The Search for Arien

Thus as Melian begun her search for Arien, first she went to the household of Lady Vána to beg leave. The emptiness on her halls was echoed by the footsteps of Melian, and the silence were further overshadowed by the absence of Arien, and as she approached the chambers of Vána; covered in drapes of silver, adorned by many of the finest trappings or ornaments and strange crystals; and they cast a silhouette over Melian; but even before she entered, Lady Vána knew the presence of Melian.

'Yes, my dear beloved (as Vána often called her), what doth ye seek my counsel in my chambers with such haste it need be? Please, enter you may!', as she called to Melian. And she saw her face were filled with trouble and unrest. Then Melian bow her head and spoke, 'My Lady of Mercy, i beg for leave to find thy lost servant; and in haste i shall go, before it is too late.' And as Lady Vána began to looked deep into her eyes, Melian added, 'My Lady of Mercy, i beg for thy pardon upon thy servant if i shall bring her to your judgement, for she was betrayed by the lies of Melkor, whom purported to be the fair prince. Hence she was ensnared rather than rebel against the Valar in her own will.' Lady Vána refuted: 'Lady of Mercy I am not! Yet many indeed were deceived by Melkor, if Arien not the least. But if she would return to me alone by her own penitence, perhaps i shall be merciful yet and grant her pardon.' And Melian was silent.

Lady Vána looked upon Melian with her head still bow, with pity. She rised from her seat and touching Melian's forehead, said: 'Yet I can see great love thy held towards Arien, for her thou had put her above thee upon everything else. My beloved, do not despair. You may have my leave. Bring Arien back, but not by force. And this would be an errand of your own, and not one sent by the Lady. But thy good deeds nonetheless any shall forget naught. Bring as many as you can, but let not thyself be tempted. Do as your heart bids.' And Melian looked up to Vána and said, 'The Lady is full of kindness and mercy indeed, and thy words i will keep until my return.' But Vána added: 'Queen Varda is full of kindness and mercy, for she hears all, and listen to those who will plead.'

As Melian walked upon the green-swards upon the hillside, she sang in songs of enchantment, and the little birds would hover around her and sang along, filling the lands about with mirth whilst ahead of her, darkness begins to loom. And many of minions of Melkor heard them, and they began to flee into hiding; some unto the crevices of the mountain rocks, some into the holes beneath the meshes of fallen trees. As she nearing the woods, she heard a sound of brushing leaves within the undergrowth. 'Who is there?', she calls. And coming out of the marshes was one with grey-green cloak carrying a silver bow.'

'It is I, Tilion, i was hunting in the woods when i heard singing in a distance. I stooped to look, for i feared it might be one of those with Melkor. These days things that seemed fair might not appeared to be so. But you do not look like one of them.'

'Nay, I am not one of them.', said Melian. 'Yet i searched for one of is with them, Arien the Golden, handmaid of Lady Vána. Might had you seen or heard of tidings of such one?'. Tilion were suddenly dismayed. 'Alas! That was the least i have expected, and dreaded. I was in a company led by Oromë, they were ahead of me hunting for the vile creatures that Melkor might had bred in the eastern mountains where they hid. I stayed behind perhaps i might catch a glimpse of Arien when we heard that she was lost. The lands about had been blighted by the absence of her Radiance, and had since darkened. Yet for you to venture on this quest alone is perilous.'

'Be it so, i fear not the Enemy. If Arien can be persuaded, my search will not be in vain. For the birds will become my messengers and shall aid my quest.', said Melian. And Tilion said, 'I would gladly assist you in your quest. But i will wait upon word from Oromë, and keep a close watch here. May the blessings of Eru be upon you.' And he took his bow again and disappear into the woods.

From the hillside to the hilltop Melian journeyed, and greeny pastures recede and give way to stony terrain, and from afar, she beheld a hemispheric light of yellow amidst the torrential wind of black dust ahead. Her singing halted and knew Arien is nigh. Ever the winds bids her to haste towards the light, and a foreboding sense returned to her once again that she is within reach of what she sook. The birds cowered in fear at the shuddering tumults and flew here and there in confusion; as though the winds blew against them. But Melian stood firm unperturbed and move on closer.

And it seem Melian is not too late after all, for the prayers of Manwë had been answered; and Melkor is stripped of all his disguise, until he cannot feign no more. 'What is happening to me?', he cried. And his fair appearance had somewhat shed from without, revealing a dark face with slit black eyes with red-pupil glow and his hideous black vaporous, contorted shape. Arien stood petrified and watched in horror: 'What sort of trickery is this? You are...', as she fumbles for words upon her discovery. Melkor couldn't comprehend what had befallen him as he felt his powers ebbed away. As Arien stared at him, she shook and closed her face with her palms in disbelieve.

As Melkor regained composure, he turned his eyes in a corner, and murmured the name: 'Manwë.' But Arien heard this, vapor hissed from within her head, her hair flutters with the chill wind like dancing flames, and her strength returns so that she looked upon his real face again, and questioned him: 'Who are you?. But Melkor could not answer in fear of disclosing his secrecy. 'Melkor!', cries Melian as she approaches. 'So it is ye who tried to possessed Arien, but her not the least! So did the powers of the Valar not only revealed the truth, but your true disguise! Yet, long ago Manwë had denounced you amongst their kindred for your repugnance.' When Arien found that he was Melkor; whom had been seducing her all along, she burns in anger, igniting her radiance till the fire scorched the hands and face of Melkor. He shrivels in pain and glared upon Melian in vengeful anger, before he flees.

As the storm began to calm, and the fires of Arien had quelled, she turns to Melian; still shaken, and said: 'So you knew he was Melkor in the beginning?'

'Nay, not until the counsels of the Valar did i uncovered the truth. Nevertheless truth has spurred me greatly to warn you, for i knew you were still among the Faithful, and pure in heart. Indeed i came in the hour of need!', says Melian.

'Maybe. Yet my heart is broken. Who shall mend it?', as Arien sighed. 'Thank you Melian, for I shall not forget thy great deeds and friendship, in time perhaps, i shall repay one day.' And she bowed her head and said, 'Now i am ashamed of my own folly, and being with the kind Lady i served. But nevertheless, i shall return to seek her pardon. Never again shall i trust another with promises of love, i shall see to that.'

Melian felt pity upon Arien, and she said to her, 'The Lady is full of kindness and mercy, and she shall be filled with gladness upon your return.' And Arien said, 'Let me return to the temple alone. Do not come with me Melian.' And Melian thought upon the words of Vána and nodded: 'Aye. Go forth, for i have some errands to run. I shall see you again soon. The blessings of Eru shall go with you.'