The silence.

There was nothing but a heavy silence. He gazed at the lush, vibrant lands to the west, called a haven by many and a work of art by others. He felt nothing of it. Not now. He turned his gaze to the East and saw it. A juggernaut of black smoke heading towards his home. He could not see the end of it, all the sea and the sky were covered with this black mass giving the impression that a mountain range was approaching. This storm was approaching to cover everything but it was far from a natural phenomenon. No cloud of this kind could spoil the sky of these lands. At least not without being taken there.

Because it was more than just a storm. It was a shadow. A shadow from an age when the sun had not risen and the Trees had not yet grown.

He knew what that smoke hid. He could feel him. He was approaching at high speed, in a hurry to land on land. But this would not be without difficulty. He looked at the sky and a strong wind came from the West and prevented the advance of the cloud which faced the barrier to advance. The sea became rough under the conflict of the meteorological phenomena. No boats could hope to sail through these murderous waves.

The struggle lasted for hours, hours as he watched the cloud being pushed back and then charging back. During this time he felt him continue to approach. He had managed to find a way in, something deemed to be impossible. Yet he continued to advance, advancing towards him. Had he felt him as he himself had? Maybe not, after all where he was standing was one of the only points of entry from the continent. It would be an advantage for him if his presence was ignored.

But he knew better than anyone that he should never be underestimated. For soon the cloud ceased struggling and allowed itself to be pushed farther out to sea. He watched this from his position on the great silver wall and prepared. He closed his eyes and waited. Hours or days could have passed while he waited but no matter, he had to wait. Wait until he shows up, wait until...

He's there.

He opened his eyes and looked at the distant figure on the beach of Aman. He saw it begin to walk across the plain and waited for it to approach. The cloud was now calm. No, not calm. Attentive. Attentive to the signal to attack, to pounce on its prey. This cloud had nothing natural about it and he feared what would happen if it entered these lands.

The figure came near the entrance to the high wall and stopped. It's head lifted and he felt it's gaze land on him. He knew it was his turn to move now. He then looked one last time at the luminous western horizon and a shiver ran through him.

He was scared. Fear for his life. Fear of what would happen if he failed. Fear for his enemy if he were to win.

He looked up at the sky again and raised his hand. The white clouds above him rumbled with thunder and white lightning struck his hand. When it disappeared a silver blade lay there, shining like the sun and lighter than any weapon. A friend's gift.

Eönwë was ready.

When she touched the sand, the first thing she did was breathe in the air. A marine smell mixed with a flower scent that stretched past the beach.

The woman slowly lifted her head and opened her eyes. Her eyes were engulfed in flame with slit pupils like those of a reptile. She was expecting to see the famous green expanses of Valinor but instead a gigantic silver wall stood in front of her surrounded by its mountain range. A door preventing her person from defiling the holy land. She started to venture towards the doors and walked over the flower patches. At her touch the flowers began to wither and even to burn. A black trail began to follow her all the way to the doors.

Raising her gaze to the blue sky above her, she saw the sun. Motionless at its zenith as if its rider wanted to witness the event.

Arrived at a hundred meters from the wall, she stopped. He was there. She looked up at the top and saw his figure staring at her. They stared up and down and she waited for him to move. She saw him turn to the other side of the wall before he came back to her and a white bolt hit him. When the flash disappeared, he was no longer there. And shortly after a new lightning struck the ground in front of her.

"Even in the heart of Valinor... Ainur can know fear..." she said softly, causing a faint echo in the air.

Where the lightning had struck he appeared. Crouched on the ground, one hand holding a familiar silver sword. There was the herald of Manwë, Eönwë. He slowly got up and stared at her. His gaze lingered on her carnal envelope and she knew he was assembling the pieces.

" An elven woman. You took possession of an elf to enter Valinor. I always hoped that you would come back but certainly not in this way. »

The woman didn't answer and waited for him to continue. He stepped into the green grass and raised his blade at her.

" Don't make me do this. » He said with resignation as if he already knew the answer he would receive.

She just smiled at him.

She pulled a black sword from under her robes and raised it the same way as her opponent. The sword was abysmal black with a faint blue glow covering the edges of the blade. Sadness could be seen in Eönwë's gaze before he closed his eyes and a steely expression appeared.

