pollonium

The corresponding excerpt takes place after the musical performance, where Mairon excelled in the role of Sauron. :-)

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He needs to drown the dark whisperings of his mind, but getting properly drunk is no easy task. Unlike Men - and Orcs - Elves and Maiar are notoriously resistant to the effects of fermented beverages.

You can do it, Mairon. You managed in the past.

He catches himself longing for the horrid, but highly effective liquors the Orcs produced from virtually anything. No matter their numerous shortcomings, they could be surprisingly inventive in some respects.

He methodically goes through all that is on offer until he finds what he needs. A wine much more potent than anything he has sampled so far. It does not take long before he feels deliciously giddy.

As he is pouring more ruby-red liquid in his goblet, he is approached by a maiden wearing a wreath of delicate culuma blossoms. Judging from her uneasy walk, she has accomplished what he is yet to achieve. She informs him that his discovery is a gift from Lord Celeborn’s kinsman who he was introduced to several bottles ago.

I am forever in your debt, Thranduil, son of Oropher.

That is when his companion graces him with a silly smile and places her wreath on his head.

“All hail the King of the Evening!” she shouts with an unsteady, but very loud voice.

All eyes are on them. He freezes, horror-struck.

It could be worse. She could have hailed Lord Sauron.

Which is when another drunk voice adds fuel to the fire by roaring “Saurooooon!”

In a desperate counter-attack, he offers a toast to the only real King present, using the same voice that once silenced crowds much larger than this festive gathering. He just takes care to eliminate the menacing tone.

What we see in the illustration is, obviously, a theatre play. As chance would have it, Mairon invented the genre in my story (it even makes sense, I promise), specifically musical. And there is a performance of the Tol-in-Gaurhoth debacle. As a part of the celebration of Sauron's "demise".

Except he is very much alive and plays... himself. An impressive performance, naturally, as he had millennia to rehearse. 😁 Lúthien is played by Celebrían. With a dark wig.

I have two full songs for the musical, so I'm offering one of as a sneak peek.

--

Sauron’s Lament

SAURON

There used to be a time my voice would infinitely soar

In perfect harmony with Melkor's splendiferous song

I failed though; now I'm cloaked in blood-stained raiment of defeat

The beast of my disgrace has torn my soul with monstrous teeth

Choking on the bitter taste of shame

Stripped of all my former glory

What a foolish way to lose the game

What a way to end a story

Behold! The one who earned the mightiest Vala's high esteem

Bereft of dignity, his honour smashed to smithereens

'twas pride that sealed my fate, and from now on I'll be recalled

As Arda's greatest clown; no longer feared, but crudely mocked

BEREN AND LÚTHIEN (from afar)

Love will always triumph over hate

Shining in its radiant glory

Let us bravely walk the path of fate

Let us write a hopeful story

SAURON

That low-born scum has found a fortune I can never gain

If I were in his place, my Lord would leave me rot in chains

He had my loyalty, and claimed our hearts to be alloyed

But now I see those words were empty as the outer Void

To fail is to betray; what's coming is an easy guess

My art of giving pain will be perfected on my flesh

No agony shall hurt as much as Melkor's rightful scorn

Oh, Melian's filthy spawn, be cursed for ever being born

[INSTRUMENTAL RENDITION OF THE REFRAIN]

SAURON

There used to be a time my voice would infinitely soar

In perfect harmony with Melkor's splendiferous song

I failed though; now I'm cloaked in blood-stained raiment of defeat

The beast of my disgrace has torn my soul with monstrous teeth

Choking on the bitter taste of shame

Stripped of all my former glory

What a foolish way to lose the game

https://fktrop.github.io THE GAME | The Date Sim of Power | POV: Mirdania | Crime | Forging | Sindarin | Mystery | This is absolutely serious, I swear | 4 endings | ~10-min gameplay

my dearest bestie just made me a personalized Inkto- - oh wait #mayron art challenge prompt list (which stands for May + Sauron, or May + Mairon, or else, yknow)

crimson - (L)ashes - chalice - pride