At the Edge of the Precipice by Cirdan

---

Chapter 2

---

That morning, Maimaite came to him as always, and over breakfast, the Maia said,
"You've done much with the mines in the south, and I do not want you to tunnel to
Beleriand itself. I think I will assign you to the eastern mountains. You may enjoy mining
there. I've chanced upon some geodes in the eastern mines from time to time."

"I will not work there or anywhere else in the mines of the Iron Mountains," Maedhros
said.

Maimaite looked to him in surprise. "Will not?"

Maedhros nodded. "It has taken me long, but yesterday as I drifted off to sleep, I finally
understood what you meant of the black heart of Morgoth. Indeed, I have labored, and the
labor has been like that in Valinor, which I did for my own joy and the enrichment of
Arda. But I understand now what it means to be a thrall. I am not tired, but if I should tire
and choose to turn aside from my task, to instead ride upon a horse or read some old
scrolls, I would not be allowed to. I would be forced, against my will, to continue to do
that work that I do now freely."

"Ah." Maimaite looked pleased. "Yes, I see that you do understand the situation. I'd feared
that you would be too innocent to ever perceive the darkness of which I spoke. You could
tire and ask for rest from your task, but if I so desired, I would force you to work against
your will. I might even whip you when you refused still, and then you would not find the
work so joyous, so I would bind you in chains to prevent you from fleeing."

"Is that what you will do now?" Maedhros asked. "For as I have said, I will not work again
in these mines. I have learned the lessons of the mines. I will no longer hunt for the ore
that will allow you to make weapons to use against my brethren. Will you bind me with
chains and whip me until I submit?"

"Nay. I know you well, Son of Feanor. You would not break. You would let me whip and
beat you to the death before you submit," Maimaite said.

"Then what will you do now?"

"What indeed." Maimaite looked at the Prince of the Noldor thoughtfully. He rose and
spoke to a guard outside. Then he returned to their breakfast table. "Morgoth has left you
in my care, and it is my task to break your spirit. I will try to do that, but not by forcing
you to labor against the mountain." He rose. "But first, I desire to bathe. You may have
done so yesterday night, but I have not had such a luxury." He made a face. "The Orcs are
dirtier than rats."

After breakfast, they relocated to the bath. Maedhros sat at the bath's edge as Maimaite
cleansed himself. After several moments, Maimaite said, "Why don't you join me?"

Maedhros shrugged. He wasn't doing anything else. He stripped off his nightrobes, for he
had not yet changed into working clothes, and slipped into the hot water. Maimaite shook
his head and laughed lightly.

"What amuses you so?" Maedhros asked curiously.

"You." Maimaite came to Maedhros and pressed him up against the side of the bath. "You
are innocent despite the Kinslaying of Alqualonde. How long will it be before you truly
understand evil?" Maedhros was about to inquire further when he felt Maimaite's hands
moving over him. They did not move to massage his muscles or to scrub the dirt from his
body. Maimaite caressed Maedhros about his chest and sides.

"Stop that." Maedhros moved to push Maimaite away, but Maimaite caught his arms.

Maimaite pushed them up to the bath's edge and locked them into what Maedhros had
before thought to be handholds to aid in the entry and exit of the bath.

"Long have I desired you even when I worked in the forge of Aule, but the Valar do not
permit the union of a Maia and an Elda in Valinor. Here in Angband, though, it will be
allowed," Maimaite whispered into Maedhros's ear. "I have shown you every kindness
since you arrived here." His body pinned Maedhros's legs in place, and Maimaite's hands
slid over Maedhros's hips and down his thighs. "Surely that is worth something."

One hand moved against the side of Maedhros's buttocks. Maedhros's shifting brought a
smile to Maimaite. Maimaite pressed himself to Maedhros and brought his lips to the base
of Maedhros's neck. He suckled there gently. Maedhros had seen his father doing such
things to his mother before, but he'd never experienced it himself. His muscles tensed, and
his heart pumped nervously. Maimaite kissed along his up-stretched arm. When his lips
were level with Maedhros's ear, he turned to kissing Maedhros's well-formed earlobe.
Maedhros shuddered. Maimaite rubbed his torso to Maedhros's. His tongue flickered out
like a snake's and licked Maedhros behind the ear. Then, very slowly, he licked
Maedhros's ear from base to tip. Maedhros closed his eyes and gasped softly. He was
hardening. All his life, he had wanted to do such things, but he'd never found a partner.
Never had he imagined that his partner would be a man, a Maia, one of the Beautiful Ones.

