Artíre's Revenge by WendWriter

Chapter 7

In a darkened doorway, Narcawë and Artíre hatched their plans for Sauron's downfall.

"Well, we have both been ordered to report on Sauron's progress here in Rhûn," Artíre began, "and Sauron can do nothing about this; if either of us fail to report back, he will be suspect, and he knows it. Therefore, we are safe for the moment."

"We also have evidence of Sauron's claims of lordship of Rhûn," replied Narcawë, "The images of Moko look remarkably like Sauron's Maia form. This, however, will not be enough to convince Melkor of treachery. Sauron could easily argue that his influence over the artisans had caused them to make the carvings and statues the way they were, and Melkor can hardly be represented as he now is - a burned and limping thing."

"I have been meaning to ask about that, Narcawë," said Artíre. "How came our lord to have that cruel crown upon his head, stuck fast that he may not remove it? Is it a punishment of the Valar?"

"As a matter of fact, I heard someone mention the crown as I made my way to Angband," Narcawë replied. "The Elves are complaining that Melkor stole their jewels, which have the light of the Two Trees captured inside them. They also say they were hallowed so that no evil being could touch them without being burned. They call our lord Morgoth now - dark enemy, and have sworn to regain the jewels from him. Even now they are banding together to challenge him until they have reclaimed the Silmaril."

"So it is possible to remove the crown and take the burning jewels off?" asked Artíre.

"Indeed it is," replied Narcawë. "While I was at Angband, I told him that the Elves were massing against him, seeking to steal his jewels."

"'That they are,' he replied, 'but for all the suffering I have endured both in the winning of them and the keeping of them, I would fain let them hound me unto the end of the world if I may be permitted the pleasure of keeping them.'

'But they burn thee,' I cried. 'I see how thou sufferest! Take off the crown of pain and cast it at them! Let them burn, while thou walkest about free from pain!'

"He would not listen, for he deems that the pain is worth the privilege of holding them, whether it destroys him or not. Indeed, if we leave him for long enough, his lust for those jewels, coupled with the pain that even now drives him mad, will eventually destroy him."

"That is a strange thing indeed," replied Artíre, and for a while he was too amazed to say any more. Finally, he said, "I wonder what would happen if someone was to take even one of those jewels from him?"

"That, my friend, does not bear thinking about," Narcawë whispered, fear tightening his voice. "He may be freed in some small measure from the pain of their burning, but he would feel the greater burn of humiliation, and the sense that he is no longer in control of his own realm. He would lose his reason, and who knows what he would do then? His retribution would be terrible for Elves and Men, and I fear to imagine how he would deal with us. Do not speak of this again!"

"I will not," replied Artíre, the germ of a plan beginning to form in his mind. If he could somehow contrive to snatch away one of the jewels and give it to Sauron without his knowing the means by which it came into his possession, surely Melkor would turn on his lieutenant and destroy him? Then he would be avenged indeed for every slight, every insult and every moment he had endured hiding in fear from his erstwhile friends. The difficulty would be setting a plan into motion without making Sauron or Morgoth any the wiser. Since Narcawë was too fearful to even consider the idea, he would have to do it by himself. Artíre would do it. He would find a way, and he would see it done.

Narcawë was silent for a while, then he asked, "What are we going to do about Sauron?"

"Nothing, for the moment," replied Artíre. "Let us do as we said we would, observing the progress of Sauron's work here in Rhûn and preparing the reports to bring back to Melkor. Our lord told me he would have no squabbling in the ranks, so our report should contain nothing bad about his lieutenant. Let Sauron believe about us what he will. His own suspicions may yet condemn him."

"Indeed," replied Narcawë, "for he ever seeks to sunder us from our friends, and if we present a better picture of him than he does of us, then he will be seen as the one who is working against our lord's interests when he complains about us."

"Then that is what we should do," said Artíre. "Give him as little to say about us as possible while intimating that we are not impressed with him at all. His own mouth will condemn him at the throne of Melkor in Angband. Now there is but one thing to do: this curse must be lifted from me. If the other Maiar see me, they will surely bind me if they can. Do you know of any spells that I can use to protect myself?"

"Yes, I do," replied Narcawë, who not only taught him the counter-spell for the binding, but also a protective spell to prevent the binding in the first place.

"Truly you are my friend," said Artíre as he took his leave. "Now I can travel throughout this land and see for myself what Sauron has been doing without fear."

"That spell I taught you will protect you from most harmful enchantments," Narcawë told him. "Farewell, Artíre, and may our enemies receive the just punishment for their misdeeds."

"They surely will," replied Artíre, who made his way straight back to Angband, thinking of ways to put his plans into action. The Elves wanted their jewels back, did they? He would see what he could do about that. After all, It was not right for a Vala to suffer as Melkor did.