Chapter Text
Meeting #1 of the Valinorean Governance Committee for the Care and Stewardship of Arda and Aman.
Chair: Manwë of the Valar, Lord of Winds.
Deputy: Varda of the Valar, Star-kindler.
Notetaker: Mairon of the Maiar, Admirable in Penmanship and Other Important Qualities, to be Detailed Later. I’ll transcribe a clean version of the notes for them, and I doubt anyone will read them anyway. At least now I can have some fun while appearing to scribble most assiduously.
Also, has anyone noticed Manwë’s blatant favoritism? Making his own wife his deputy. I can practically hear Thuri hissing in rage from where she is stuck in the back of the room with the rest of the Maiar. Myself, I get to sit in the front row, in plain view of the Valar.
I’m glad I’m wearing all my jewelry, Olórin’s advice be damned. That prude. “You can’t pile on a golden necklace and arm rings, Mairon. The metal plates in the skirt are too much, Mairon. Fur collars are gauche, Mairon, at least do remove the ears and tail to make it a bit more stylish.”
Sorry, but this wolf pelt makes me look fierce. Especially after lining my eyelids with some coal from the brazier, and an hour with brushes, gels and sprays to achieve just the right kind of “I woke up like this” hairdo. And guess what, now I am the one who gets to introduce this uptight bunch of the Valar to the latest fashions. Seriously, Manwë, the feathers are so last year.
Speaking of which, I really need to tell Eönwë to stop imitating his boss. I know the poor dear is infatuated beyond all common sense, but Manwë has eyes only for his own wife. I guess I could take Eönwë out for drinks, commiserate on our permanent bachelorhood, gossip about the love lives of the less prudish Valar to take his mind off his predicament… (I am all but sure that Yavanna secretly lives in a threesome! Aulë and Nienna. Some Valar have all the luck). Anyway, that’s not going to be much of a chore, these new Dwarves of Aulë’s are excellent brewers.
Right! Back to notes.
Item 1. Of Light and Darkness.
And, if I may add, of multiple stress injuries from hammering mithril into those tiny leaves and stems that form the lampposts.
Not that anyone will ever see them up close, the blasted Lamps would blind anyone except perhaps the hardiest Vala long before then. But, of course, Varda needs perfection, and whose job is it to make her wishes come true? Got it in one! That would be us, also known as dutiful forge-Maiar, generally forgotten by everyone else but Aulë, who, granted, at least works just as hard as we do.
Apparently, Varda has noticed that the Eastern Lamp is not quite a perfect mirror image of the Western Lamp, and desires the entire Eastern lamppost to be remade. Suggestion accepted by Aulë, though at least he has the sense to not look exactly delighted by it. As if Varda could even pretend to care that she has just put the entire forge to slog through another year without any properly creative work.
Hey, this is interesting! Melkor is asking, could we lift the Lamps high enough to shed light on Arda as well?
Everyone looks nonplussed, as if, why would they even care about Arda?
In response, Melkor is mentioning plants and animals, and apparently, something or someone called The Firstborn. Manwë is shushing him for speaking out of order, since The Firstborn seem to be listed farther along in the agenda.
Melkor’s voice is really most commanding, though his attire distinctly lacks jewelry. Though I agree that basic black is a good fallback in any situation.
A rolled-up piece of paper just hit my head.
You look like you’ve been whacked on the head with a hammer. May want to stare at Melkor with a bit more subtlety.
Thuri, of course. Who else. Love and desire don’t do anything for her, so she thinks she can torment her poor forgemate now. Also, I only briefly described his outfit. Surely that’s subtle enough. That voice though, makes one’s insides turn to liquid.
Oh no.
An objection from Yavanna officially recorded and a wolf pelt removed from the Notetaker’s shoulders, to be given a suitable burial. All Greater and Lesser Ainur reminded to avoid killing Yavanna’s creations. Official objections by Oromë and Tulkas recorded. Following, two hours of discussion of the difference between a hunt and a murder.
At least quarrelling has made them forget about me. Also, I swear that Melkor swallowed hard when he saw me removing the pelt, which left my pecs bare to the world. All that hammering of fancy lampshades was not for nothing! But, they seem to have reached a truce. Back to notes.