"Oh my..." Maimaite's words were a hot breath against Maedhros's ear. Maimaite shifted
away for a moment. Then he readjusted himself and rubbed his crotch to Maedhros's
brightening tree. Maedhros was hardening far faster than Maimaite, whose skin was
flushed but shaft still limp. Maimaite smiled. "You are more eager than I expected," he
breathed. He kissed Maedhros's ear and trailed kisses down Maedhros's neck. Maedhros
moved his chin aside. Maimaite's hands caressed upward along Maedhros's thighs and
circled his hips suggestively.

"Because I've loved you since the Days of Bliss," Maedhros said softly as Maimaite
sucked again at the base of his neck. Maimaite paused.

"You cannot mean that," Maimaite said. He licked his way up to Maedhros's other ear.

"How dare you trifle with me at such a time." His tongue traced along Maedhros's ear and
his mouth opened until he engulfed Maedhros's ear and sucked it into his mouth.

Maedhros gasped. His rear tightened, and his crotch thrust forward. Maimaite moved
against him. "Oh...my Lord." Maedhros matched Maimaite's movements, and his rubbing
made Maimaite harden as well. Maimaite's hands positioned themselves behind
Maedhros's buttocks and pulled Maedhros to him. His lips chewed lightly on Maedhros's
ear. "It is true. I have loved you since our days in the Blessed Realm, but never like this,"
Maedhros confessed. Maimaite rewarded him by moving his tongue along the engulfed
ear. "Ah..."

After several moments of pleasure, Maimaite drew his head back. "Can it be true?" he
wondered aloud as his eyes met Maedhros's. "Surely you were speaking of the love of
friends, but can that, perhaps, become the passion of lovers?" Maedhros groaned, for
Maimaite had paused from his kisses and caresses.

"I do not know, Maimaite," Maedhros said, "but we can try." He writhed against
Maimaite's body. "If you are willing, we may try to love each other." Maimaite let his
guard drop as he considered this proposition. Maedhros snaked his legs around Maimaite
and pulled the Maia to him. Maedhros's wrists were still trapped above him, but Maedhros
was very skilled in using his legs to position Maimaite closer so that their trees touched
and kindled to fire. Maimaite did not try to win free. He arms circled to Maedhros's back
and he clung to Maedhros for balance. His lips moved against Maedhros's neck, and he
sucked harder as their rhythm became more set and stronger against each other.

"Let me," Maedhros said. Maimaite looked to Maedhros in search of the meaning of his
words, but Maedhros did not bother to explain. He hooked himself under Maimaite's chin
and began to return the kisses and nibbles that Maimaite had given him earlier. Maimaite's
heart raced. He threw back his head, and his arms tightened about Maedhros. "Mm, yes,"
Maedhros mumbled into Maimaite's skin as he sought for Maimaite's mouth.

Their lips met, and Maedhros could hear the Music of Arda beating in his ears. Their
kisses were open mouthed, and in one careless kiss, a drop of saliva dripped from the side
of Maedhros's mouth. Maimaite thought nothing of it. He licked it up and then licked the
side of Maedhros's mouth. Maedhros twisted his head to meet him and caught the tongue
in his mouth. Maedhros sucked on it eagerly. Their hips met no less eagerly, and their trees
shone with a great light. Maedhros's member burst into song and spilled out hot against
Maimaite's flesh. For that moment, Maedhros held his breath, with Maimaite's tongue still
in his mouth, and felt the Music of Arda move through him. Then he released Maimaite's
tongue. The great song had ended in a bright crescendo, and now, Maedhros felt a bit
sleepy and uninterested in the kisses and caresses of before. It took him a moment longer
to realize that Maimaite had not released and was now softening.

"I'm sorry, Maimaite," Maedhros said with a look of embarrassment. "I should've waited
for you."