They both put themselves on guard and waited. The woman stared into Eönwë's silver eyes as he stared into her fiery ones. Tension was in the air and nothing moved in the environment in anticipation. Until the tension broke when Eönwë appeared with a flash in front of the woman ready to strike. He appeared as if the distance between them didn't exist.

The elven woman raised her blade and blocked the herald's. Sparks appeared at the impact of the two magic blades and blocked each other. They now stood face to face swords crossed and eyes fixed on each other.

Eönwë stepped back and came back to hit her side. She took a few steps back and deflected her sword with his own which sent his gesture flying. She in turn struck through his open hilt but before the sword touched him he was gone again in a flash. She immediately turned around and blocked Eönwë's weapon that had appeared behind her and he disappeared again.

She danced on her own as Eönwë appeared and disappeared all around her. Each strike found resistance and no blow reached its target. During this blade dance, Eönwë watched her and saw the golden ring on her finger. He knew what it was, everyone knew the havoc it had caused. The ring glowed and fiery inscriptions could be made out on it.

Eönwë saw that his attacks were leading nowhere and decided to launch a final attack behind her back. The skill of the elves allowed the woman to turn around immediately and block the blade but Eönwë disappeared before contact to reappear above her ready to pin her to the ground.

Launched to block an attack that never came, the woman saw out of the corner of her eye the Herald of the Valar descend upon her but could not counter it. The silver sword stabbed the woman in the back and they both fell to the ground.

Eönwë looked at the skewered body of the woman beneath him and he withdrew his sword. As soon as he did this he saw that his sword was not stained with blood. The woman's wound released a black smoke which dissolved on contact with the air.

He had no doubt that the fight was not over and it was proven when a wave of flame escaped from her and burned several meters around her. Eönwë reappeared further in the grass having narrowly avoided the flames and looked at the woman getting up and staring at him again. She was still smiling.

Eönwë had had enough of this little game and again raised the sword towards her, speaking harshly.

" Enough of that. Let your true form be reveal. » And suddenly, lightning came out of the tip of the sword and went down on the woman who blocked with one hand. The gold ring seemed to react to the touch and the lightning rushed inside as if absorbed. Eönwë saw this but did not admit defeat. He increased his strength and lightning began to overwhelm the woman.

She finally lost her smile and raised her head to stare Eönwë in the eye before suddenly falling forward, one hand on the ground and the other still holding the lightning from the sword. Eönwë screamed in effort and his attack engulfed the woman causing a cluster of flames and smoke around her. He halted his attack and watched apprehensively at the result.

For a few moments nothing happened, only the crackling of the flames remained in the place of the woman. Then the air thickened and a cloud of flame began to rise and swirl like a tornado. Eönwë tightened his grip on his sword and watched the infernal blaze take the shape of an eye. An eye of fire, seen on many banners and on many bodies, a mark of dominion and power. The black slit pupil stared at him and slowly took the shape of a body. A body that slowly began to descend into the burnt grass and walk towards Eönwë as the fiery eye disapeared. He was taller than any elf or man. A veritable mountain of iron, each piece more imposing than the other.

Eönwë had seen illustrations of his fana but it did not correspond to what he remembered. He regained the general appearance but it seemed more compact. Each piece of armor moved without impeding its movement and lined up perfectly with the others. This freedom of movement allowed for agility he wouldn't have had with the armor he knew from stories of yesteryear. He got an upgrade.

"Does this form suit you herald?" The voice that echoed through the air was deep and serious. It sounded like a cave and sent horrible sensations through his being.

" Sauron. » Eönwë said raising his weapon again ready to face the Dark Lord. Sauron waited for him to move but nothing happened. No one moved. Eönwë looked at Sauron then he lowered his head and laughed sadly.

" Look at us. This is how it will end. After all this time… " He fell silent and stared at the still ground. Sauron didn't move looking at his opponent.

" Raise your weapon Eönwë. You know there is no other solution. One of us will die here.»

" And why wouldn't there be other solutions?!" he shouted abruptly, looking at Sauron. " Why does this have to end in blood? Can't we stop everything here and now? Stop this aimless war?»

Sauron said nothing in response. We couldn't see him with his armor but Eönwë felt that he too was tired of all this.

