What a bitter-sweet, intriguing one-shot! I’ve always had an soft spot for stories that show the villains in a sympathetic light, and I like this exploration of Melkor’s motivations, thoughts, and personality. It was so sad I was about to cry too when Manwe touched him, and it truly made me feel sorry for (or at least sympathize with) Melkor. The writing was also really good, and I liked your ideas about the Void, as well as what you did with Melkor and Manwe.

I liked how you showed Manwe’s confliction in dealing with Melkor – it was realistic, and I think you portrayed his emotions in a very believable way. Although he pities Melkor, now understands his motivation, and even appears to still love him as his brother, he doesn’t disregard all the evil Melkor has done and he’s still angry at him for destroying the Trees, which I thought you showed in a way that makes Manwe an interesting, multi-faceted character. His wavering back and forth between trusting or condemning Melkor was believable, since in The Silmarillion, Manwe is a very merciful character.

And I loved what you did with Melkor. Obviously, this one-shot shows him in an extremely sympathetic light, but I liked seeing that side of him when many fics show only the monstrous side. At first, his complacence surprised me, but the torment he’s been going through for ages explained that, and he’s clearly had time to think over his actions and has done so. I liked the idea of Middle-earth as Melkor’s Ring; I’d never thought of it like that before, and it was an interesting link between Melkor and Sauron, as well as an intriguing insight into Melkor’s character. And it makes sense, when you think of how he took on a permanent, physical form. I also thought you made an interesting point in Melkor’s line about why he hurt Arda and his accusation that the other Valar wanted to keep her from changing ever. Again, it was a new way of looking at Melkor’s actions, one that I’ll have to think about for a while.

And even in his torment and weakness, you still show Melkor as a strong and proud character, appropriately enough for the being who named himself King of Arda. His defense for not repenting, because if he became what the Valar wanted him to be he would lose who he really was, was prideful, but shows a lot of integrity, too. Also, the fact that it was his binding that tormented him, not necessarily his defeat and imprisonment, goes along with his strong, proud character. But contrasted with that, the second-to-last paragraph was so beautifully bitter-sweet, as Melkor falls down on the ground, so overjoyed to be at last reunited with his beloved Arda. With the thought of Arda being his Ring, it reminded me of the moment of elation when Gollum reclaims the Ring from Frodo, with the intense joy and love for an object that they both had long lost.

Which brings me to my next point: your interpretation of the Void. I had always imagined the Void as some sort of Tolkienian Hell, a separation from everything good and desirable, a place of torment, although I was never exactly sure what the torment was. I really like your explanation and how you describe it; there’s something that is utterly horrifying about your Void in a subtle way. The complete silence, the emptiness, and the itching ache definitely aren’t fire and brimstone, but in a way, are even more terrifying. No wonderful Melkor’s in the state he’s in; in fact, Melkor must be an incredibly strong person to still be sane in such a condition.

I also thought the conversation bit about Ungoliant was interesting. I had always wondered about her, a creature mighty enough to take on and defeat Melkor single-handedly (or eight-leggedly, as the case may be). The idea that she, not Melkor, is the greatest evil in Arda was an interesting, but pretty accurate, idea, and the fact that Melkor himself was sorry and horrified by what she did to the Trees was intriguing.

I have only one small comment concerning constructive criticism, and that is concerning your tenses. You switch back and forth between past and present in a way that I found confusing. An example is in the first paragraph: “There, high above all, Manwë sat on his throne, and his sight was directed to the east. The threat to Middle-earth has been destroyed.” All the cases where you switch to present tense include the word “has”, so I’m not sure if they’re just typos and you meant “had” or not. But there were four or five cases like this throughout the story.

And I loved your last sentence. The image of Melkor and Manwe standing there together with the light of the Silmaril falling on them was intense and beautiful, and I like how you slipped in the “shades of grey” image and theme without being heavy-handed about it. It was a really good ending.

I enjoyed reading this, and I’ll enjoy pondering some of the new ideas that your one-shot put in my mind. You have a really cool way of looking at villains’ minds, as well as an elegant writing style. Thanks for sharing this.

Keep on writing!

-Sauron Gorthaur

Amazing. The good guy side of Melkor is brought out! Not many would choose to interpret it as such, but this was brilliant.

Maybe, if my mother language were English, maybe I could write down my feelings. Just Maybe.

I cried. Oh I cried so badly. For Manwe. For Melkor. For Arda.

Oh, how could you write something so magical?

I cannot thank you enough.

Well I just want to say something: It's about time you let him out, Manwe! Okay now I'm better. I like the way you presented this. It was really touching.

KEEP WRITING!

Interesting very interesting. I didn't think anyone could write something like this. Although I'm confused about one thing. What did Morgoth mean by his "love for Arda" that he did his deeds. I understood everything else since I read the Silmarillion but, that still confuses me. Can you explain it a bit more for me please?

This is rather nice. I can understand Melkor far better than the Aratar of Aman actually; I have had no time for them since first reading the Silmarillion as a teenager, and that has never changed. Good to see some words from Melkor, when most people concentrate on the Valar's holier-than-thou attitude; at least there was some vitality to him, unlike his brethren.

Quite a nice, moving story. It must have been a bit humiliating for Morgoth to have been chained up the way he was, perhaps the Valar should have allowed him some exercise at least. Though then again some might argue that the Valar should have destroyed Melkor whilst they had the chance and much evil might have been saved and this doesn't excuse Morgoth's later actions. But I can see Manwe still having some pity though. Keep writing, Ham.

Wow...I loved this. This is definitely going on my favourites list!

Oh how beautifull! You made me cry! You...!

:')

First of all thank you again!

And... I wish it were all so easy, as it is here... I really wish. And it doesn't even matter what variant of POV you created here, you are not obliged to write by the Black Book... but I wish - and know that it won't come true - that there could be understanding between the light and the dark.

I hope you won't lose byour/b hope, Star!

Interesting fic. You're probally right about Melkor and Arda, this does adress the two trees and the Silmarils, but the suffering he wrought upon the elda when they woke, the unrest he caused among the Noldor, the death of Finwe, the suffering he caused the Eldar in the first age. Nothing justifies, excues or explains that. And then the pain he caused men the houses of Horin, Turin and Beor

You wanted to tame her, to lull her spirit into stagnation. No change, no movement... But she was wild.

Beautiful. That is what Valar did want, after all. They do not respond very well to change. And yes, I have issues with Valar (blushes in shame), but God do I love Tolkien.