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The Black Book of Arda ending
from slasher’s point of view
by
Jude
Author’s notes (very long).
The Black
Book of Arda (further BB) is one of the most ambiguous apocrypha
after Silmarillion. Its main difference from the Professor’s myth
is that Melkor is a positive character fighting with Valar for
self-determination of Arda and each its inhabitant. I won’t retell
the whole story (the book is worth reading, and worth learning
Russian just for it), only a few notes about some names and
geographic objects.
Elleri Ahe
– the nation of Dark Elves, the first Melkor’s progeny. Nearly all
of them were killed during the first war with Valinor. The nine
Nazgul belong to Elleri Ahe only in my fanfic! In the BB they are
canonical.
Naure – in
my story the chief Nazgul.
Daene (m),
Kyolla (f), Allua (f) – the Nazgul (in my story also).
Elhe (f) –
also one of the Nazgul. A young girl who was in love with Melkor
and died heroically defending him.
Sauron,
Gorthaur, Gorthauer, Orthenner, Artano – five names of the same
person J.
Artano he was called in Valinor when brought up by Aule. Gorthauer
was his name among the Elleri Ahe. Orthenner is a kind of intimate
name given to him by Melkor. As Gorthaur he was known among men.
Sauron is just an offensive nickname, like Morgoth.
Kurumo –
Gorthauer’s younger brother, later known as Saruman.
Helgor –
the mountains in the north of the Middle-Earth. I don’t know where
I found tundra there!
Ast Ahe –
another name of Angband.
And a few
notes about the language. The language of Elleri Ahe was called
Ah’enn, you will meet several words in the text. Most of them are
translated right there, but two of them I shall comment now.
Tano –
Teacher (in its higher meaning, like Rabbi in the New Testament).
Tairni –
Apprentice.
Well,
that’s all, you can proceed to reading…
* * *
I’m
leaving. I shall return with Tano – or I won’t come back at all.
Naure, you
will stay the chief here. I know, you’ll manage. No, none of you
will go with me. It’s only my business. Later. I shall tell
everything later – if I return.
He came as
a simple wanderer, but at once I understood he was not a human
being. Always laughing, but with the eyes staring in the darkness…
And his features – they are seen plainly, but impossible to
remember. At first I nearly wanted to hang the stranger – I
couldn’t stand his endless jokes and mockeries. Even now I don’t
know what made me ask him this question. A question that I’ve
asked thousands of men before but not a single demon, just because
I’ve never met them.
He laughed
and answered:
- It’s
elementary! Don’t you know how to do it? What god are you after
that?
In other
time I would have really killed him for the sneer and for the
“god”. But now… I felt the floor slipping from under my feet and
hardly managed to ask:
- Tell
me... Please...
It was
extremely hard to learn – his mere way of thinking was strange to
this world, I often couldn’t understand his logic, but the demon
was amazingly patient. And after a few weeks at last I opened the
Door, entered the icy airless emptiness behind it and – most
important – managed to return back again.
The demon
looked at my hoarfrost-covered face and laughed.
- Well,
you’ve done it! You are not so dumb after all!
An old
idea about hanging came to my head again, but I resolutely got rid
of it.
- Thank
you, - I shook the demon’s hot hand with gratitude. – What can I
do for you? You’ve helped me so much...
He looked
at me with sudden rigidness and shook his head.
- Nothing.
Just find your Tano. Hear me? Do it. He is waiting for you.
I stood
wonder-struck, unable to utter a word, but suddenly he giggled and
said merrily:
-
Sauron... Who would believe if I say I saw you?
Then he
waved his hand, turned and left the room.
I never
learned his name. However, it’s not important. I’m leaving. I
shall return with Tano – or I won’t come back at all.
* * *
What was
there?
I can’t
describe. Darkness. Cold. Fear...
It’s
easier to say what wasn’t there. No air, no light, no sound.
Impossible to speak, as if you have never had such ability. No
surface beneath the feet, but no feeling of flight either. No
directions.
The demon
said that everything here depended on my wish. That I would get
where I want and find the one I want.
I don’t
know how I understood that Tano was near. I didn’t see him, my
stretched hands didn’t touch anything, but somehow I knew that I
was holding him, and opened the Door again, bringing both of us
home.
