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The eldest children of Iluvatar held a special place in the esteem of the Valar, who protected their spirits from Melkor's grasp before he could enslave their bodies to an unprecedented degree.
For a Vala of his stature, unparalleled in might, who wielded dominion over all, the conduct of the Elves was deemed an affront. Their very existence served as an offense, and Melkor harbored an intense hatred towards them.
Though compelled to rely on other creatures as slaves and servants (as the Elves proved resistant to his attempts at subjugation) not even his animosity towards the Eldar could dampen his spirits on that particular day. Indeed, it was a day of triumph. At long last, he had obtained something he had coveted for long, and he intended to exploit it to its fullest extent, as was his custom—and abandon it when he grew weary.
"Instruct two slaves in your service to attend to him, enhancing his beauty," he commanded his chief lieutenant, who promptly complied, departing to carry out his assigned task.
Later that evening, Melkor visited one of the chambers in Angband to inspect the results of the assignment rendered. To his satisfaction, the servants had executed their duties admirably:
Stripped of his battle attire, his form—lithe and fair—was adorned in transparent crimson silk, a hue typically eschewed by the Elves, who favored more subdued tones such as silver or white. It was a sight to behold.
His lustrous brown-red tresses, a rarity among the Elves, were adorned with an array of coppery-hued beads, predominantly fashioned of jasper.
He was towering in stature, and his gaze a piercing blue sprinkled with hints of gray. He remained resolute despite the tribulations he had endured and those that lay ahead. As most Noldor, he bore that defiant countenance, tinged with dignity, which Melkor so despised—a manifestation of the essence bestowed by Iluvatar, which the Vala could never wholly extinguish in any Elf (though begrudgingly acknowledging that it added to their charm).
Satisfied with his assessment, Melkor closed the door, confident that the Maia would relish the sight even more than he did.
♡
"Come," his grave voice beckoned, drawing Mairon's attention to him. "I have a gift for you."
"Another jewel?" Mairon inquired with eagerness.
"Even better," Melkor declared.
He enchanted Mairon's eyes, ensuring the surprise would remain concealed until the right moment. And when the spell was lifted, Melkor observed the growing radiance in the Maia's countenance.
The sight further gratified him as he imagined the twisted tortures Mairon would unleash upon their new acquisition.
"What a beautiful jasper stone..." Mairon's voice dripped with malice as his amber eyes roamed the Elf with lustful hunger.
Melkor followed Mairon's gaze, observing his fixation with a certain displeasure. He wasn't fond at all of Mairon's obsession with Elves. However, as a Master adept in rewarding merit, the Vala appreciated good work and liked to reward it. He recognized that the Maia's exceptional strategic abilities, composure, and cunning, far surpassed his own. And despite Mairon's significantly inferior power as a lesser Ainu, Melkor deemed it imperative to have him as an ally rather than an adversary.
"He is yours to ravish. A reward for your loyal services," Melkor stated.
With each step Mairon took towards the Elf, the latter recoiled, not out of fear but akin to a cornered beast ready to attack.
In the Elf's untamed eyes, the Maia glimpsed the luminance of Valinor's trees shining forth, and the allure rendered him entranced momentarily. Seizing the opportunity, swift as lightning, the Elf drew a razor-sharp blade from his hair, thrusting it into Mairon thrice—twice near the heart and once in his arm.
"Begone from me, dread abomination!"
And Mairon's blood spilled, staining everything in its path, including his Master's face, and Melkor reveled in the spectacle.
Struggling to speak, Mairon staunchly stemmed the bleeding, offering a smile to Melkor, filled with pleasure.
"He is of the Noldor, I discern," Mairon remarked, calmly measuring the depth of the wounds while tasting the blood upon his arm akin to a wolf when injured.
"Not just any Noldo." Melkor declared "Do you not recognize this spirit? He is the heir of Fëanor."
Melkor delighted in the surprise that flickered across Mairon's face, realizing he had truly outdone himself this time by giving the Maia a calaquendi king, high among the highest elves.
Content with the outcome, Melkor issued a cautionary directive before closing the doors:
"Break him!"
For more than three decades, the Noldo endured, during which he gathered knowledge of the sun and other events in Middle-earth.
Despite Mairon's unwavering efforts over the years, the Elf continuously rebuffed him and remained unbroken, for the fire of life was strong within him. Swiftly, Mairon's infatuation subdued and he grew bored and furious, as was his custom, still, he desired the Noldor above all of the other Elven kindred, while also hating them the most, for they were challenging to tame,
And Maedhros consistently defied his will at every turn until his ultimate escape from his grasp.