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A/N: I decided to make my story "The Corruption of Angband" into a series, which I renamed "The Personification of Evil." I thought it would be interesting to take a view on Melkor (Morgoth) through the ages of his dwelling, and the effect his evil has on those of Middle-earth and Valinor. I am not quite sure how long the series will be, but this particular one will be a little longer in chapters than the first, since his reign in this era had many cruel and unforgivable effects.
Prologue
Melkor sat silently, and darkly upon the heights of Angband watching all that moved within his unwavering gaze. Light now filtered the world: light he had sought to destroy with the two trees in Valinor. Long he had endured the glittering twilight brought by Laurelin and Telperion; enduring though he hated them.
Until Yavanna had spoken; her words echoing even into the depths of Utumno: "See how proudly our Valinor doth stand, so beautiful that even the likes of Melkor himself could not tarnish," the trees had been bearable, for he had not suffered their light in the darkness of his dwelling. Silent he had remained; silent and warless. How dare she mock he: the greatest of all Ainur! And silently he began to work in the darkness, avoiding the light of Yavanna's trees at all costs.
And Nienna knew this, for in her heart grew shadow and fear of Melkor's silent wrath. For she knew him more than even Manwë 'Súlimo himself, Melkors own brother, and had grown to fear his rage as it had surpassed even his once boundless love for she.
"Námo," she had whispered, afraid of Melkors ears even in the solemnity of Mandos, "I feel now a threat upon this peace of Valinor. The Elves have awakened, the trees have grown and lightened, and yet a shadow encompasses my mind."
Námo Mandos had listened to Nienna, his sister, with especial attentiveness; her mind being much of his own, and concluding suspicion to fact. Melkor would very well strike soon if he was left to his malice within the darkness. He looked to Nienna, so fragile in her sorrow, and empty in her loss of Melkor whom he knew her to love. But the fear which crossed her golden features he knew not to belong to Valinor, but for Melkor himself.
"Thou shalt be heard by Manwë, sister," he said finally, cupping a soft, slender cheek of his sisters, and stroking it affectionately. "We shalt speak with him together, and if allowed, I will take Melkor to my halls for within he shalt be safe and unable to harness powers of darkness." Nienna had nodded, a sudden surge of hope igniting her chest.
But hope was perhaps least of all which Melkor had thought of while imprisoned in Halls of Mandos, a solemn, and confined place designed for his entrapment. A fury inextinguishable had become his mind, and even with Nienna near, his heart was graven as stone, and his contempt for his brother grew by moments.
"Melkor," she had wept to him freely, "Ilúvatar hast created thou with strength, and heart--not for hatred of those who love you so!" So closely she stood, upright and statuesque. And unimaginably beautiful in her tears. How sweet her tongue sounded-- even sweeter it tasted, he thought. He had outstretched a hand to her then, even against the will of his mind, and embraced her.
"Do not mock my greatness, Nienna, for thou hast not yet seen the extent of my strength," he said said seriously, though stroking the endless flowing tresses of the Ainu he knew himself to love.
"Wouldst thou then use your greatness and power for evil, or for the goodness for which Eru created you with purpose?" She had whispered, trembling within his arms, sighing against his chest.
"Wouldst thou have my strength underestimated because of this Eru creating boundaries for it? Nienna, these Eldar you dwell with I have seen. They are foolish, weak, pathetic beings only suitable for serving...yet they roam freely the gardens of Valinor whilst I am bound here within these halls of your brother as if a prisoner! Would Ilúvatar create me for to be enslaved within halls of mourning wherein I am useless and meaningless? Am I to befriend these Eldar who slander my name?"
Nienna remained silent, allowing for Melkor to speak, and listened intently. Great and fearful though his darkness was, and though it was she whom had sought to protect him and Valinor by this placement, Nienna began to pity Melkor. And so it was that the very own words of Melkor were brought to Manwë for his judgment.
"So though doest now doubt thine own decision, Nienna?" Manwë had asked softly, having heard the thought of the Ainu, and the hesitation in her voice.
"A great evil doest dwell within Melkor, I do concur, but no war craft has he yet appointed nor distributed upon us. Perhaps imprisoning him was a leverage to a greater and more terrible hatred, for I fear greatly that Melkor will not forgive this treatment, nor think lightly upon it." She said. "I foresee a great doom approaches Valinor for this act."
And for this, Melkor was released from the Halls of Mandos, though Manwë and Nienna alike knew a great evil was planted within Valinor.
And now he sat, Silmarils in hand, waiting in the shadows of this new moonlight for his greatest and most terrible of retributions, Ungoliant- trusted friend at his side, and smiled upon hearing the footsteps of the Noldor approaching from the west.
Fëanor, the greatest and most foolish of the Noldor, approached Angband slowly and purposely upon seeing the Silmaril's brilliant sheen even from the lays of Beleriand.
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I had to kind of squish the events during the Two Trees and their destruction, though the Silmarils will be explained in closer detail within the next chapters, as well as the killing of Laurelin and Telperion. But keep in mind, there were thousands of years between these events. Roughly 13,400 years! This is just the Prologue.