The wind
seemed surprisingly warm and fragrant to me, the cloudy sky –
shining and beautiful, the harsh cry of some bird – the best music
in the world. It’s Helgor... we are home.
I looked
down – Tano lay motionless on the dry autumn grass.
No...
no... For all the gods and demons – no!
His body,
writhed as a dry root, is covered with ice, muddy-red from the
frozen blood. Through the semi-translucent cover – dull glistening
of metal, mess of black rags, shreds of skin, clots of blood,
agonizing, cramped face... Black holes filled with ice instead of
starry eyes...
Maybe I
screamed and rolled on the dry grass, clutching on the cutting
stalks... I don’t know. I don’t remember.
Tano,
Tano... Kori-me – my heart...
Minutes
passed. Nothing changed. The miracle won’t happen. Tano won’t
stand up, shaking the ice and chains off, won’t laugh freely,
won’t fly in the air, spreading his black wings.
Writhed
body on the grass and the mad from pain spirit imprisoned in it
–all that was left from Melkor, the One who loved the world...
If I want
a miracle, I must do it myself.
For a long
time I couldn’t make myself touch Tano. I was afraid. Afraid that
he was dead. Afraid that he was still living. Afraid to hurt him.
Afraid that he can’t be hurt any more.
I had to
do something. I made myself turn away from Tano and raised my
hands, open palms forward.
Still I’m
a weak Maia. For example, Kurumo would have done the same much
more quickly and accurately. And I created only a small wooden
house – one room, narrow entrance-hall and a porch – and even the
logs were dark from the rains. But nevertheless it was a piece of
my heart – a house for Tano.
I kneeled
beside him, cautiously slid my hands under his motionless body and
took him in my arms. It was like carrying a statue, only Tano was
nearly weightless... At each step thin plates of ice with frozen
rags of cloth and skin fell to the ground ringing and rustling
softly. The cover cracked and fell; little by little Tano remained
naked – only the chain on his clutched hands, the crown, squeezing
his head, and the mane of gray hair – that was the robe of the
returned King of Arda... But even like this he was beautiful, my
only one, my... Meldo. Beloved.
That’s it.
Why should I say it now? What is the meaning of my impossible
love? Maybe, only that I shall give my body and soul, my blood and
spirit to cure him. Maybe, it’s the meaning of love. I don’t know,
I never loved anybody before him.
I felt
ashamed – I stared at his naked body, which was so like human, and
he couldn’t do anything. I carried him into the house, cautiously
put him on the bed and carefully covered with the blanket.
Hot fire
lighted in the fireplace according to my will; very soon it became
warm in the room. I sat on the bed, looked in the stiffened,
deadly-pale face – and again terror overwhelmed me at the sight of
the empty black eyeholes. Red ice melted, the drops slid down his
temples, as if Tano was weeping with blood.
The
horrible feeling of utter helplessness gripped me – what can be
done to such pain? – but I didn’t let myself give in. Sauron the
Cruel was skillful not only in killing, I’ve been practicing in
healing for thousands of years as if I knew that some day my
strength will be needed for Tano.
And surely
for some purpose I was brought up by Aule, the best Arda’s
blacksmith – I knew the spirit of metal and could talk to it.
I touched
the ice-cold iron of the crown with my fingertips and saw its past
– from the ore to the ingot which could become a sword, a plough,
a necklace or a ring – but was made an instrument of torture. I
saw a tight net of magic spells cast by fear and hatred; now when
the Valar were not in Arda any more, they didn’t mean a bit.
“Go”, – I
said, - “Let him free”.
A shallow
crack cleaved the metal; I unbent the circle and cautiously took
Tano’s head from the opened trap, grinning with blood-covered
teeth.
Sharp pain
in my fingers distracted me for a moment. I found that my hands
merely froze to the metal and not noticing that I tore several
rags of skin from my fingers and palms. But it didn’t bother me,
and I folded the blanket from Tano’s chest, opening his chained
hands. They were tightly clutched to the body, the nails deeply
pinned into his flesh as if he tried to tear his heart out…
The
fetters were as cold as the crown, and the pain in my skinned
fingers grew. But it has taken me only a single glance at Tano’s
mutilated hands covered with never healing burns to forget my own
pain.
