The Temptation of Arien

In the words of Melian.

She was a handmaid of Lady Vána
Bright is her raiment of gold;
Her hair streams like glowing fire
Beautiful is she behold;

Her eyes set like bright gold rays,
As she stood on the hilltop amidst the sky of grey;
Bright she shone from sight far away,
like colours of a Sun before it was made;

Light traverse whither she goes,
Flowers blossoms at the gentle tread of her sole;
Many of hosts awe upon her splendour,
Never waning her beauty endeavours;

When Melkor had finally found her, he was swooned by her beauty, but before he could reveal himself to her, he resort to cloth himself in a fair mantle as that of a fine prince, to hide his real form, and thrusting himself, he beseeched Arien to take his troth, and promised her a kingdom of her own, where she will be a Queen and him, the King.

Often he would seek her, and of they went, up as far as many leagues away from her abode, into the hills, dells, and the vales; thereafter she meet Melian the less. In disguise Melkor put on his pretense to lure Arien into his net, but she were undecided, though greatly was she tempted by Melkor's proposition. This grevious matter will then be hidden not from the seers, so Arien thought to herself, even as Melkor plead her not to reveal his plans. When Lady Vána had sought her to no avail, she became troubled and filled with wonder, for she had a keen foresight that Arien was not anywhere nigh her abode, and watches not the keeping of her garden.

As Melian was Arien's closest friend, she bids Melian find her, and Melian felt a sense of dread. For not long she caught a glimpse of two figures by the slope of a hill behind a beech. And Melian called to Arien and said to her: 'Lady Vána has been troubled by your absence. I beg thee make haste and return ere the Lady's mood fail whence even i might not sustain.' But Arien hesitated and said nervously, 'I will return but in a little while. Beg i may to leave us!'. Melian was dismayed but turn towards the other, and she asked: 'Who might this fair prince hither be?' But he would utter not his true name but calling himself by other names. And Melian her eyes could not pierce the shadow within him to reveal his true self, thus both being deceived. (for he is but more powerful than that of the Maiar).

Melian return with tidings brought much to the amazement of Vána. 'Of this name of his i have not heard since the Beginning of the Ainur nor whence Arda were yet shaped, if it doth hidden from my sight!' For all the names of the Ainur that descent hither none were hidden from the Valar. Vána began to seek the counsel of her peers, and it revealed soon to Melian that the Maiar were being ensnared.