Disclaimer: I did not own Buffy, Angel or characters from the Silmarillion and the Lord of the Rings. The Angel Academy and Institute are my own creation.

NOTE 1: This is a short AU of my story, the New Watcher. It takes place after the battle with the First Evil and after the War of Wrath in the First Age of Middle-Earth.

NOTE 2: If you want to know about the Angel Academy and Institute, read chapters 1 and 2 of the New Watcher; and read chapter 4 of New Life to see how Dawn got her wands.

NOTE 3: When Angela or anyone from the Angel Institute are speaking to any of the Valar or Maia, they are speaking in the angelic language, except for the meeting that will be held with the slayers.

During lunch, Angela sat with Namo and Eonwe. "In case you're wondering, the power Eru gave Dawn to wield was around long before any of you were created," she told them.

"Her weapons were made in the Timeless Halls," Namo stated.

"Yes they were, along with ours, and they're called magic wands. The Powers made them just for her and when she dies, they will destroy them. Her wands were also hallowed in the Timeless Halls and no one can touch them, not even the slayers, except Mr. Giles and a few others," Angela replied.

"What will happened if someone touches them?" Eonwe asked:

"It a demon or someone evil touches them, they will die instantly. If anyone else touches them, They will be rendered unconscious for a day; when they wake up, they will have no memory of the wand or wands," she answered.

"Who are the Powers?" Namo asked. Manwë wanted to know, because they weren't in the Timeless Halls when they were there.

"They're a higher order of Ainur than all of you. They stop the efforts of demons who try to overthrow our world; they're also the keepers of human history, including the humans on Arda, or, wherever humans are in the cosmos. They work through the human 6th sense, and are our angels of warning. They're also the noblest and purest of all the angels and are awesome defenders of the cosmos against all evil.

Who do you think have been guiding humans since they awoke on Arda?" It wasn't any of you, except Ulmo. Your only concern were for the elves, and no one else, because they were your darlings. As long as you had them, you didn't care about anyone else. You were the ones who made an ass of yourselves over them." "How did that work out for you?" "Personally, I don't see the attraction."

If the Noldor had not come to Arda to retrieve the silmarils, you would have let all the men, dwarves and the remaining elves on Arda die. You knew the elves would be called to Mandos and eventually settle in Valinor. None of you gave a damn about the dwarves, except Aulë; and men weren't your concern. You washed your hands of this place a long time ago and never looked back. Only Ulmo cared about the children here.

Even when the Noldor returned to Arda your only concern was only for them, and no one else. Now I know why the Eru put Ulmo here. He loves us more than all of you combined, if you love us at all, along with the elves. Ulmo treated all of God's children equally. The operative word being 'equal', and has the most important job of all of you; which is to watch over mankind, which he does very well. You couldn't asked for a better guardian angel than Ulmo. We call him our Michael, here, because he's the only one of you that's ever defended us and has our best interest at heart, and always will. Ulmo 'rocks', as we like to say.

Michael loves us more than any other Ainur. He's always beseeched Eru on our behalf and defended us in the Timeless Halls, and he is the only Ainur that has ever done so; he's also the only Ainur who's ever wept for us. Only the Lord loves of more than Michael, and Ulmo is third. That's why Eru put Michael in charge of mankind, along with Ulmo here. Ulmo is also the only Ainur that understands us; the rest of you don't.

Here's a little tidbit for you. Before men came over the mountain in the First Age, the dark elves taught and befriended them. They were the ones who told men you were the Regents of Arda. Instead of loving you; they feared, disliked and felt estranged from you, not understanding you, or your purpose; or why you let it go on for so long, to the detriment of them. They were bitter because they took the brunt of Mel's torture and they cursed you. What the humans here don't realize is that we are to great for you.

Those elves you love so much hated us and told us to leave their lands or they would kill us, and they meant it. They did not want us around them and were mean, hateful and bigoted towards men and looked down on us. They also called us nasty names and thought we were ugly. Now you know the truth about them," she said.

"Did the elves treat men that way?" Nienna asked.

"Yes," Ulmo answered.

"The worse thing Mel did here was to a man named Húrin, because he defied, scorned and mocked him to his face, and wasn't daunted by his eyes. He had absolutely no fear of him and stood up to him because he saw him for what he was, and told him so; which Mel didn't like, but Húrin didn't care. He took whatever Mel threw at him and he never broke because Húrin was too great for him. He's the most tragic and heroic figure here. Tragic because of what happened to him and his family; and heroic because he stood up to Mel, and be damned the consequences. He's my hero. If you've wondering how I know all this, I got the files on this place before we left home.

