Saeros of Doriath, The Proud Counsellor of Thingol

I was once considered among the proud Sindar of Doriath, A counsellor in the court of Thingol. Thingol was the king of Doriath, a hidden elven kingdom beneath the shimmering light of Menegroths thousand lamps. My name is Saeros, though I fear it will forever be spoken not with honour, but with contempt.

In my youth, I was a voice of wisdom, or so I believed. I took pride in my closeness to Thingol, the mightiest of the Sindarin kings, and I cherished the peace of Doriath which was guarded by Melians enchantments. I harboured hate in my heart for Beren and his descendants as they called in harm towards our dear Doriath.

When Turin, the son of Hurin, came to Thingols court, I saw him first as a curiosity questioning how a mortal can mingle freely among the immortal. He showed pride as if he were kin to the Eldar. He took advantage of the mercy of King Thingol and made himself renowned in court. He was favoured by Thingol, respected by Beleg and loved by many. His bravery, his dark and noble bearing the sorrow that shadowed his eyes drew others towards him. But I found him a mirror to all that I lacked. 

I mocked him first out of jest, or so I told myself. His rough ways, his silence, his grief made him strange to me. I could not contain my jealousy anymore. As days went by envy and hatred festered in my heart, waiting to be thrown at him. Every smile the king gave him was like a spear pierced through my heart. It was a painful reminder to me that I, who had served the king faithfully for years, was being overshadowed by a mere mortal. 

That day in the hall, I let the bitterness in my heart speak aloud. I shamed him before all, mocking his mother, mocking his kind and his birth. I knew I was being cruel but I had to wound him, make him feel as small as I felt. He struck me back in fury and my pride could not bear that. The laughter of others burned like fire in my ears.

Blinded by rage and and humiliation, I sought revenge. I ambushed him at dawn as he walked alone. Oh what a fool i was. I thought myself powerful but Turin was mightier. And fate had already set its dark hands on both of us. He stripped me and drove me forth naked through the woods. I ran while stumbling through thorns and stones, as I was driven by terror and my mind was unravelling.

And so I met my end. Not by Turins sword but by my own folly. While fleeing my humiliation, I leapt across the stream and fell upon rocks. Thus ended Saeros, counsellor of Doriath. I met my doom, not by an enemy but due to my envy and pride.

If any still speak my name, let them speak in warning
, that pride and jealousy can corrupt even the wise, and kindness withheld may return as tragedy.

Justice, oaths and silmaril: What the verdict taught me

 It was finally over. We have given our verdict and justice has prevailed. But why was i still feeling guilty? I have provided someone with consequences to their actions which if you see in a black and white manner, they very well deserve. Its easy to say something about someone when everything is presented to you with that bias. But it takes a lifetime to actually know someone and understand the reason behind their actions. However none of that can ever excuse acts that endanger or take anothers life. After i gave my verdict a certain dread took over me as this was no ordinary trial. It was the reckoning of a house that had so much potential, yet decided to burn half the world in its pride. It chose pride and greed instead of humility and sacrifice, and brought in its own doom.

Throughout the trial i had a feeling the prosecution had a stronger grasp on their case than the defense. They presented grave accusation against the defense such as Kinslaying, theft, Armed robbery and also added spiritual sins such as pride, greed and denial of heinous acts. They provided sufficient evidence and witnesses which werent refuted by the defense. 

But still Feanor's sons stood tall, perhaps too tall, with pride barely veiled by grief. They did not deny their actions but instead spoke of ownership, loyalty and destiny. They tried to explain their helplessness as they took their oath before Eru and the valar. They argued that their actions were not done with evil intention but simply to abide by their oath. But the prosecution opposed it saying that their oath was not forever binding. Defense was unable to prove the validness of the oath. They were also unable to give a proper reasoning behind Feanors defiance to give Yavannah the silmarils, which painted a picture of Feanor as selfish and greedy in front of the jury.

We deliberated long into the night and finally came to a decision. There was no joy in the decision nor was there a sense of victory. Only the heavy recognition that justice must be served even if its a tragedy. But what will prison do to spirits already broken by their own fire. As we left the hall of judgement I thougth of Feanors words "No hand shall touch them, for they are my heart". Perhaps that was the truest crime, not rebellion, not bloodshed, but the belief that light could be owned or that it could be kept captive. That one act became catalyst for multiple other heinous acts. History will remember how a house of creators, dreamers and crafters were destroyed due to pride. In every religion pride is defined as one of the big sins. Because even though pride itself is not harmful the actions it leads one to take is more than often destructive for themselves and the ones around them. 