" We are no longer children, Eönwë. »Sauron finally said, his voice having lowered in power to that of a normal voice. " It doesn't matter what we both want because it won't be allowed. If you join me you will suffer for the rest of your life, and if I give up I will be banished beyond the circle of the world. The past will never return Eönwë. So I'm asking you this as a last favor from an old friend.»

Eönwë felt tears well up in his eyes but listened to Sauron's emotionless words.

" Raise your sword and face me with the intention of killing me. »Sauron raised his sword and waited for Eönwë to do the same. The herald felt a tear roll down his cheek then slowly nodded my head and raised his blade to warn himself.

" Maybe it was always meant to end like this Mairon.»

He had no answer.

Eönwë ran at Sauron and prepared to strike. Sauron braced himself and swung his sword diagonally to knock Eönwë to the ground. Eönwë disappeared in a flash and reappeared behind Sauron ready to strike his knee. As the armor was designed, turning around was no problem for the dark lord who blocked the blow with his sword. Eönwë stepped back and without wasting time aimed for the right shoulder. Sauron swerved his body to the side to avoid the blow and lowered his weapon at the herald. He disappeared again and reappeared on Sauron's right flank.

He swung his sword sideways at his face and Sauron jerked his head back in a hurry receiving only a clean cut on his helmet. He quickly retaliated and Eönwë felt the surrounding air thicken as a tendril of black smoke erupted from his back. The spin hit hard Eönwë who was sent waltzing for several meters. After a few rolls, Eönwë rose to his feet and hurriedly blocked the incoming sword strike that was aimed at his head as Sauron had closed the distance between them in record time. The pressure of the blow was immense and Eönwë fears that his grip on his sword will break. Sauron increased the pressure and brought Eönwë to his knees.

Grinning, Eönwë vanished once more in a burst of light, Sauron's sword slamming into the ground creating a mini crater there.

Eönwë reappeared about ten meters in front of the stairs of the Silver Doors calmly recovering his breath. Sauron turned to him not in the least tired from the exchange of blows.

Eönwë assessed the situation. Sauron's magic was far superior to his own but his swordsmanship was unmatched. He had to force Sauron into close combat if he was to win. He then started to run towards him knowing that he shouldn't be left to think of a strategy.

Sauron seemed to deduce the same and acted accordingly. A dozen tendrils of shadows issued from his back and plunged on Eönwë who, seeing the speed of the attack disappeared, thus avoiding contact. But the tendrils chased him and followed his presence even after he disappeared. It multiplied every second and soon a veritable spider's web was on its heels. Eönwë appeared before Sauron and passed under his adversary's sword to strike his knee. The silvery blade sliced through the armor like butter and struck the dark lord's member. Sauron fell on one leg and looked at Eönwë who was about to strike his head. The air thickened again and Eönwë felt the power escaping from a blow from Sauron as he and his sword were thrown back by an unseen force. Eönwë flew above the grass and widened his eyes as he saw the black tendril web about to skewer him mid-air. Eönwë disappeared at the last moment, reappearing on the grass, puffing. Using his power like this was starting to tire him out and was getting harder and harder to do. He could only do it a few more times before he had to manually dodge his attacks, and that was best avoided.

Sauron still on one knee raised his hand to Eönwë and the tendrils arced around him on all sides before rushing at him. Sauron saw that using his power was wearing him down and tried to exploit it.

So instead of disappearing, Eönwë planted his sword in the ground and spoke in Valarin.

" Delgūmā "

Immediately a white barrier appeared around him and pushed back the tendrils now by the hundreds. And though the tendrils could not reach him, Sauron did not give up and putting more of his power into it engulfed the dome of light with a black cloud and began to press the barrier trying to crush Eönwë at the inside.

Eönwë couldn't tell if this barrier was a wise choice but at least he had time to think. He could no longer see his surroundings, the darkness hid his sight and his senses. He had to act fast because surely Sauron was planning a plan too. He now had an advantage, Sauron was injured in a leg, it wouldn't kill him, far from it. Killing an Ainu like Sauron was as hard as making Lord Aulë knit. But this injury would reduce his agility and he could then hit him in his blind spot.

