The Shadow of the Void

by Herobrineclone95

We all have heard the story of Morgoth. How before he stole the Silmarils his name was Melkor, how he was locked away in Mandos for three ages, how he was evil itself. But what if, in Mandos, he lost his mind? What if all the evil left him and he was left with a child’s heart, soul, and mind? What if the Noldor never left Valinor? What if Melkor never corrupted Fëanor? Find out!

3. 2

After a few months, Melkor continued to live in his mountain range. Much to Manwë's disappointment, Melkor did not regain any of his memories from before, nor did he care to. Melkor knew that he had done something awful to the poor little elves, and he never wanted it to happen again. So he preferred to forget and live peacefully.

One day, as he was trying to help some of Yavana's plants grow, he heard sobbing. He was surprised, no elves except Fëanor ever came into his mountains. And this one sounded very young indeed! He poked his head around a mountain peak and saw a Blond Elfling. "Why are you crying?" He asked the poor thing in a gentle tone.

"P-please d-d-do n-not h-hurt m-me!" The little elf wailed pitifully. "I wanted to follow my big brother, and I didn't mean to bother you!" "Oh, you're no bother," Melkor assured the child as he gently picked him up. "I like elves. Let see if we can find your brother."

He poked around some mountains very carefully in search of the elfling's brother, but to no avail. The elfling began to cry again. "What is the matter?" Melkor asked in alarm.

"It's getting dark!" The poor thing wailed. "And then you'll leave and I'll be all by myself in the dark and the Dark Rider will catch me and eat me!" "Oh, no he won't," Melkor said in determination. "These are MY mountains. No such thing would dare come close to my lands… even in the dark! And I will not leave you all alone. You can stay with me tonight."

"Really?" The poor thing sniffled. "Of course!" Melkor said happily. "I'll just make you a nice place to sleep. And you can have a rest."

Melkor carefully set the elf down and wove a little nest in his long, black hair. "There," he said as he gently picked up the child and placed him in the nest. "No one could steal you from there. And I believe you shall be warm all night."

"Thank you, mister!" The elfling chirped as he happily snuggled into his new bed. "Before you sleep little one," Melkor said softly. "What is your name?" "My name is Arafinwë." The elfling yawned before falling fast asleep.

That night, Melkor didn't rest at all. He kept watch, just in case that 'Dark Rider' dared come into his lands and try to steal Arafinwë. His eyes flickered to every movement of plants and animals, while Arafinwë slept quite contentedly in his soft nest. Melkor was quite upset about the whole ordeal and decided to ask Manwë about it the next day. After all, his brother probably knew where the little elf belonged.