How if Melkor got another undesired visitor aside from Beren and Luthien? How if the strange “creature” was even more undesirable than the former lord of Dorthonion and the daughter of pitiful Melyanna?

There was always a first time for everything and everyone. Kía of Belegost and her special orange cloth and the smell of orcs in the air, for instance.

Maedhros built his fortress in Himring very well, and he was proud of it. But he had never considered to shield it against magic… Fortunately – or not? – the intruder was just a strange, benevolent-looking old man.

Sometimes the dream that comes true is more horrifying than the dream itself, and living the said dream is even worse. A seven-year-old Ginny Weasley experiences that first-hand. But perhaps, there will still be a silver-lining even in the worst situation?

Was the view on life and death different between the Firstborn and Secondborn? What did the Firstborn think of Eru’s “gift” to the Secondborn? – Deep in Nargothrond, a particular Elf was wrestling with these questions and more upon the death of his first Mannish friend.

Nothing was recogniseable, even the people he had once known. But still, Lindarion did not wish to give up on everything – not yet, not until he was taken himself, even though he was not terribly fond of this land.

Everything had changed, and not necessarily for the better. Not even the very look of their new settlement was familiar to his sight and soul, but Lindarion was not about to complain – not too much anyway. He still got most of his family intact, and it was all that really mattered.

Sequel: "Worse Than Bad"

”The Master tells us to kill them, but I see only good meal.” – What the Master wanted, he got it. What the Warg wanted, he got it too.

”People always talk about the Powers they have met here, greater or lesser. I don’t think they will call my friend great though, just because his particular affinity and his less-than-perfect look. But he is, to me.” – Fire attracts fire, and water attracts water, but one day an insubstancial bit of water actually saved somebody from a raging fire.

His siblings have much to say about the local king’s decision to band their tongue from speech in the land, but Ingoldo is grateful only on the mere fact that they are still allowed to dwell in the said land. How to tell them, though?

Voldemort really, really, really wished to know what the prophecy between him and the brat Potter contained, but he was not getting closer to solving it after a year of research and obscure attempts. But now he had just discovered a very old manuscript that might bring the answer to his problem. Bellatrix Lestrange, his faithful servant, was going to hand him a very sought-after ally – or else.

What did the inhabitants of Tol Eressëa think of the impending arrival of a ship they were excited and fearful about in equal measures? Had Elves forgotten about mortals they had fought together in the War of Wrath? Had they forgiven those mortals who boldly attempted to claim Aman for themselves just because of selfish greed?

Black hair, grey eyes, but not a Noldo? Finrod could not choose between disbelief, denial, and curiosity when a time-traveller with “magic” came for an unexpected visit to his unfinished underground city. Balan and his people were not the first Secondborn he met, after all…

Elwing had choice between a single and double jewels. She chose the single jewel – because the silmaril was the highest priority.

They saw the ice crystals, she saw the devouring ice maws. They saw the snow-drift, she saw how it could suffocate and drown. They saw the dancing snowflakes, she saw the beating and wailing blizzard. They laughed, she cried; because there was no laughter in Helkaraxë.

They left her side, she waited. They killed, shaming her, she forgave them. They might never come back to her, but she would take all that she had. She would wait until beyond the world’s breaking, because a mother’s love is longer than the road.

What was the place of the Valar in Fëanáro’s life after he had been exiled to Formenos? What of Eru, whom others of the Firstborn seemed to only remember when joining in the most sacred act of marriage?

“Don’t trust any talking something if you don’t know where it keeps its mind.” – But Harry had indeed been more Gryffindorish than most . . . . Routing around his family vault after the victory against Voldemort, he found a talking metal shard and chatted with it. He got too cozy, in fact, that he did not realise where the sneaky shard was bringing him. And in another place and another era, Túrin son of Húrin got harassed mercilessly by a particular green-eyed, black-hired young man.

An elusive pale-eyed, pale-haired anomaly intruded his stronghold one day, and Makalaurë could never let go of him. Sadly, the day they talked was the day they parted. Their goals were the same, and yet it was what separated them in the end.

Lake Mithrim – it is dreary, covered by mists most of the times, but someone still loves it. And then there are two…