Maimaite shook his head. "I do not begrudge you the pleasure that you've experienced,
Maitimo. I was much further off from climaxing than you." He freed Maedhros's wrists
from the manacles by the bath's edge.

"Next time I'll try to be more considerate," Maedhros said gravely.

Maimaite only smiled. They rose from their bath and dressed, and Maimaite led Maedhros
to a different room, a larger room with a great bed. Maedhros colored slightly but sat on
the bed's edge with Maimaite.

"Did you really mean what you said earlier? Or were you simply caught up in the moment
of passion?" Maimaite asked.

"I am a man of my word," Maedhros said. "We are no longer in Valinor. It is said that a
man's nature is to find a woman and wed, but I never found any woman that entranced me
as you do. Perhaps I enjoy the works of the forge too much, and there are few women like
my mother Nerdanel who share in the pleasures of the smith. You are skilled at crafts of
the hand. Let us try to encourage our love to blossom to romance."

"Are you trying to turn me from evil with love?" Maimaite asked.

"Aren't you trying to turn me to evil with lust?" Maedhros rebutted. Maimaite kissed
Maedhros in answer.

"Win or lose, I can think of nothing that I'd want more than to try this contest of wills,"
Maimaite confessed.

"I can." Maedhros smiled mischievously. He moved to the center of the bed. He knelt there
and reared himself up, stretching his arms behind his head. Maimaite looked on in
appreciation at the well-formed body for which Maedhros had been named long ago.

Maedhros slid his outer robe off gracefully but slowly and then tossed it aside. He ran his
hand over his chest suggestively and then slowly began to unfasten the frog ties at the front
of his shirt. When he was halfway down, he licked his finger and ran it over his partially
exposed skin. Maedhros was used to his own body, and the motions he made did not excite
him. It was the look on Maimaite's face that turned Maedhros on. Maedhros leisurely
undid the rest of his shirt and parted it to expose his nipples. He suckled on his thumb and
then on his pointer finger before he began to massage his left nipple. He closed his eyes
briefly and imagined that it was Maimaite's lips teasing his flesh. He was hardening too
quickly again. Maedhros chided himself and reigned in his passion.

Maedhros stood and began to dance. All the Eldar knew how to dance; few could dance as
Maedhros did. He moved with grace that matched well with his beauty, but there was
strength in his movements. His muscles flexed and tightened as he brought his arms in
fluid curves ever back towards his body. His hips swayed in smooth rhythm to a song of
summer that Maglor had long ago composed. He slipped the shirt off and moved to where
Maimaite watched. Maedhros continued the dance, moving suggestively against Maimaite
and then retreating when Maimaite tried to take him. Maedhros smiled as a wave of desire
swept over him. He raised his hands into the air and turned before retreating in quick,
graceful steps further from Maimaite. Maedhros slowly wriggled out of his pants and
rocked his hips back and forth, turning as he did so to allow Maimaite to see him from
different angles. His loincloth seemed ridiculously small for the bulge underneath.
Maedhros dropped himself onto his hands and knees and crawled over to Maimaite. He sat
in his lap with bare legs on either side of Maimaite's body. His upper body continued to
move to Maglor's song, and his hands flirted with the ties of Maimaite's shirt. When
Maimaite tried to kiss him, he dodged. Maimaite surrendered again and suffered himself to
only watch the beautiful body before him. After several moments of dancing, Maedhros
shifted and ran his hands down to Maimaite's crotch. The Maia was hard but not hard
enough. Maedhros squeezed the tree and began to massage it with strong hands. He shifted
so that he sat atop Maimaite's right thigh and moved his crotch against Maimaite's thigh in
rhythm with the movements of his hands. Maimaite watched Maedhros hungrily and
swelled under Maedhros's touch. When Maimaite was long enough, Maedhros shifted
himself on top of the hardness and moved against it. Maedhros leaned back and balanced
on his left arm. His right hand ripped the loincloth from his own impressive elfiness and
massaged it. He had to remind himself that he was massaging it for show, not to finish
himself off. Maimaite apparently enjoyed the sight before him. He put his hands on
Maedhros's hips and pulled him close. He became hot and sweaty, not just hard.

