ark eyes burned as tender wicked flames flickered past his face. He took away the hammer he was about to use realising his fault. Trying quickly to take out his piece that he vainly tried to save. No good, he thought as he tried an enchantment. A burst of laughing came from his side making his head turn sharply. A large spirit visible through the smoke from the fires that covered the forge emerged from nowhere. His concentration taken was all that was needed. The clear ball of metal burst. It was the only way he could describe it. The shattering ball sent splinters up into his chest. Unprotected he felt the sting. Should’ve worn a vest, he thought grimly. Laughter boomed around in echoes. Mocking him, just laughing away thinking they were best. Bah! They’d never be better.

Hammer flied across the room passing the almost invisible spirit. More laughter echoed as one of them came forward. Seeming to glide across the air, his clear almost invisible feet stood a foot above the floor. He gave the approaching man a snarl. If a man he could be called. Dark raven hair fell well past his shoulders tied back he had a nose of a hawk. It was his preferred appearance and even as a spirit he appeared in that way. The others that surrounded them were shapeless. But no, not Curumo, he was the best servant of the mighty Aule. Untrue, he himself was the mightiest, but no one knew it. Petty Curumo and his tastes. Preferring to tease than work, yet he still managed to have Aule’s right ear. Aule was a Valar! One of the seven who should know better!

Yet he was shamed. Him of all people! He had helped create the sun and moon, the vessels at least. Where was Curumo when that was happened? Probably in the woods trying to learn to hunt the imbecile. He twitched his nose as if a smell bothered him, the man came closer. “It seems dear Sauron that our beloved master has need of a new masterpiece for a gift to his beloved sprouse”, he said sneering at him as he did so. “He seems, the right person for it is me. Seems he forgot our dear ever working Sauron,” his smile was triumphant. Bet he makes something blow up in Aule’s face. He hoped anyway.
“If that’s all you wanted to tell me then you can go, people actually have work,” he almost yelled hoping to not let the man know his anger. A sniggering was heard from behind him. Stupid followers, fools to follow a fool! Curumo made no move to move but bared his teeth at him. The others actually laughed. If he wanted to play games let him! He’d soon be wishing to regret it after he took his place at Aule’s ear. If the Master only found sense! He must surely know how mistaken he was. His second should be the most powerful, Him! He looked around; a crowd of laughing onlookers met his eyes. Shaking his head as if disgusted he stalked out, the door that approached him seemed a relief beyond comfort.

He went out from the forge he had been working in and into another. Yet more of Aule’s Maiar were there. Will I never rid myself of these lesser beings, he murmured. He continued his pace until he reached the above. A small space was just below the aboveground. His favourite place. Here it was where he planned and controlled his rage. Yet he could not today. Surprise and shock hit him. His eyes burned, yet not with water. With Rage. He had felt like this since, since never! He tried to calm down and ignore his emotions. He never had so much hate in him. Never!

His mind racing through years of torment suffered. Ridiculed by his peers. Ridiculed by his Master. And then they treated him such together. Worse than everything under the ground of Eru! He was sickened by his own thoughts. His mind felt so bent, such corruption he felt, gave him instincts to lash out. The wall it came closer and softer as fist hit solid stone. Ripples were made, whether in his brain or not, the ripples pained him so! Neither spirit nor flesh moved yet his mind shook. Life itself, meaningless to him in his immortal being came to haunt him. As faces of the things to come appeared in his head. Laughter it was, the same as those from his enemies. Grim faced people who marched to war with mighty hammers. No! They appeared in the same appearance as his master. Surely no one could make images of Aule but himself.

He ran then. Not down like his urges told him to. But up. Light blinded from lamps that were barely visible on the outside. Yet were they as bright as his fires were? No, he ran on, a dark blur, no one but him could see it yet one other could. Fair forests fell before his feet as the scenes changed as if he wasn’t in himself. He wasn’t realisation hit, he wasn’t in himself but another was! Rage burned with greed and jealousy. Jealousy over his peers seniority. Rage over their acknowledgement, Greed over their power! He felt it all. Running through him, clearly, he saw now what he had been denying. Mountains appeared, founded by nothing, a master’s work he thought. Jealousy rippled, his master had not formed these, but another had! Excitement was tasted and thrown away; he had no need for that. He had anger, his rage that fueled him. He spurred on. Darkness falling, almost engulfing him. Righteousness departed. He felt new, as if he had been born again. Yet again he knew there would be a new master. One that would realise his greatness and power. One who would trust him. Darkness came as light was blocked. Tall as towers black as night, one stood. And Sauron at his right hand!

Back