Mel didn't know Húrin was called to prophet-hood. A prophet is someone who has been called by God to speak for Him and be His messenger. Mel didn't know his Father was talking to him through Húrin and Húrin also pronounced his doom, and that made Mel angry. He also thought men were nothing and weak and didn't realize Eru had appointed the race of men to take him down.

However, the true savior of mankind on Arda was Fëanor because he made the silmarils, which, by the way, saved God's children on Arda. We know Varda hallowed those stones so no moral could touch them, but, guess what, it was a man who walked right into Mel's liar and took one from him, with a little help of course, and it didn't burn his hands. The silmaril was then passed on his son, another man, for safekeeping. Then another man sailed to Valinor with it because that was Eru Ilúvatar's Will. It was a man he wanted to take the similar from Mel and he also appointed the race of men to guard it because none of them cared about them.

Beren was the one who broke the Girdle of Melían, and as you know, took a silmaril from Mel. It was a man who slapped Varda's and Melían's power back in their faces because he was to great for them. Beren was also called to prophet-hood and so was Eärendil. Our beloved Ulmo called Tuor to prophet-hood.

What none of you understand is – we can see Eru's hand in everything he does concerning us. The men on Arda knew all evil came from Melkor and that he sought dominion over all of Arda. They also said that Mel had to be vanquished where he was, or at least held at bay, by the Noldor. Then also realized why they were brought to those lands, which was to help the Noldor, and they were right because Eru sent them there.

We are Eru Ilúvatar's greatest creation and he wasn't going to let anything happen to us. It was one of the Powers who guided Eärendil to seek you out before he had the Silmaril. Then his wife showed up with the it, and the rest is history," she said.

"Why do you say you're Eru Ilúvatar's greatest creation?" Eonwe asked.

"He told you we were. A hundred or so years after we awoke on our world, Michael gathered all the angels in heaven before the Lord, and the Lord God said: 'behold, my greatest creation, now bow down before them'. Michael was the first to kneel and the rest of you followed; however, not all of you knelt.

There was one who refused to kneel, along with a third of the other angels. Michael noticed and told them to kneel and they refused. The Devil, as he's now called, told him that he was the senior in creation and we should kneel before him. Michael told him to mute his mouth or he would bring the Wrath of God down upon him.

The Devil said: 'I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit on the mount of assembly on the heights of Zaphon; I will ascend to the tops of the clouds, I will make myself like the Most High.' God told the Devil he couldn't have his throne, and told the rest of you to work it out amongst yourselves.

There was a great uproar in heaven and no one knew what to do until the Lord shouted: 'Michael, Michael, Michael', and then sides were taken and therein began the War in Heaven. The war lasted three days and on the third day the Devil and a third of the host were cast out of heaven. The fallen host landed in a pit the Lord had waiting for them, and the Lord cast the Devil down to earth and told us: 'here he comes, that old Devil'.

A third of the host tried to overthrow God and the other angels in order to take over heaven. When the Devil was cast out, he came right after us and told us we were responsible for his fall and losing his glory. We didn't know who he was or what was going on and we really didn't care about his glory. We asked what injury had we done to him and he told us when Eru blew the breath of life on our faces, he saw the image and likeness of God there, and now all his hated was directed towards us.

After the war, the Lord created the angel Af, who's God's Anger, and Hemah, who's God's Wrath. They now stand on the same level as the Lord, as a warning to all of you, in case any of you decide to act like a fool again No Ainur escaped taking sides that day, and the hatred you had for one another was truly something to behold.," Angela finished.

"The Timeless Halls fell?" Eonwe asked.

"Of course it fell. I forgot to mention that the Powers came in during the rebellion; when you go to war, you need an army, and they also guard all the access ways to and from heaven. They are the first and last line of defense in heaven and they watch the rest of you. Now you know why they're a higher order of Ainur than any of you, and were created to be so resolute, they can never fall.

When we were formed, there was a great deal of enmity a lot of you had towards us in the Timeless Halls. The things you did to us; said about us, and the names you called us was disgraceful. There was also a second fall of the angels. When that happened, Eru stepped in and cleaned up the mess. That had something to do with us," she answered.