“Go”, - I
repeated. – “That’s enough. I will find a better use for you”.
A heavy
snake of a chain slid down to the floor as a living creature. The
opened circles of the handcuffs looked like the jaws of a beast
which had let his victim escape.
- That’s
all, Tano. You are free, - I said softly.
He didn’t
move, didn’t make a sound, but somehow I knew that he heard me –
and wanted to hear, because it was the first voice he heard in a
thousand years… and because it was my voice.
And I
spoke again.
- Tano,
everything will be all right. It’s nothing to fear now. The Valar
are not in Arda any more, and you are home. I shall heal you,
you’ll see, now that I’ve managed to take the chains off… You will
become your old self, everything will be fine, Tano, believe me…
His face
changed elusively while I was speaking – like thawed out.
- It will
be all right, believe me, - I couldn’t restrain myself from
carefully stroking his grey hair, tangled and glued with dry
blood.
Tano moved
a bit at my touch – he turned his head so that my hand was on his
cheek. Obeying to that weak gesture, I stroked his face, trying
not to touch the wounds left by the eagle’s claws. I felt that my
caress was pleasant to him and was eager to sit like this for an
eternity, but Tano needed my help. I couldn’t lose any more time.
Slowly I
drew my hand from his face, and Tano threw his head back, trying
to prolong the touch.
- You’re
in pain, - I said softly. – Please let me help you…
He sighed
and lay still, obedient as an ill child.
I didn’t
know where to start from – each wound seemed the most awful to me.
Only one thing I knew for sure – if I manage to return sight to
him, he will regain it only in the very end to see himself as he
was before. Since his hair turned grey and the wounds marked his
face, he never looked in the mirror and suffered greatly from his
mutiny. He avoided people, tried to hide his burned hands… I had
to make him the one he was – the most beautiful man in the world.
A silver
chalice appeared in my hands; fragrant steam was rising from it.
It was hot wine with herbs – to help Tano get asleep and escape
from pain for some time.
- Drink
it, Tano, - I lifted his head and brought the chalice to his lips.
He took one uncertain sip, then another, remembering how to drink.
- Drink
down…
Obediently
he emptied the chalice, and I put his head back on the pillow. The
wine brought colour to his pale cheeks, and – I didn’t believe my
eyes – Tano faintly smiled.
- Sleep
now… Be sure, everything will be all right.
His lips
moved as if he wanted so say something, and suddenly I felt his
desire, dim as a dream – he wanted me to kiss him.
I couldn’t
believe. Do you really want it?
The soft
answer sounded very clearly in my head: “Yes”.
Tano,
Tano… You are breaking my heart… What are you doing to me? What
for?
I bent
over the bed and lightly touched his lips, still sweet with wine.
Then drew back quickly, afraid that I might lose consciousness.
The rhythm
of his breath changed a little – Tano slept. And I went out to the
porch, held my face up to the rain and wept of joy and pain. Why,
why did he ask about it? Didn’t he understand that this illusion
could kill me? Why give me hope that will never become true? Tano,
Tano, my heart, why?
I wiped
the tears and raindrops from my face and returned to the house.
It’s time to work. I must stop grieving over the castles in the
air.
* * *
The night
passed, then the day, and another night and day, the third night
was beginning. In these three days I forgot whom I was before –
there were neither Maia Artano, nor tairni Gorthauer, nor Sauron
the Cruel any more. There was pain, there were tears I couldn’t
and didn’t want to restrain. There was the heart tearing out of my
chest, and the hands holding Tano. There was mad love, mad pity, a
stream of my strength flowing into his veins, there was an
illegal, torturing joy to kiss him, sleeping, and whisper the
words I wouldn’t repeat if he was awake.
I rose and
lit the candles. The body seemed weightless and ringing, as always
in great exhaustion. I looked at Tano and startled, not
recognizing him. His wounds healed, only thin lines of the scars
were hardly visible. The horrible sores on his wrists caused by
the handcuffs disappeared, the burned hands which I kissed and
warmed with my breath were covered with new skin, tender as a
baby’s. Coal black hair framed his beautiful calm face… and still
remained the purple pits in the place of his eyes.