The first fire of Men🔥

 I wandered far from Nargothrond as my heart grew restless, the moon called me beyond the borders of my kingdom. It was then that I saw flickers of fire and a different kind of warmth in the midst of the cold wood, A fire different than the one that burned in our halls, more fragile and trembling.

I peeked through hiding in the shadow and what i saw astonished me. A creature unlike us, they were not elves, nor dwarves, nor any creature of the shadow. Their eyes shone with wander and fear. They were singing softly, their melody was earnest but imperfect. It was not like the songs of the eldars which were shaped with ages of memory, flowing and flawless. But theirs was different, it was a beginning but not yet perfection.

I stepped among them with my own song and even though they wondered of what being i am, they dare not stop me to question as my song was more melodious and harmonious then they have ever heard. I spoke gently, teaching them the tongue of the eldar, and slowly their fear turned to awe, and awe to trust. We spoke long that night and i started feeling this warmth within me. They told of their journey and their wanderings, of the dark things that haunted them, of the dreams that stirred in their hearts. It was then that i felt a bond forming, not of lordship but of friendship. They were not children to be ruled, nor rivals to be feared. They were companions in the long tale of arda.

I reminisce that night while I lay in darkness. I cannot see the stars, nor feel the wind on my face. The walls are cold and Saurons wolves prowl behind them. Yet my thoughts wander far from this dungeon back to the night when i saw the first fire of men. That night is when my fate was sealed of how I will follow my mortal friends into darkness. There are many more tales between the night of first fire and tonight but I will leave them for another day. 

Melkors melody of chaos

I shall sing a song too

A song greater than the others,

I will prove myself worthy

Better than my brothers.

I will wreak havoc to their choir

And ruin their precious creations,

I will crush it to pieces

With my powerful vibrations.

Hear my thunder, hear my roar

I'll break the sky with my chords

And no harmony will bind me

I'll crown myself with fire and thorns

What is mine is far better that theirs

So I will uproot theirs and instill mine

The world will be ruled by my song

And created of my design.

The Song of Eru

 

With the hymn of my voice,

From the darkness there will be light.

Come forth, O beautiful world,

Vast and beyond my sight.

Be born, my dear children,

Each gifted with your own tune.

Adorn this new horizon,

For it shall be your home soon.

Sing with me this eternal song;

As we sing, creation shall form.

Music’s hand shall sculpt the clay,

And a new world shall be born.

Lift your voices upon my theme,

And sing my grand design;

For I have shaped a world that is

Harmonious and divine.

The Last song of Finrod Felagund

Suilad everyone, Welcome to Nargothrond. I am Finrod Felagund, king of Nargothrond, friend of men and lord of caves. I was born of Finarfin, son of Finwe the high king of Noldor. We were at peace in Valinor, and no darkness had shadowed our land. Feanors pride and Morgoth's evil shadow forced us out of our land and into exile. Even though I did not support Feanor, I chose exile out of loyalty to my kin. With a heavy heart we made our way to middle earth.

We resided in beleriend and there I created my kingdom Nargothrond in the underground caves with the help of dwarves. Hence i was given the name "Felagund" which meant hewer of caves. With pillars carved like trees of stone and golden lanterns like stars we created a peaceful home with song, and friendship with elves, dwarves, and mortal men. I was the one who discovered men wandering in the wilderness. I taught them speech, lore and music, as they were very dear to me. Among them, Beor's house was my dearest, as in my time of need, he presented me with utmost loyalty and saved my life. And for them my heart always remained grateful. I swore an oath to always come of aid to Beors house and kin. And that oath is what brought me to my unforeseen doom.

When Beren sought a Silmaril, hunted by Morgoth's wrath, I came upon my oath and went on to battle darkness alongside Beren for his pursuit. Even though the odds were not in my favour, I refused to cower and break my oath. In Sauron's pit, one by one, all of our men fell until it was only beren and me. When the wolf jumped to attack I put myself before it. I chose death to protect a mortal to whom I was bound by oath.

Love and loyalty is the true light within me that no darkness can overcome. I moved for friendship, lived for friendship, and died for friendship. I do not wish to be known for my crown; I wish to be remembered for the loyal friend I was.