"There was a second fall?" Namo asked.

"Yes, and after that, all of you got the back of his hand and you felt the sting. He wasn't going to have anymore of that," Angela answered. "During the second rebellion, one of you did something you're never suppose to do, which is sit over us and Eru personally went after him. Every angel knows we don't give deference to any you and you don't take it from us, and Samyaza knew better. That was the second time one of you tried to take Eru's place."

"I always knew the race of men were special to Eru Ilúvatar. There was not one, but two falls of the Ainur from the Timeless Halls. The Timeless Halls have changed forever and will never be the same," Ulmo said to the Ainur. "Now you know why they don't give deference to us, Eonwe."

"What was the name of the Ainur who tried to overthrow Eru in the Timeless Halls?" Namo asked.

"God gave him a new name, the Devil, which means, adversary of God and humankind, and the accursed. His position was the Anointed Cherub Who Covers," she answered.

"We know who he is," Namo stated.

"Where is he now?" Eonwe asked.

"His punishment is to spend the rest of his days with us, until the 'Great Day of Judgment', as Eru told us," she answered. "He's not allowed to harm us directly in any way, and he can't use any of his power. In fact, none of you can unless you get permission from Eru; and only then it will be in a confined area."

"Ask her how long the first rebellion lasted," Manwë said to Namo, with a thought.

"How long did the first rebellion last?" Namo asked.

"I don't really know. The Devil told us before we were formed, Eru had him heralded from his presence. He had already fallen by then and the rebellion was already brewing. After we awoke, it was about 100 to 150 years before there was all out war. Before the war, Eru set a guard of angels around us to protect us from him; but, the slimy bastard managed to get through after being chased off several times.

You have to remember, time runs differently in each dimension. Our world is 50 billion years older than Arda; however, we're relatively young to it, but, we're much older than the elves here. They're simply children to us and we have more knowledge and wisdom than they do. Our children learn more in 17 years of learning than the Elves will every know.

Eru told you that we would also surpass you in wisdom and we've already done so. In case any of you are wondering how we know all this, Eru told us when he called Enoch to prophet-hood and had him write everything down. He also told us all there was to know, and the reasons he did what he did. Eru gave us the names of all the captains who participated in both rebellions; the names of all the angels whoever said, or thought anything bad about us; what they said or thought, and how he punished them. We have the books which came from heaven and Enoch was sitting next to Eru in the Timeless Halls when he wrote it all down," she answered.

"There was a man in the Timeless Halls?" Eonwe asked.

"Of course, because Eru sent for him. Enoch got a complete tour of the Blessed Realm when he arrived, and after the tour, he was taken before Eru. We also know what heaven looks like because Enoch wrote it down, and Eru has shown it to us on more than one occasion; and the secrets therein. Don't forget, Buffy was there. It was during the second rebellion when God called Enoch to prophet-hood and when Enoch returned to earth, our roles had changed," she answered.

"We all knew that the race of men would join the Ainur in the second Music, now we know why," Ulmo said to the Ainur. "Eru Ilúvatar has withheld nothing from them and has told them everything, and we were the ones who knelt before them."

"His greatest creation, with the Chief Ainur setting the example," Olorin said.

"Eru Ilúvatar told them all there was to know," Namo stated.

"Yes," Ulmo replied. "Even things no Ainur knows."

"How were they changed?" Namo asked.

"The fallen angels asked Enoch to intercede on their behalf, which he did, and God denied their petition. When Enoch walked up to some of them, they were shaking and crying and that man pronounced their dooms. You were the ones who are suppose to intercede on our behalf, not us interceding on yours, and God told them that, through Enoch. I know you were surprised that I was a mortal woman; however, during the second rebellion, you were the ones who changed places with us and God kept it that way. All your disobedience, hatred and jealousy of us finally caught up with you. Now you know why it was a man who pronounced Mel's doom.

Eru dealt with us directly after that and we are now doing what you used to do. This used to be your job, but he took it away from you and gave it to us. Now you know why we have the power we have. During the second rebellion, you came after us and that was a no-no. Those rebellions had consequences no one could foresee, especially for the Ainur and that was your doom. We also had a doom laid on us and we got it worse than you did, thanks to the Ainur.

