Five Elements: A Drabble Cycle

By Ithiliel Silverquill

Part I: Earth

Maglor dug his toes into the dirt of his mother's garden. The dark soil had absorbed the light of Laurelin, and it was warm to his small feet.

Nerdanel chuckled as she watched him, pausing with a trowel in her hand to flick a copper curl out of her face. "Are you having fun, little one?"

Maglor smiled. Of course he was having fun. This was his time for just him and Ammë, out in the garden, far from the smithy and the schoolroom. She would dig, and he would watch her. All things grew tall and beautiful for Ammë.

Part II: Wind

The wind howled through Formenos. It curled itself around the towers, snatching at the banners, tugging Maglor's hair in all directions.

The wind of Formenos was so different from the clamor of Tirion. Instead of the lilting voices of many people, it was only the hollow groaning of the wind. The wide sky seemed empty and lonely all around them.

Maglor could bear the cold silence no longer. He closed his eyes, laid down his harp, and began to sing with the wind itself, lending his voice to harmony with its moaning, and his soul to harmony with its emptiness.

Part III: Fire

The stench of the burning Alqualondë filled the air. Maglor could taste it on his tongue. The sky was alight with frenzied orange as flame called to flame, and he could barely see the swan-ships for the smoke.

His father's voice rose above the clamor. "To me, Kindred of the Noldor!"

Fëanor was dark, silhouetted against the flames, sword raised and shining in the heat.

Maglor did not fall that day. Yet as he moved through the Teleri, rending and killing with the cold ease of a serpent, he felt something within him crumble beneath the weight of the flames.

Part IV: Shadow

"Hush, little one. No one will hurt you."

But Elrond's cries would not be stilled. Maglor sighed as he walked the hall, in front of the hearth, waiting for the child to calm.

He remembered the day that he had found them. This one had been in the back of the cave, curled up in a fetal position. Even now, shadows lingered in the child's piercing gray eyes.

Maglor closed his eyes and laid the small head against his collarbone. "I am sorry."

Perhaps it was fitting that the child could not accept the apology. Perhaps he would never understand.

Part V: Water

The gulls surrounded him, shrieking and crying. They were his companions now; he refused to go back to his own kin. The Sea was always beside him.

How the mighty is fallen, the gulls seemed to cry. The fire consumed the spirit, now the Sea consumes the soul…

Maglor wept, for it was true. He could not leave the Sea to which he was bound. His songs were rife with its sorrow, and in his dreams it consumed him like it had the Jewel.

And so he wandered ever upon the shores, singing in pain and regret against the waves.

Author's Notes:

This was written as a response to a challenge on HASA: to write five drabbles based on the five traditional elements: earth, wind, fire, water, and shadow. I decided to use them to show different stages of Maglor's life. I hope you enjoyed it!

Erestor: I'm glad that you liked them! I know they aren't like what I usually do, but they're nice for a change. And as for the diversity: well, I like to be diverse. It makes me unpredicatable. ;) Thank you, as always!

Avalon Estel: Don't let drabbles intimidate you! All I do is concentrate on capturing just one image in as few words as I can, then use Word's wordcount feature and play with what I've written until it's 100 words exactly. It's easier than it sounds, really. :) I'm glad that you liked them! Thank you!

kingmaker: Wow, thank you! I had intended to make the Ecthelion one slightly deceptive at the beginning, and I'm glad you liked that. As for the Maedhros one: that's actually the second drabble I ever did ( I don't know if I'll end up posting the first one or not!) and I'm still rather proud of it. (blushes) Thank you so much!

Noldo: Yes, it was Gothmog! The same Balrog that killed both Fingon and Fëanor, if I remember correctly. Glorfindel is fun, isn't he? Trust him to say something nice and insulting like that. :) Thank you for your review!

SilverWolf7: Ah, you caught the irony. I have a fondness for irony, and I like to use it whenever possible... even lying under my more lighthearted pieces, like this one. But that aside, the friendship is what this one was about, and I'm glad that you enjoyed it. Thank you!

Glorfindel ZedMurray: Isn't it incredible how much one can do with just 100 words? It's so much fun. Yes, I agree about that: one of the greatest friendships indeed. Thank you so much!