One
couldn’t get used to it, each time I looked into this emptiness I
was overwhelmed with mad horror, irrational, superstitious. I
couldn’t stand this sight; I didn’t have the right to stop until I
gave Tano eyes.
All my
exhaustion was washed away at once. I returned to my place at the
bed-side and put my hands on his hollow eyeholes. My palms felt
the sharp edges of broken bones.
I recalled
Tano’s eyes – shining, starry. Recalled them laughing, tender,
sad, darkened with wrath… Recalled their elusive colour, their
exquisite cut, blackness of the long lashes and translucency of
the lids… An eternity passed; I recalled and wept, my whole life
passed before me lighted and warmed by Tano’s eyes. I remembered
all his looks, but among them there wasn’t the one I longed to
see…
I returned
to myself suddenly – something tickled my palm. Instinctively I
drew my hands away quickly and gave a cry: Tano’s long lashes were
the reason of the tickling!
They
quivered at my voice; he sighed deeply and opened his eyes.
Stars in
the precious black frame. Mountain glaciers reflecting the
moonshine. And the smile – like the spring sun.
I used to
think that “to die of joy” was a mere idiom. But now it was close
to truth: the joy was so great that it hurt. I pressed my hands to
the chest where the mad heart was jumping franticly, and
voicelessly whispered:
- Melkor…
He smiled
and said:
-
Orthenner… - in a voice hoarse a bit from being silent for a long
time.
We
couldn’t say anything more – just stared at each other so intently
as if I also had just regained sight. A lot of time passed until
Melkor shifted his gaze from my face to his hands and gave a cry
of surprise.
- Can it…
can it be… - he couldn’t finish the phrase. He lifted his hand,
drew it closer to his face as if not believing still, and took a
long lock of black hair which lay on his shoulder. Cried out once
more, seeing its colour and feeling the unusual sensation on the
new tender skin of his fingers.
-
Orthenner, - he whispered pleadingly,- give me the mirror…
I couldn’t
help smiling – it sounded so touching. Melkor took the round
mirror and looked at his reflection. He stared very attentively
for a long time, as if looking at a stranger. Suddenly his hands
trembled, the mirror slipped from his fingers – I hardly snatched
it near the floor.
Melkor
leaned back on the pillows and wept.
I don’t
remember how I threw myself towards him. Took his beautiful,
amazed face in my hands, caught the tears on his cheeks with my
lips, not understanding what I was doing…
-
Orthenner, - his whisper is so close.
- It’s
true, all true, - I repeat unconsciously, - you are beautiful, the
most beautiful one in the world…
His
slender hand touches my cheek, I dissolve in this caress… Kori-me,
what are you doing to me? I stroke his marble shoulders tenderly –
and nearly freeze at his words:
-
Orthenner… you are not my tairni any more.
Perhaps, I
should have asked “Why?”, should have been surprised, hurt, angry…
I couldn’t. Just sat there, having forgotten to draw my hand from
his shoulder, and stared nowhere. Why?
Melkor
looked at me with a smile, but at once it gave place to an
expression of anxiety and confusion, as if he had told a joke I
didn’t understand. Quickly he sat, so that the blanket folded
down, leaving him naked to the waist, and firmly gripped my hands.
-
Orthenner… - now his face was so desperately bright as if he was
jumping in a precipice not knowing yet whether he had wings or
not. – Orthenner, you cannot be my tairni, because you are my…
Meldo.
Meldo.
Beloved.
It cannot
be.
So I’ve
said it. What shall I do now?
Meldo.
Beloved. Me?
-
Orthenner, mellt’e-tehi… Fae-me…
I love
you… My soul…
- Melkor…
Melkor, mellt’e-tehi…
I never
thought I could say these words aloud.
Closer,
closer… Warm hands, heart to heart, cheek to cheek, heavy silk of
his hair in my palms… Bitterness and sweetness on my lips… Melkor,
kori-me…
A huge
bird shoot upwards from my chest, and after that I remembered
nothing. Evidently, Maiar can faint also.