With great reluctance, Maedhros pulled himself away. Maimaite's eyes flashed
dangerously. Maedhros laid himself flat on his stomach and undid the ties of Maimaite's
pants. He parted the front and brought Maimaite's length forth. The danger in Maimaite's
eyes became a look of joy, and the corners of his mouth tipped up slightly. He leaned back
slightly to allow Maedhros easier access. Maedhros took the length in his mouth and
swallowed it. As he serviced Maimaite, Maedhros rubbed his own crotch to the bed, and
he knew that Maimaite was undoubtedly watching his ass. Maedhros imagined the length
in his mouth jabbing into and withdrawing from his rear. There would be some pain but
nothing that he could not endure. The closeness of the souls would bring such ecstasy that
the pain would hardly be felt. He sucked hard. His crotch was sticky with sweat and hot.

He parted his legs slightly, but it did little to cool the fire of his flesh. Maedhros let his
saliva wet the hard rod in his mouth as he drew out. Maedhros drew himself up, pressing
him body ever against Maimaite's.

When he was level with Maimaite, Maedhros said, "Take me, my Lord." He did not wait
for Maimaite's answer or even for a kiss. Maedhros simply turned around and knelt on
hands and knees before the Maia. He heard Maimaite shift. The hard tip of Taniquetil
nudged at his rear. Maedhros parted his legs farther and rested his head against the bed
between his forearms. The entry was slow and sweet. Maedhros knew that it was supposed
hurt the first time, but it didn't. Maedhros's inner fire engulfed him like a shield, and
though his mind registered the physical penetration, somehow, he couldn't feel it.

Maedhros impaled himself again on Maimaite, but still he felt nothing. Maedhros
continues to reach out throughout their coupling, but he felt as if his body was not his own.

Finally, physically worn and emotionally exhausted, Maedhros blacked out.

When Maedhros awakened, Maimaite was nibbling on his ear. Maedhros groaned. His
body was sore. He felt tired and guilty of all that had happened. Maimaite mistook the
groan for one of pleasure and licked his earlobe. Maimaite's hands moved over Maedhros's
body, grabbing and squeezing where they could. Maimaite dipped his finger into a jar
nearby and ran his finger along Maedhros's lips. It was honey, and Maimaite now drew
lines of honey along Maedhros's body and licked it up. When Maedhros at last felt strong
enough in body and mind, he opened his eyes. Maimaite was naked this time, but instead
of the beautiful form of a Maia, Maedhros perceived a dark shape molesting him. He
remembered the burned form of Morgoth and shuddered. Maimaite misunderstood the
shudder for one of eagerness and grasped between Maedhros's legs. Maedhros recoiled.

"Maitimo?" Maimaite's voice was meant to be concerned, but Maedhros heard the fair
word echo hollowly. Maedhros closed his eyes for a brief moment to gather his strength
and then faced Maimaite.

"My father named Melkor Morgoth, Black Foe of the World," Maedhros said. "Perhaps it
is appropriate that I should be the one to name his chief captain: Sauron, the Abhorred."
Sauron's expression darkened, and it was all the more terrible because Maedhros could no
longer see his fair form.

"What are you talking about, Maitimo?"

"I was a fool," Maedhros said ruefully. "I should have realized that the nectar was
poisoned. What is not tainted in this foul place? But my mind was befuddled, and so I
believed erroneously that I could turn you back to good with my love. I did not perceive at
the time that all love had long departed from your heart. Even in Aman, when you served
Aule, you were but biding your time and awaiting the release of your Dark Master."

"Little good will your sight do you," said Sauron. His form swelled until it became that of
a large werewolf. In that body, he was even stronger than before. He pinned Maedhros
beneath him and grinned with wicked teeth. "A pity you have learned the truth so soon. I
would have enjoyed having you as my sex toy, and you would have enjoyed it as well."