But he shouldn't miss it. He could only use his power a few more times. The maintenance of this barrier was not without consequence especially with the pressure that Sauron exerted on it. If he misses his shot it will be the end of him. But still, he was ready to die if it meant ending it all. Eönwë then began to concentrate his power, he ignored the feeling of corruption surrounding him thinking back to what he was fighting for here. And finally he disappeared.

He appeared behind Sauron's back who was still facing the self-dissipating barrier. Eönwë saw his helmet begin to turn towards him as Sauron had sensed his presence behind his back but it didn't matter anymore. Eönwë raised his sword and pointed it at Sauron's heart ready to end it.

"Farewell Mairon... " He closed his eyes and pierced Sauron's armor to the hilt.

Silence fell on the battlefield as Eönwë was thrust into the dark lord's back. The tendrils began to vanish into nothingness and Eönwë withdrew his weapon from his enemy's body. Sauron's body slowly swayed and crashed face down on the ground with a thud.

Eönwë looked at him with a blank, dull gaze. He knew it would end like this and he knew he wouldn't feel any triumph because it wasn't some evil beast he had slain. No it was a lost soul. A friend. His hatred for Morgoth, on the other hand, only increased tenfold. He let out a shaky breath and realized that tears were streaming from his eyes. He didn't try to dry them and instead turned to the sea.

The dark cloud was still there but without the Dark Lord's influence it would soon be gone. Harmony would soon return and light would once again dominate. Strange, said thus the idea did not please him. Instead, it provoked a feeling of disgust. Light and darkness. Concepts so hackneyed over the ages that he sometimes forgot they represented Ainur. Light for the Valar and darkness for Morgoth. Sauron was not a being of darkness, he was simply part of a losing side.

Not supporting anymore to see this black mass covering the sea, Eönwë invoked again the winds of his lord and accelerated the dispersion of the cloud.

But he did not disappear. The cloud held firm and pushed back the winds as it had done for the past few hours. Eönwë did not understand the reason for this, was there an external source of darkness holding the cloud in place? Sauron had servants wielding black magic yes but none could have the power necessary to maintain such a thing. Only Sauron himself could...

Eönwë remembered who he faced. Sauron the Deceiver, the one who tricked entire kingdoms into ruin by pretending to be something he wasn't.

As dead.

Eönwë immediately turned around and saw that Sauron was no longer there. Only charred grass remained. Eönwë tried to feel his presence but he couldn't find him. It was as if he had completely disappeared from the world.

No, he had passed into the realm of shadows.

Some servants of Morgoth possessed the ability to travel to the Shadow Realm to attack by surprise. Finding them had always been a nightmare but Oromë had found a way to locate them. Those who passed into the shadow realm always left an aspect of themselves in the physical realm. They always left their shadows. Eönwë then tried to find the shadow of Sauron. The one who would be so weak but so important to win. He looked around but couldn't see her. The fact that the sun was at its zenith did not help to locate it because the shadow would be short.

He then noticed a strange detail, a detail that froze his blood.

His own shadow seemed to have lengthened.

Eönwë felt the air move and instinctively raised his blade to parry the unseen blow. Sauron reappeared right in front of him, standing on two legs and the wound on his heart closed. Eönwë wondered how he could still be alive after that and it clicked when he saw the shiny ring on his finger. How could he have forgotten that? The ring was so feared because it contained the power of Sauron, in other words a part of his soul. As long as the Ring exists, Sauron will never die.

Eönwë deflected the blow aside and went to retaliate but Sauron did not allow him and struck him in the face with his other hand. The metal crashed into the herald's cheek and he fell backwards. He was dizzy and felt the taste of metal in his mouth. He looked at his opponent and saw him watching him motionless waiting for him to get up.

Eönwë ignored the pain and staggered to his feet. He brought his sword back to him and Sauron immediately attacked him. The two swords clashed several times and Eönwë clenched his teeth at each blow. Sauron put more and more force into his blows and his speed increased with each pass. Eönwë felt his power increase and found it strange.

'This feeling, I have already felt it somewhere. It doesn't look like the power of Sauron. It makes him stronger than it should. What is going on ? » He didn't have time to pursue the matter further when Sauron pulled Eönwë's sword aside and grabbed him by the throat. The air was cut short and Eönwë clung to his arm reaching out as his other hand held his spar with Sauron's blade. He felt the gloved hand tighten on his throat and was afraid that his trachea would be crushed.