* * *
When I
awoke, it was already light, the endless autumn rain was rustling
outside. I was lying in the bed, something hot and tender was on
my right. I cast a sidelong look – Melkor slept peacefully, having
buried his head in my shoulder. I have never seen an expression of
so full and utter happiness on his face. So it wasn’t a dream?
Cautiously
I disengaged my hand from under the blanket and stroked his hair.
He sighed lightly and smiled in his sleep, and I looked at my bare
arm with surprise. I was dressed in the evening…
I looked
around – my clothes were accurately folded on the chair. I never
had such a habit, usually I toss my things all over the room.
I think I
blushed. Couldn’t get accustomed at once to this warm feeling of
love and closeness filling the air around us. In any way, I didn’t
have time to…
I suppose,
Melkor, too. But it seemed he fit himself in the situation more
quickly – at least, his pose and serene face were so natural as if
he had slept with his head on my shoulder many times before.
I felt
like I had been wandering in some jungle for all my life and now
returned home. Everything was… yes, so right, like the pieces of a
puzzle have gathered in a beautiful picture. Like somebody has
created Melkor and me for each other and waited patiently until we
understood it – and was now looking at us with kind humor and
saying: “Well, at last…”
I smiled.
All lovers think so, deciding fondly that they have invented this
simple truth themselves… Let it be. Each one has only one true
love in his life, and if I have found mine at last, let me have
the same silly, funny, soul-warming thoughts as other people do…
Melkor
tossed uncomfortable in his sleep, his eyebrows frowned a bit, he
stretched his hand and embraced me, moving closer. His body was so
like human – so we shall be able to love each other like people
do. I used to see the faces of the newly married couples, shining
from inside with some special light; I thought I would never be
able to understand their joy – well, it was the most sweet mistake
in my life.
Still the
change from despair to happiness was too sudden: I needed time to
get accustomed to that surprisingly warm feeling in my heart. Ah
well, joyful amazement is not the worst state of mind, I shall
happily agree to live in it for some time…
Melkor’s
unbelievably long lashes quivered, he opened his eyes, lifted his
head and smiled happily.
* * *
Days
passed, becoming weeks, but the constant feeling of delight and
amazement wouldn’t leave me. Mel was recovering. That morning he
could rise from the bed and take a few steps; the day after he was
already walking all over the room, amusingly limping in a habit
and laughing when I told him he should quit it – it was not
necessary to limp when his foot didn’t hurt. One more day – and he
went out to the porch, looked at the endless autumn tundra under
the cloudy sky, then descended the steps and squatted for a long
time, staring at the moss and grass with the look of a child who
has been allowed to go out of doors after a long disease.
And two
weeks later – that day was amazingly warm and sunny – Mel went
away from the house, spread his black wings and took off like a
huge violent bird. I had very rarely seen him flying before,
nearly forgot it, and this amazing sight made the tears come to my
eyes. He was majestic and beautiful – Melkor, King of Arda, The
one who loved the world – and simply Mel for me.
After a
few circles he landed – the air wave tossed my hair – came to me
and suddenly kneeled right into the puddle. Took my hand and said,
gasping a bit:
- Thank
you, Ort… You’ve returned the whole world to me… How can I repay
your kindness?
I lifted
him, as usually losing my head from the touch of his graceful hot
body, kissed his cheeks, rosy from the wind, and said:
- Mel,
once I’ve tried to buy my apprenticeship. It wouldn’t end good.
Now I don’t want to buy from you anything more. Only be with me…
* * *
Autumn was
slowly yielding to winter. In the mornings there was hoarfrost on
the grass, the first ice on the puddles rang merrily, and I
started thinking about the place to live during the cold season.
Now Mel
couldn’t stand frost – he was constantly cold, his mood went low
from a single look at snow or ice: it was not surprising at all.
One day I asked:
- Would
you like to go to Barad-Dur for the winter? It’s warm there, and
the guys are waiting for you… I promised them that I shall return
there only with you.
He thought
for a while, then smiled pensively.
