Ilúvatar's Designs (The Talk and The Reunion)

THE TALK

So one day Melkor was called from beyond the Walls of the World by Manwë to talk and that it's what followed:

'So, brother mine, are you sorry for your evil deeds in the last ages.' said Manwë 

'No I am not. Why should I? I did more for Middle-earth than you did.' said Melkor with a smirk.

'What do you mean?'

'You can call my deeds evil but I never abandoned my people and the Children of Ilúvatar learned more through the suffering I laid upon them than by any lesson you could teach them because although all of you claim to love them you forsake them in Middle-earth, the ones who were bold enough to defy you and the ones who needed most. Conditional love, brother? I don't think Ilúvatar would approve that.'

'Don't talk about what you don't know. You know nothing of Ilúvatar's will. And if His children had to suffer it was your fault. Not only by murdering Finwë and stealing the silmarils but also in the Great Music when you interwoven themes of hate and destruction that you knew would come to be one day.'

'My fault? It is indeed?' he said trying to sound genuinely intrigued. 'Am I what I am because I chose to be or was I designed by some great power? I remember quite well the words of Ilúvatar: "Mighty are the Ainur, and mightiest among them is Melkor; but that he may know, and all the Ainur, that I am Ilúvatar, those things that ye have sung, I will show them forth, that ye may see what ye have done. And thou, Melkor, shalt see that no theme may be played that hath not its uttermost source in me, nor can any alter the music in my despite. For he that attempteth this shall prove but mine instrument in the devising of things more wonderful, which he himself hath not imagined."' He said the last part with emphasis. 'So... am I evil or only an instrument of Ilúvatar's desires? Did I even have a choice? Are we all not only fulfilling our parts in the great play that is Ëa?'

'None can know Ilúvatar's true intent. Even if it is as you say, He knows best and we better do as we must.' Manwë was doing a great effort to avoid letting Melkor see his anger.

'As you say my brother. And that was exactly what I did. I just stick with my hole.' he said smiling.

'You are dismissed. Eönwë will escort you to the Door of Night.' he said with a cold voice.

'Always a pleasure, brother mine.' and Melkor bowed mockingly. 

After that Námo approached Manwë, who looked worried. Would he be doubting the designs of The One?

'You must not worry about what Melkor said, you know he is the Father of Lies.' said Námo.

'But it was not only lies.'

'No, but you said it yourself, Ilúvatar knows best and He is the only one who knows the purpose of this all.' Námo was about to leave but turned around and completed: 'don't  burden your heart. I can feel Ilúvatar has a plan that would appease some hearts. And it will happen very soon.'

'What is the meaning of it?'

'You will see it soon.' and with these words he left back to his Halls leaving Manwë lost in thoughts.

THE REUNION

Námo catched a glimpse of what Ilúvatar intended to do but could not believe it. Of course he didn’t know everything of Eru’s mind but he knew that what was about to happen was not the original desire of The One. Námo didn’t know what to think because he would always abstain to judge any matter or person. But thinking of it he realized that the Noldor really suffered a great deal, most because of its own folly but yet Eru loved all His children and certainly wouldn’t allow Melkor to accuse him of abandonment. The Father of Lies did not say it directly but accusing the Valar of forsake the Noldor who went to Middle-earth was indeed accuse Ilúvatar to do so since Manwë and the others were guided by His will.

Námo knew it that not everything Melkor has said was a lie. Indeed all come from The One: the good and the evil, the light and the darkness, because one cannot exist without the other. All the suffering may be seen as a cruel way of learning but yet necessary. Ilúvatar knew better and Námo never doubt Him or His decisions and will never do.

Some time after the talk with Melkor Manwë called Námo and said that the spirit of Fëanor would be allowed to be free for three days. It was Ilúvatar’s decision, He wanted to show that none of His children were forgotten, not even the foolish ones. Fëanor would be allowed to meet his sons, his father and mother, for three days. Maedhros would have to be freed for the reunion as well.

Fëanor had spent ages alone in the Halls of Mandos, without any company, and if he has repented of his deeds none could tell because his face was still and showed no emotion. When Námo told him the news he didn’t say a word, he followed him to Lórien and only when he saw his seven sons reunited the reality of what was happening hit him and he wept. His sons approached him and they were happy. All the suffering, the oath, everything was behind them now. Even Maglor was there after wander through Middle-earth for ages. They did not speak of the past but Fëanor wanted to know what his sons did after all was over. He didn’t ask about the silmarils and its fate, that wound was not completely healed so they only talked about their lives after coming back to Valinor. Not all of his sons were stuck in Mandos and they had a lot of stories to tell. Fëanor knew about Maedhros and understood his silence. He as Fëanor himself had no stories, only memories and regrets. They spent an enjoyable day in Lórien and there were food and songs, Maglor was responsible for great part of the last one.

On the second day they had a new surprise: Finwë and Míriel joined them and Fëanor could not believe in his lucky. Námo had said it was a gift from Ilúvatar Himself to remember him that he never forget a child. Fëanor thanked The One with all his heart and thought and could feel Ilúvatar appreciate that. The second day also was full of joy and merriment.

On the third day there was no surprise. They sat and talked and they could already feel the sadness of the separation that soon would happen. At the evening Námo arrived with a box made of wood and spoke:

‘Great is the wisdom and love of Eru Ilúvatar and sometimes it might seem like He forget His children but He does not. Never. Your people suffered great loss and endured pain beyond belief so as a sign of His undying dedication Eru allowed something never before seen in Ëa. Come forth,’ he said, and Fingolfin and his sons appeared as well as all the Noldor who went to Middle-earth following Fëanor in his madness.

Fëanor looked at Fingolfin ashamed and was about to say something but Fingolfin didn’t allow and said ‘It’s all past brother, nothing matters anymore except this moment of reunion and joy of our kin.’ Fëanor nodded and they spoke for some time until Finarfin joined them. After a while Námo drew the attention to himself and said ‘I have one more gift for you, noble people. Fëanor, please come close.’ Fëanor obeyed.

‘I will show you something but you cannot say a word or ask any question or lay your hands upon it. Do you accept the terms?’ asked Námo.

‘I do.’ answered Fëanor.

Then Námo opened the box and there they were, the three silmarils, shining against a black velvet inside the box. Fëanor went pale and then fell to his knees and cried like any other creature ever cried. His sons also came close and saw the stones and they joined his father in his tears. But it was not a lament. They cried out of happiness. The jewels did not belong to them yet but they were there, all three, so that all the ones that made the oath could see it again, for the last time until the Dagor Dagorath.

Námo closed the box and he felt in his heart that what had just happened was right and he rejoiced one more time in the wisdom of Ilúvatar. Fëanor looked at him and said ‘Thank you’ with teary eyes. All his sons also thanked Námo but he didn’t say a word, just nodded and left.

They all knew it was time to part again but they were happy, happier than they ever thought possible to be again. Fëanor and Maedhros would return to their loneliness and the others would return to their new lives or to the Halls but there was no sadness anymore. They all said their goodbyes and for the first time since the Age of the Trees, the Noldor were happy, truly happy.