When we read that all of you let Mel have the run of Arda while you were all sitting in your bliss in Valinor; soaking up the light of the two trees, it didn't surprise us at all. It told us what your priories were, which was to perpetuate your own bliss, and we shook our heads at your incompetence.

Now I can see why Eru put us in charge of keeping you safe; and make no mistake, we keep you and your darling elves safe. There are millions of us lying in the bone yard because we sacrificed ourselves to do so and always will. The only reason Valinor is still here and you are sitting in your bliss is because Buffy sacrificed herself to close that rift," she answered.

"She just laid a very harsh judgment on all of us," Varda said.

"Yes she did," Oromë replied.

"Our roles have changed," Olorin said.

"Now we know why Eru Ilúvatar sent mortals," Yavanna said.

"Mortals with power," Aulë stated.

"She just pronounced our doom," Namo told them.

Ulmo kept his counsel because he understood that the Ainur had placed men above them and Eru Ilúvatar kept it that way. He also knew that there was more to the story Angela just told.

xxx

"You said Fëanor was the savior of Eru's children on Arda," Namo said.

"We love Fëanor and he's our favorite Elf. What all of you don't understand is that Míríel died a human death. We knew that the minute we read the reports. Her body was completely worn out and she couldn't go on any longer. That's what happens to us when it's our time to die, our bodies wear out. She also wanted to go beyond the circles of the world, but couldn't because of her fate as an Elf. That's why she went to your halls, Namo. She knew it and we knew it. It wasn't that hard to figure out. She said it, but now of you could comprehend what she meant, we did.

When his mother died, Fëanor felt she had abandoned him and he never got over it. He also didn't like the fact that his father remarried and he hated Indis and their children. Which is normal, by the way; and if anyone saw the dynamics that was going on in that household, anyone with eyes could see that Fëanor was headed for trouble. He's what we call a bad boy and always has been because that was his true nature. He was also arrogant, selfish, restless, hot-headed and did not suffer fools. That's why we love him so much, because he was the antithesis of an Elf and he had all those fine human qualities, like we do," Angela said, with a smile.

Namo smiled back at her.

"When someone is that great, their flaws are just are great. There are many examples of men and women on my world who were just as great as Fëanor, in their own particular field, who had the same tragic flaws. The two go hand-in-hand and you can't have one without the other; that's what makes them great and it also drives them mad. You never understood it because you were dealing with a human dynamic. I'll explain it to you before we leave.

When Mel was released from your halls, he caused strife among the Noldor, and he went right after Fëanor because he saw his flaws and exploited them. Mel never marred Fëanor because Fëanor was already marred and he was ripe for exploitation and Mel simply took advantage of it. It didn't take a genius to figure that out.

However, when you called Fëanor on the carpet Namo, as we like to say, you humiliated him and when he left the Ring of Doom, he cursed you from here to kingdom come when you exiled him. He also broke all the rules you placed on him and mocked your decrees, and none of you did anything about it, as he knew you wouldn't. All of you were dancing to Mel's tune; including you Namo because Mel outsmarted you, and he was the one calling the shots. He got what he wanted, which was strife between the Elves and the Valar and you gave it to him Namo.

By that time, Fëanor was sick of all of you. What none of you knew was that Fëanor was unpredictable and his temper was going to get the better of him one day, and he was going to snap," Angela told them.

"What do you mean by snap?" Eonwe asked.

"His was going to go mad," Angela answered. "The straw the broke the camel's back was when Manwë summoned Fëanor to make peace with his brother. Fëanor cursed Manwë the whole time he was on the way to the Ring of Doom because he was not in the mood to be bothered. Manwë was always trying to keep the peace, but there are some things you can't make peace with and you just have to let it play itself out, to the bitter end. Manwë could never understand that.

When Fëanor found out his father was murdered, all of you saw him fall to the floor. That's when his mind snapped and he went mad, and not one of you cared about his pain and suffering. He had just lost his father and the only thing any of you cared about were those damn silmarils, which were gone forever, but none of you knew it at that time.

That's when Fëanor went into a rage and cursed Mel and Manwë. His father meant more to him than those silmarils and the light of the two trees and now he was gone. What he had always said behind your backs – he finally said to your faces. You should have never asked him for the silmarils in the first place because he was never going to give them to you and Aulë knew it," she answered.

"How do you know?" Namo asked.