- Well, it
will be nice. Only now I understand how I’ve missed them…
I’ve never
laughed so much before, almost had a stitch in my side. Just
imagine Melkor, King of Arda, standing in the entrance-hall. A
huge fur cap with ear-flaps is laced so tight that only his eyes
and nose are seen. From the neck to the heels there is an enormous
sheepskin coat, stiff as a board, and so slender Melkor looks like
a cave troll. This wonderful suit is supplemented with mittens and
– the most funny detail – grey felt-boots. Just add a pipe between
the teeth and some old bow – and he would suit to keep the gardens
from hares.
Mel even
was offended a bit.
- Why do
you laugh when I am cold? – he muttered somewhere into the collar
of his coat and clumsily turned to the door.
After a
short discussion we have found the best possible transport – a
sleigh in which three white horses made from snowstorm were
harnessed. Flying in such weather was absolutely impossible for
both of us.
Winter
snowstorm on the flat surface of the tundra is very quick, so
after less than a day we have left behind the black rocks of Efel
Duath, then the smooth slopes of the hills… and the horses stood
still, unable to carry us any further. It was too warm for them in
the green fields of Mordor.
I got off
the sleigh, stretched with pleasure and inhaled the warm fragrant
air. Home, home at last… Barad-Dur was in a day’s walk from here.
- Mel, get
off, - I looked back and laughed again – Melkor, cursing and
sweating, was trying to take his felt-boots off.
* * *
We walked
along the meadows and copses, drank water from the clear springs,
and, gathering flowers, made wreaths for each other. I have always
thought that a wreath of white daffodils would fit Melkor much
better than any crown, were it of iron, silver or gold.
Mel was
silent and thoughtful, even a little sad. I also had lots of
things to think about – now that there was nobody to fight with,
there was no need to preserve Barad-Dur as a fortress. There was
no more need for an army, everything fell back into place, as it
was long ago in the blessed Laan Gallome. Our duty was to heal,
teach, help, but not to fight. It will take a long time for the
people (and especially for elves) to stop considering us enemies,
but the work was worth trying.
And our
Nine… I smiled when I imagined the Nazgul’s delight at the
returning of their dear Tano. Yes, Nine indeed – Elhe was found by
the demon when he was my guest. I didn’t know how Elhe and I will
look at each other – I was jealous a bit – but I preferred not to
think about it.
I looked
the ready wreath over critically and put it on Mel’s black curls.
Perfect.
The
evening was approaching when we came to the gates of Barad-Dur.
Mel was looking around with sincere curiosity - he has never seen
this place before, though I tried my best to make it look like Ast
Ahe. But the landscape here was difficult, and the other mood
guided me when I was creating these walls…
- What do
you think about it? – I asked, not knowing yet whether I should be
proud or ashamed.
Mel shook
his head.
- Nice, -
he said pensively. – I feel your soul in everything. It will be
easy for me to live here…
I
brightened with pleasure, and we knocked on the iron-bound door. A
small window opened and a stern voice asked:
- Who’s
there?
I opened
my mouth to put the ardent campaigner in his place and restore my
cracked authority, but Mel playfully pushed my side with his
elbow. I bit my tongue, and he said humbly:
- I greet
you, warrior. May I see any of the Nine?
- What
for? – the voice remained harsh.
- I’ve
brought news… from Gorthauer.
The warder
made a strange sound, the bolts banged, and Mel hissed:
- Hide!
Quick!
I didn’t
invent anything better than to turn into a bat and hide under
Melkor’s cloak, clutching at his shirt with my claws.
“Don’t
scratch me!” – whispered Mel with laughter. The gates opened.
Hidden
under the cloak, I couldn’t see the following events, only heard
the voices.
- Who are
you? – asked the warder.
- My name
is Mel.
- Just
Mel? You… are you a demon, like that one?
I felt
that Melkor shrugged his shoulders – he didn’t know anything about
the demon.
- Follow
me.
We passed
several corridors, went upstairs, and I saw dim light shining
through the cloth of the cloak.
- This man
wants to see you, Lord. He said he has brought news from…
The
warrior didn’t finish the phrase. There was a sound of quick
steps, then a cry…
Indignantly I striked my wings – I wanted to see what was
happening – and Mel threw his cloak open, letting me free.
