Defiance by Marta

Fanwork Information

Summary:

Of all the Valar, Ulmo arguably knew the Numenoreans best and it was his waves that were used in their destruction. What must he have thought about the Akallabeth?

Major Characters: Ulmo

Major Relationships:

Artwork Type: No artwork type listed

Genre: Drama, Fixed-Length Ficlet

Challenges:

Rating: General

Warnings: Mature Themes

Chapters: 1 Word Count: 313
Posted on 7 May 2009 Updated on 7 May 2009

This fanwork is complete.

Chapter 1

Read Chapter 1

The Valar spoke long – about choice, and will, and freedom – until Máhanaxar was full of their idle talk. It grated across Ulmo's hearing like a clanging cymbal, but he could not leave. He owed it to those that would die, to at least endure the debate. The others might tell themselves that they debated philosophy's niceties, whether it would make Pharazôn's choice null to shield him from the consequences. All that was true, but it did not tell the full tale. His brothers and sisters talked of genocide, whether they knew it or not.

He had heard the water's melodies, the One's own Song, as clear as it came in Arda Marred; he could not be fooled.

Ulmo knew the people, aye, knew the ships and other treasures that would be lost beneath his water when the One's waves were unleashed; but he also knew of other beings that the Others had forgotten. What of the minnows that lived in the quiet pools, and the rams that climbed Meneltarma? And the stones – what of them? They had stood against the waves for centuries, always resisting the never-altering rhythm, changed but never subdued. Would their choice now be washed aside in favor of the speaking ones? Úinen might restrain Ossë's mischief in small matters, but neither of them could stand against the One's wrath.

And that was the crux of it, really. Ulmo might resist, but even he could not prevail; and if he saved some small remnant, it would be through defiance. He was at root a Child of the One; he had heard too much of the Song, too often, to be otherwise.

Still, he would not restrain his servants from doing what they could – and if their waves pushed some few ships out of harm's way, well, that was their affair.


Comments

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In the Silmarillion, Ulmo seems to be the most caring of the Valar. This captures him perfectly - and of course he'd care as much for the fish, animals, plants, and even rocks that were going to be destroyed as he would the people! Being a Vala, it would be all creation that would be dear to him.

I love the last paragraph. It was a good ending and a great way to wrap the piece up and tie it neatly. Ulmo's defiance was shown most clearly there, although the theme ran in every paragraph and thought he mulled about (ant that is the aspect of this piece that I admire sincerely). Here you managed to portray his personality quite well also, albeit in such a small place (I think I will never be able to do that. LOL). The part that impressed me the most was when he thought about the stones and animal life in the island that would be drowned together with the Men and the island itself... It shows how he did not pay attention to just a matter - that was the rebellion of the Numenorian Men - but much more... The only thing that a bit unsettled me here is that you seemed to portray Eru as a being with narrower mind than Ulmo, as though He had not pondered about every thing and every angle of the matter before pronouncing the doom upon the island; as though in a way He was evil. *shrug* That was just fine, though, and once again, great job for this. :)