"We know him, you never did. He never liked or loved any of you and he hated living in Valinor and thought of it as a prison, an elegant one, but, a prison nonetheless; which it is. The Elves are trapped in that cage and they have my pity. That's one of the reasons so many Noldor left and we know the other. Some wanted to make their own way in the world and wanted out of Valinor. You made a mistake by bringing them there in the first place instead of letting them find out on their own that, that's where they were suppose to go when it was their time to leave Arda. They never needed your protection. The Elves that refused to go to Valinor didn't need your protection and they managed, without your help or guidance; and they are better off for it.

He also thought and acted like a man, not an Elf. Now you know why we understand him better than any of you. It took a man to save a mankind and that man was Fëanor. When he left the Ring of Doom for the last time, he was in a rage and nothing was going to stop him from his quest; any fool could see that. You also underestimated him and he was right when he said the Valar begrudged light to Arda and that darkness levels all. You were sitting in that darkness and you didn't like it. Had Mel not destroyed the two trees, Arda would still be in the dark and you and I both know it. The Valar desperately tried to get the light back and none of you gave a damn about Arda, only Valinor, because that was your only concern. However, Eru Ilúvatar had a different plan.

Fëanor would do anything to get to Arda because his blind rage was driving him onward. Once Fëanor and the Noldor reached Arda, men and elves were saved.

"How?" Eonwe asked.

"When they arrived, they saved the Sindar elves that Mel's troops were about to slaughter and salvation had come to Arda at last, through the heroic Noldor. They also saved one of the houses of men that fought with you Eonwe. Then Fëanor did something stupid, which was go after Mel and we know how that turned out and his temper got him killed," Angela answered.

"What was Eru Ilúvatar's plan?" Namo asked.

"When Mel destroyed the two lamps, one created the bay of Cuiviénen and that's where Eru woke the Elves, near Cuiviénen. When Yavanna sang in the light of the two trees, which was her greatest work, she didn't know she was singing in the sun and moon. When Mel destroyed the two trees, it was time for men to awake and we needed the sun to do that, which is more precious to Eru Ilúvatar than the light of the two trees.

In each case it was Mel, Aulë and Yavanna who were responsible for the awaking of God's children. Aulë made the two lamps which were for the Elves, and Yavanna the two trees which were for humankind. When Mel returned with the silmarils, they were finally in their rightful home, Arda, and the last light of the two trees now belong to humankind. The Valar were only guardians of the light for a short time. When the sun rose over Arda for the first time, Eru blew the breath of life on the faces of his greatest creation, and we awoke.

When Yavanna sang in the light of the two trees, she was also singing in the awaking of her creations which she put to sleep. They too needed the sun to awake. She would be happy to know that when we awoke, the humans here appreciated everything she made, and they looked at her and Aulë's creations in awe and wonder and it make them happy. The looks on their faces was priceless and better than the light of the two trees.

The Noldor and three houses of men keep Mel at bay in the north while the rest of mankind escaped, and we went north, south, east and west. Eru used Mel's own evil against him and all the Valar's and Elves' greatest works now belong to his greatest creation, us. It was always about us. Here's a news flash for you: all good things come to an end and nothing here last forever. Everything on this plane of existence is temporary and change is a constant of the universe. Everyone knows it, and now you do too. You learned it the hard way.

Eru also stepped in and corrected your mistake, which was the sundering of the Elves. He got the Noldor back to Arda through Fëanor to protect us and the remaining Elves because he was not going to let Mel destroy us. He also got the Teleri and Vanyar back too. The Teleri through their ships and the Vanyar who fought in the War of Wrath, alongside men. He put them here for a reason.

When Mel returned to Arda with the silmarils, he could no longer change into any form and was forever bound in the body which Eru kept him in. That's why he could be easily injured and Eru made sure his injuries would never heal; and the crown the silmarils were in weighted heavily upon his head, but, he was too proud to take it off. He was also in constant pain from the wounds he received from touching the silmarils and forever walked with a limp from the wounds Fingolfin gave him. You saw what he looked like Namo, Mel was a mess. Eru Ilúvatar was calling the shots on this one because humans were involved and he was going to make sure we survived.

Now you know why we love Fëanor and Noldor so much. They and three houses of men did all the hard work that needed to be done. Eonwe and the Vanyar only did what we call, mop of work, not the hard work," Angela answered.

"It's time for the afternoon meeting," Aaron said, when he walked over to Angela..