A True Lord of Gifts by Flora-lass

A True Lord of Gifts

Annatar knelt before the One, head bowed.
‘What must I do, to earn forgiveness?’ he whispered.
‘What would you do, if you could choose?’
Annatar already knew the answer. Slowly he raised his head, and replied in a clear voice:
‘I would be a true Lord of Gifts.’
‘There would be a long apprenticeship. Are you prepared for seven ages of toil?’
‘I am ready,’ Annatar said, though his heart sank. He was not afraid of hard work, but he did not like being told what to do.
‘Then go, and perform a different task in every age, until you truly understand what it means to be a Lord of Gifts. Learn to stack, and wrap, and despatch, and deliver. Only then will you be permitted to make, as I know you long to do, and design and direct. Once a year, my messenger will come to ascertain your progress, and report to me. When the seven ages are ended, we may meet again.’
Annatar sighed, inwardly. This was sounding harder by the second. A whole age of wrapping presents! But he knew the One was right.
He rose, and bowed. Squaring his shoulders, he set off for the warehouse.

Chapter End Notes

The instadrabbling prompts were 'different, year, messenger, come'.