Maedhros said nothing. He did not shrink from the horrible red eyes that sought to
dominate his will. Sauron reached between Maedhros's legs again. Maedhros knew that he
did not have the strength to resist, but he tried to nevertheless. Sauron held him down. His
black hand caressed Maedhros's inner thigh and the jewels between, but Maedhros did not
harden. Even if Maedhros had not been able to see through his fair form, disgust would
have overcome his desire. This black-hearted creature was not the Maia who Maedhros
had once loved as a fellow smith. He was a foul servant of Morgoth who delighted in the
torment of others. His grin widened as he watched Maedhros struggle against him. Saliva
dripped from his jaw and burned Maedhros's skin. Maedhros hadn't been expecting that.

He screamed.

To his horror, he felt Sauron harden at his scream. The dark tower pressed against
Maedhros. His tongue lapped at Maedhros's face, and each lick burned like acid. Maedhros
gritted his teeth and did not cry out again, but the very tension in his jaw and muscles as he
fought the pain turned Sauron on. A claw languidly cut into his side. It traced its way
along his chest and over his nipple. Maedhros gasped. He could barely contain himself.

The pain was excruciating. He had no doubt that the claw was venomous. Sauron kissed
Maedhros with his great maw and stuck his snake-like tongue into Maedhros's mouth.

Maedhros tried to turn his head away, but Sauron pursued him, bit him, and claimed his
mouth again. Maedhros's throat burned with the poison and he tried not to swallow.

Sauron pushed his hard bone to Maedhros's soft shaft. He ground himself hard against
Maedhros until Maedhros wondered if his elfiness was permanently damaged.

Sauron howled in triumph. He pushed Maedhros's legs up to the sides of his head. A tail
brushed against Maedhros's exposed rear like sandpaper. Though Maedhros knew that
Sauron was watching his every expression, he could not help but to close his eyes to that
foul face so close to his own. He felt the hot breath of Sauron's laughter on his skin. Then,
Sauron thrust himself into Maedhros's tight opening. Maedhros had tried to gather his
strength in preparation of this, but even so, he could not help but to cry out. As soon as he
did, the werewolf's maw claimed his mouth, seeking to suffocate him even as he continued
to scream. Maedhros tore his face from Sauron's. The sharp teeth cut at his lips; the tongue
licked his cheek and then forced its way into Maedhros's mouth again. Below, the bone
had pushed itself in as far as it could go. Sauron did not withdraw for several moments,
and though Maedhros struggled to escape his grasp, Sauron held him with his black hands.

Then, when Sauron withdrew, Maedhros discovered that the shaft was barbed like that of a
cat's. He felt the skin of his anus tear and bleed. Soon after, Maedhros passed out.

Maedhros came to when a bucket of cold water was poured over his body. He was no
longer in the room with the large bed. He was in a dungeon of stone, and his wrists and
ankles were in chains. Worst of all, he was not simply chained against the wall or to a
rack. He was chained over a stone slab, with his knees on the floor and his arms and chest
stretched over the slab. His position left little doubt as to what would be forthcoming.
Leather cuffs were at his thighs and chained so that his legs were already spread. He had
been dressed, barely. A leather loincloth covered his front, and its ties about his waist and
between his legs were thin and tight.

"Now what was that lover's name that you gave me?" Sauron said thoughtfully. He was
again in fair form, but a shadow hovered ever about his form so that Maedhros was not
deceived. That fair form was clad in shiny black leather raiment and held a three-pronged
whip. "Once, it had been Maimaite, the Beautiful-handed." He loosened the wound whip
and tested it in the air. Then he put the handle of the whip under Maedhros's chin and
raised his face. "If you like, you may now call me Dark Master." He grinned.

"Nay, that was not the name I appointed to you," Maedhros said. "You are Sauron, the

Abhorred, and I will not acknowledge you as master."

"Wrong answer." Sauron stepped back and casually whipped Maedhros. The three-prongs
each marked his back, but this pain was easier to endure than last time's torment. Sauron
continued to ask him questions and to whip him when the answers did not please him.

When Maedhros's muscles contracted to endure the whipping, his loincloth cut into his
skin. Sauron circled him and pressed a hard crotch against his rear. "I can't believe how
much this turns me on. Oh, I've enjoyed torturing others, but it never brought me this kind
of a thrill." He circled back to face Maedhros. "Would you like to suck on it? You did so
before and seemed to enjoy it very much."