Blinded a
bit, I made a circle in the air and landed on the floor already in
my human form.
Naure
stood still with astonished, uncomprehending look on his face.
Then kneeled, still unable to turn his eyes from Melkor, and
whispered hardly audible:
- Tano…
Mel
stepped forward, lifted him and firmly embraced.
- Naure,
my boy… I’m back at last.
- But how…
- suddenly Naure fell silent and quick, irrepressible tears ran
down the coarse face of the warrior. He brushed them off with an
impatient gesture and exclaimed:
- Hey,
everybody come here! Tano is back!
Steps,
cries of astonishment, tears and laughter… Melkor hardly managed
to embrace each one of the crowd that gathered around him. His
eyes shone, the joyous smile didn’t leave his lips… One couldn’t
imagine a home-coming more happy.
- Daene,
Allua, Kyolla… - Melkor hardly restrained tears; suddenly
everybody involuntarily stepped aside, and he faced a small
delicate woman, whose clothes already couldn’t hide that she was
expecting a baby.
- Elhe…
She looked
at him and blushed.
- Tano… -
she murmured and stepped back to Naure. Patronizingly he put a
hand on his wife’s shoulder.
-
Congratulations! – Melkor smiled to the couple and cautiously
touched Elhe’s belly. – A guy, - he added competently.
To tell
you the truth, a load was taken off my mind.
In the
evening there was a feast. Certainly, Mel was the centre of
attraction, but I was very grateful to him, because he took me by
the hand, put me by his side and said loudly:
-
Orthenner saved me. He rescued me from the Void, healed my soul
and body. If it were not him, I would never return. His love made
me myself. Thank him…
And the
first toast was proposed to me. All evening long I sat beside Mel,
and now and then people came to me with words of gratitude.
It was
already dark, when we climbed into my tower. Wearily Mel sank on
the bed, lay and put his hands under the head. I sat near him.
- Well, -
at last I dared to break the slightly distressing silence. -
Tomorrow things must take their normal course. You will take the
reigns of government, and I shall become your tairni again.
Melkor
started and rose himself on his elbows.
- Ort,
what’s with you? Why do you say so?
- Look, -
I nodded towards the door. – They can’t even imagine that you can
refuse to rule them. After all, I have been a lord here only
because you wasn’t here. They were waiting for you…
Melkor
frowned and sat.
- Ort, -
he took my hand with his warm, tender fingers. – I don’t
understand why should they need any lord now at all. There is no
more war… And besides, what lord shall I make now? I don’t want to
rule, and as for teaching… The Nine will cope with it much better.
- Mel… - I
caught my breath. – And what are you going to do now?
He closed
his eyes dreamily.
- To tell
you the truth… Most of all I would like to find a place where it
is warm all the year round and to lay out a huge garden. The place
where it is always sunny and the sky is blue, the place where
nobody knows what snow is… Will you go there with me?
* * *
Five
years later.
- I
haven’t got a slightest idea when I was born, - said Melkor. He
was sitting in the shade of vines with a cup of cold wine in his
hand. – But I know pretty well when to celebrate my birthday –
October ninth, when you have rescued me from the Void. Let’s have
a party, invite the Nine…
- Settled,
- I also was eager to see the guys.
They
arrived all tricked out, serious and solemn, in black cloaks.
However, they couldn’t stand our hot climate for more than half an
hour. The first to whimper and demand to take the cloak was Melkor
the junior, Elhe’s son. When the boy got rid of the burden, he
jumped up and ran to the garden screaming belligerently.
We shared
the news, drank some wine, and I went to the house to look after
the dinner. Meanwhile Mel guided the Nine to the garden.
After half
an hour I started to wonder why the guests were still absent, went
there and became a witness of an unbelievable scene.
Elhe and
Kyolla were politely yawning with an expression of utter
awkwardness on their faces. Naure and Daene seemed to be in a kind
of stupor, and only Allua eagerly listened to Melkor’s speech. The
latter stood beside the bed on his knees, his arms were dirty with
ground up to the elbows. He was explaining enthusiastically:
- And here
I grow an absolutely unique radish!
© Jude.
Written December 12, 2001, translated May 21, 2002.
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