The story of Mairon and Afalanime

Once there was a time when there were no creatures other than the Lonely One, Eru. But then he made the Ainur and they made the Ainulindale, or the music of the Ainur, which created Ea and Arda. A few of the Ainur travelled to Arda and marveled at the beauty of their creations. The chief of these were the Valar, while their servants came to be known as the Maiar. The first to arrive was Melkor, who was the strongest of the Valar, but he put his powers to bad use, and when his fellow Ainur arrived they saw that much of the world's beauty was destroyed by Melkor. So they took up arms against him. He was sent outside the walls of the night, but he found a way back in and created Utumno. But he did not attack any part of middle-earth. Then all things were happy for a time and two large lamps were constructed to light up the world.

Now Aule's greatest servants were Mairon and Afalanime, and they were great friends. But Afalanime desired power above all things, and slowly and secretly Melkor seduced him with false promises of great power. One dark night, Mandos, who can foretell many things which can happen, came to Mairon.

''Beware of your dear friend, Afalanime, for he has turned to the dark side. You must not follow him, for you are the most powerful Maiar of Aule now. Afalanime is no longer Aule's servant. Tonight he shall pledge allegiance to the One who has turned. Do not listen to him, for he will come to you and will try to persuade you to join him. And do not try to persuade him, he will not listen, he is too stubborn'', said Mandos

Mairon nodded his head and stood upright, but secretly in his heart, he wept because he knew that this would become true, and that Mandos does not lie.

Rain fell that night, and Afalanime visited Mairon, as Mandos had prophesied. When Mairon refused Afalanime cursed his name and walked away, into the night.

For many years then Afalanime did not return, but Mairon wept every night for him and happiness left his life forever. Mairon withdrew from all the activities that the Ainur participated in.

One night an attack was made on The Isle of Almaren, from the deeps of Utumno, and at the same time the lamps were destroyed. Mairon's rage against Melkor was great, and he fought fiercely. But as the forces of Melkor retreated, Mairon recognized a face, even in the darkness. It was Afalanime.

Mairon touched his bloody face and he told him that it would be okay, but Mairon's wound was deep, and Afalanime perished. Mairon fell to his knees and moaned loudly, and then cursed the name of Eru three times. But after a few minutes he got up and then walked north, to the mountains, and Mandos saw him, but said nothing.

When Mairon reached the gates of Utumno, he was not obstructed by the guards, for they knew of the damage caused by him, and they were afraid. He walked into the Hall of Melkor, but Melkor did not stir as he stood in front of him. Mairon stood in silence for a moment. But soon Melkor addressed him.

"Why have you come here," said he.

"I have come to make a deal with you," Said Mairon.

"What deal is that, may I ask?"

"Return Afalanime to me, and I will pledge my allegiance to you"

"And why would I need your service?"

"I have come not for you but for the sake of Afalanime"

"You dare speak thus to Melkor, Lord of Utumno? And indeed the fall of Afalanime is known to me and I am happy, for he was a bad servant, and not strong"

"Silence! You shall not speak so of Afalanime! He was noble and more so than even you"

Then Melkor laughed, and his laugh rang out through the hall.

"This was but a test for you, which you have passed. Indeed you have deep inside you a desire for power. And you have the great rage needed for fulfillment of that desire. Yes, I shall call back Afalanime from the dead, but he will not speak, and he will have no emotion. He will be blank-faced. Are you willing?"

Mairon in his folly accepted, and in the Deeps of Hell, he was given a vault, more like a dungeon. No light was present there, except for two brackets of fire, and a strange vial with a green light protruding from it. As Mairon walked to it he saw slowly a life sized image of Afalanime coming out. And Mairon rejoiced and for a little while was happy. But Afalanime was only a false image, and slowly, the image of seeing his best friend standing with no emotion, no response, no happiness, tore his heart away.

So Sauron came into being, heartless one. He became a great lieutenant of Melkor, and his lust for power became great. He lost all the nobility of a true Ainu and became a destroyed creature. And when the War of Wrath finished, he spun evil of his own, and became the Enemy of Middle-Earth. And he employed orcs and other evil creatures to do his bidding.

So ends the Tale of Mairon and Afalanime.