' No more choice' he thought to himself. He vanished from Sauron's grasp with a flash and reappeared behind him trying to strike him. But Sauron seemed fed up with his little trick and with terrifying speed spun around and speared the herald who still had his sword up in the air ready to strike.

Eönwë stared as he saw the blade in his stomach. His mind tried to make sense of what he had just seen. In a split second Sauron had turned and skewered him. Such speed was beyond what Sauron was supposed to be able to do. Yet he had done it with shocking naturalness.

Sauron drew his sword and lifted Eönwë by the collar of his armor causing him to spit blood. The herald looked at Sauron's helmet and stared at the empty eye sockets.

" Look one last time at your glorious Immortal Lands Eönwë. Soon nothing of it shall remain. But my laughter.»

At these words, Eönwë gaze troubled. Visions flooded his mind and his eyes widened in horror as he saw what Sauron had shown him.

Eönwë knew he could die facing Sauron and had fully accepted it. But this ? There was no way he would let Sauron continue like this.

Gathering his strength, Eönwë disappeared out of Sauron's grasp and fell to his knees before the great Silver Gates, one hand on the ground and the other clutching his bleeding wound. What he had just seen made him realize how Sauron had attained such power. He had never had the slightest chance of winning. He had to leave here and warn Manwë of what Sauron was planning. He got up with difficulty and prepared to spread his wings to fly away when the earth began to shake. He looked at Sauron and saw him planted in the charred grass staring at him.

A strong wind emanated from him causing the surrounding trees to shake and rocks to fall from the mountains. You could feel the power building up inside him as if he was a Vala who could bend the elements to his will. Eönwë this time fully recognized the sensation and gritted his teeth preparing for what was to come.

Sauron then stopped and after a dead silence let out a shrill scream that sent shock waves all around him. Eönwë was brutally slammed against the Silver Gates which began to shake under the pressure of the scream. He tried to free himself but failed miserably, he couldn't get away from this cry worthy of the most frightening of nightmares which pierced his eardrums.

Eönwë heard a creak and painfully turned his gaze to see what sounded like a crack against the doors. Shortly after other breaches were created all along the wall and headed towards the top. Eönwë could do nothing but watch Sauron destroy the great defense of the Valar as if it were child's play.

And inevitably, unable to bear the pressure any longer, the doors creaked. The walls and the great guard towers began to crumble in on themselves like sand and Eönwë looked one last time at the dark Maia.

'This is a worthy end to my greatest failure. Forgive me Arien, I couldn't bring him back. ' Their eyes met one last time and the sun illuminated them with a sad light before a cloud of dust covered them.

Sauron stopped the scream and waited. The cloud of dust slowly settled and the light once again shone on Sauron as the Immortal Lands appeared before him. Slowly he picked up his pace and began to climb the cracked stairs of the Silver Doors. He looked at the destruction caused, the entire wall had been swept back and the debris stretched for several hundred meters. A flicker caught his attention and he saw Eönwë's sword planted in front of him. He approached it and took the sword of Mithril. He looked at it long and silently, as if mourning Eönwë.

Sauron sheathed the sword alongside his own blade and strode through the ruins of the gates.

The black cloud then began to advance and no wind came to stop it. He began to cover the plain and followed his master.

Darkness entered Valinor and so began the War of Music.

Very important before continuing.

This is a rewrite of chapter 1. I started this fanfic in 2020 and it was my first try. My writing style has evolved over time and I wanted to show what my writing style looks like in the latest chapters released. (Currently 17 chapters.)

If you decide to continue reading, know that the next chapters will be shorter and much less written. I would like to be able to rewrite the chapters after but it is better that I continue the main story before thinking of rewriting. I feel that the level of writing really increases from chapter 10.

I plan at least 50 chapters to this story. I don't have a release schedule because I don't always have time to write and this story remains above all a personal pleasure so I won't force myself to write. I will appreciate constructive comments if you have the courage and the desire to help me improve.

Also originally this fight was inspired by the one of Diablo and Imperius from the game Diablo III Reaper of Soul.