Fire and shadow roared in response to the Golden Light of Mahtar. The Valarauko, Balrogs as they would later be known, were once Ainu though they had been twisted and corrupted by the evil of the self-titled Elder King.
Mahtar flew around a column of approaching flame. Fire could not harm his body, but this was something else, a spiritual flame that could char his body. Mahtar felt the warmth of the flames as Mairon gestured and redirected them to send the Valarauko tumbling from the mountain peak, shattering the hill it landed on.
Beside them, countless Valarauko fell to light-dispelling their shadows, air and water choking their flames, and the Ainu's arms Mairon forged with connections to the shards.
What had once been forested hills was now a desolate plain, shattered by falling Ainu and Valarauko.
The longer they fought, the closer they came to Melkor's fortress stronghold, Utumno. But the Enemy's forces grew only more numerous and powerful. Mountain ranges had been shattered when their foes wielded weapons of the same make, weapons wielding the power of Mahtar's shards.
An exhausted Mairon collapsed at Mahtar's side. "How has the Enemy come by these weapons? Manwë sees all, or near enough to know when our weapons have made their way into the Enemy's hands. Why did he not warn us?"
But the Host of the West proved more powerful, driving the Valarauko further north. Utumno was not yet in sight when nameless creatures poured forth from the shadows, halting the advance.
The Ainu and these new beings fell by the dozens as the lands surrounding the battle suffered and broke.
Mahtar recalled the Smith's sadness for the hurts the world would suffer and he rose. He lifted his hands, calling out to Eru for help in protecting his new home. A golden light washed over the land, sinking into the earth, fortifying it, the light nourished the trees and they sprouted and grew to new heights. The Tree Shepherds were filled with vigour and struggled against the scurrying creatures of the Enemy.
Yet victory was not theirs yet. A monstrous being of shadow and Unlight approached in the form of an eight-legged beast. Ungoliant it was later named. It devoured the golden light that struck down so many enemies and spun threads of darkness that consumed his light, draining the energy of his attacks.
Mahtar briefly considered his stilling attack, but decided against it. In the near-thousand years, a mere ninety Valian years, since he arrived in Arda he learned much, Even in their destructive wars, no Ainu perished. Death was not known to them. Their bodies could be destroyed, but eventually they would gather their strength and return. He would not introduce those troubles to this world. Stilling may not mean death, but it would be as close they could experience.
Mahtar drew upon the power of another shard and began to twist and fold space, isolating the creature from the rest of the battle. It would be dealt with later.
He flew onwards, bringing light to drive back the shadow as the Ainu redoubled their efforts. The nameless began to flee, From that day onwards, Mahtar was known also as Númelaurë, the Golden Light of the West, among those who witnessed the golden morning when he drove back the creatures of Morgoth.
Alas, when the battle had ended, he turned to find Ungoliant's cage torn asunder with twisted space trailing into the distance. How had this happened? A survey of the shard indicated a new connection had formed. The beast had somehow cannibalized her cage to connect to it's source. No matter, the connection could be severed easily.
Shock.
He could access his discarded shards, see their connections, but he was no longer able to manage them. Was this a trick of Melkor or another 'burden' removed by Iluvatar?
Frustration.
He heard a voice call out from behind. "Olorin! Mairon! He's falling into one of his moods!"
Anger.
Once again he would be treated as a lost child. He was eons old, yet younger than any Ainu, they who came into being before Time itself. He alone wielded more power than any Maia, only the Valar could stand against him. Now he would be sent to rest in Lorien under the care of Estë. Mairon was right, he deserved a place on the Council of the Valar, not this contempt they had for him.
Olorin approached with Tulkas at his side. Olorin, servant of Manwë and Varda, student of Nienna, Mahtar's - companion. Tulkas, the most warlike of the Valar, the one powerful enough to win spars against Mahtar.
"Remember Nienna. Loss is to be grieved, mourned, and healed. "
Where was Mairon? Mairon who gave perspective to Olorin's counsels. Mairon, the sole friend of Mahtar.
Inquiry.
A flash of alarm passed over Olorin's face. "He guarded Ungoliant while you drove back the Enemy and repaired the earth. He- Mairon was taken hostage by Ungoliant."
Rage.
Tulkas raised his hands and Mahtar struck with a fine beam. It glanced off the Vala's gauntlet. Tulkas laid his hands on Mahtar. The reaction was immediate, golden light burst forth, only causing the Valar stumble.
Determination.
Mahtar prepared the Stilling shard while Olorin spoke of the past, of Nienna, of-
Clarity.
Mahtar stared in wonder at the Trees. Their Light had no apparent source, in this world or any other that he could see. Nienna placed a small hand on his arm, "they are all that was left of the Lamps that lit the world before them. Melkor cast them down and Arda was marred by the ensuing war. His victory was all but assured when Tulkas descended from the Void and Melkor was sent running."
He turned to see her small smile, "You are yet new to Aman and carry still a terrible loss. Forgive the others their joy. We still rejoice in the beauties of Arda and our domains. Tulkas may be brash, but he means well. He revels in physical challenges and with a name such as yours Mahtar, The Warrior, he thinks you of like mind to him."
…
Nine years. Three years he had fought before Mairon was taken. Three years he rested during the war. Three years since he returned to battle.
Still he followed Mairon's advice. He would not use the Analysis shards lest he become dependent on them, dependent as he had been on the Thinker, unable to think without- unable to think.
The war was waning with the Host of the West at the very doors of Utumno. Yet lethargy and horror prevailed among their ranks. Melkor had unleashed a new foe upon them in the later years of the war. Elves, twisted and corrupted. Both Orko, deformed shadows of what they had once been and Lumbëquendi, the Elves of Shadow. Mahtar knew not which caused more horror, The Elves who hadn't triggered and were now twisted into a race of servants for the Dark Lord? Or those who had triggered, still retaining a haunting beauty, reminding the Ainu of their failure to protect them?
The Ainu were willing to 'mercifully' end the lives of the Orko, but they could not bring themselves to kill the Elves of Shadow. Instead, the Lumbëquendi were taken to Valinor in the hopes of being healed. Or they managed to escape in the chaos of battle and were not found again.
The world would be forever changed from this war. The land had shifted greatly during the battle and the mending of the world would cost too much. Olorin explained that while they could return the world to how it once was, it was best to move forward and twist Melkor's evil to good.
He recounted a story told to him by Ulmo, Lord of Waters. Melkor forged freezing ice-wastelands, marring the domain of Ulmo who had designed the oceans of the world. Yet, without the freezing ice, the world would not have known the beauty of the snowflake. It was a confusing concept, but he trusted the advice of his companion.
The Elder King spoke a word and Tulkas heaved open the gates of Utumno. Shadows leapt forth and battle commenced once more.
In the caverns of the fortress he found Mairon, chained to the walls. The Enemy, now captured would be taken to Valinor for sentencing. But not all of his servants had been discovered. They fled to the darkness and deepest caverns of the world.
Let them cower in fear. The world would no longer be harmed by this war. The time of the Elves approached and Valinor would not harm the world again to find the dredges of Melkor's forces.