda, the light fading as she regained her temper. "The water of Mirkwood is enchanted to give dreams, and the girl had no companions to rescue her." Already she was smiling again. "It should have been ridiculously self-evident."

"Forest animals would have brought her water," Morgoth muttered.

"If she could walk in fantasy," said Varda. "But this is reality." She paused, and when she spoke again, her voice had a tone of sweet concern. "Shall we play no longer?"

"No!" Morgoth snapped. "I've got a Sue even you can't defeat!" He reached for a darkened piece of ivory on the far side of the board.

"As you will, of course," said Varda, while Menelvagor flashed again.

Morgoth pretended not to notice.