"Go fuck yourself," Maedhros said, or rather, he said the closest Elven equivalent. There
were very few Elven expressions that could convey Maedhros's feelings, but he'd become
a loremaster under his father's tutelage and so was skilled enough to come up with new
expressions. His tone added to the curse.

Sauron laughed. "I'd rather fuck you," he said with a chilling smile. He wasn't foolish
enough to put himself into Maedhros's mouth. Instead, he grasped Maedhros's hair firmly
and shoved the handle of his whip into Maedhros's mouth. Maedhros gagged but could not
withdraw. Sauron climbed atop Maedhros and started pressing his hardness against
Maedhros's back while continuing to hold Maedhros by the hair and shove the whip handle
into his mouth. When he tired of imagining his sick fantasies, Sauron shoved Maedhros's
head hard against the stone slab. He stood before Maedhros and undid the ties of his
leather pants to show Maedhros his dark tower. Maedhros's brow furrowed as he fought
back another gag. Sauron laughed.

Sauron circled around to Maedhros's rear and pulled the top of the loincloth so that the
thong cut into Maedhros's skin. Then he began to spank the well-formed ass until
Maedhros's flesh was red and sensitive. He circled his black hand around Maedhros's front
and tore the loincloth off. He massaged Maedhros with a skillful hand, but still Maedhros
did not harden. Maedhros was not at all amused or interested in the perverse "love" of the
foul servant of Morgoth. At last, Sauron lost his patience. He snarled, annoyed that he was
unable to provoke Maedhros. Sauron gripped Maedhros's shoulders and shoved his
member in. He pulled on Maedhros to bring himself even deeper. Maedhros did not cry
out. He knew that Sauron liked to see him struggle. He was tempted to let himself go limp,
to simply allow the penetration to happen, but he could not. He was afraid that his body
would learn to simply accept such things and that his mind would follow soon after. If he
gave in to the pain by taking the easier road, Sauron might eventually wear down his will.
So Maedhros struggled though it was a hopeless struggle. He sought to throw Sauron off.
He tried to break his chains. But he did not scream, and he did not let himself pass out.
This time, he endured his trials until Sauron tired and left him. Only then did Maedhros
rest.

When he awakened, Sauron was there, as usual. Sauron was dining at a small table.
Maedhros was chained with his arms and legs in the air this time, giving Sauron an
excellent view of Maedhros's body.

"You must be hungry. You haven't eaten for quite some time," Sauron said. He offered
Maedhros some food. Maedhros turned his head away. "Oh, that's right. The poison. Well,
what will you do? Refuse to eat until your strength has totally left you? It's not as if it'll
make a difference. You are my sex slave, willing or no. But the poison will make the
thralldom easier to endure."

Maedhros said nothing. He simply glared at Sauron.

"Not feeling conversational?" Sauron rose from his meal. He dabbed a napkin to his lips.

"Very well. I've had a long day too. Let's just get to the fun part then." He picked up the
bottle of nectar and came to stand before Maedhros. He tried to make Maedhros drink, but
when Maedhros refused and spat out what was forced into his mouth, Sauron shrugged and
poured the nectar over Maedhros's body instead.

"You're very beautiful, you know," Sauron said as he admired Maedhros with blood red
liquid staining his flesh. He nudged the wine bottle into Maedhros. Maedhros struggled,
but the chains held. His body swung as he thrashed, but Sauron didn't need to hold him
perfectly still to get the top of the bottle into Maedhros. When Maedhros was hurt too
much to fight back, Sauron pushed Maedhros's already parted legs farther apart and sucked
on his elfiness. Even soft, Maedhros was an impressive length and beautifully built.

After having his fill, Sauron lowered the chains about Maedhros's knees and ankles so that
Maedhros seemed to be sitting in the air. Then he brought Maedhros down onto his
hardness. His hands gripped Maedhros's rear and squeezed, parting the two halves.
Maedhros's weight did the rest to bring Sauron into him. Sauron pulled him up by the ass
and let him drop down onto the hard shaft again and again. Maedhros said nothing. When
he could gather enough strength, he struggled. When he could not, he let his eyes speak of
his defiance against the dark enemy. In time, the torment ended, and, tired beyond
measure, Maedhros was somehow able to sleep suspended in the air.