King of the Seas

the valar of arda → ulmo

Ulmo Saving Elwing

The ocean felt more like a trap than a home. On one end was Melkor, understanding and encouraging and as wild of a spirit as his own; on the other was Ulluboz, understanding and soothing and a nurturer who controlled. Neither felt desirable. 

But Uinen had come to him at the behest of several of the Aratar, apparently, urging him to come home. Melkor had been profitable, but now he felt too dangerous. The memory of little corpses haunted his every moment and seemed an ominous warning of things to come. Would his chaos cost more than he was willing to give? If he did not return now, would he be given another chance in the future?

So he would see what offers the ignorant ‘King’ had to give. He had no desire to be back here under the thumb of a lazy, arrogant weakling, but he did desire the freedom and power he would possibly find easier to get here. For one, an alliance with Ulluboz meant gaining allegiance of the others; Melkor stood alone. But most importantly, Ulluboz was gullible and had no agenda — he offered more true freedom. Melkor had slowly been turning him as a tool to a purpose, Ossë felt, but Ulluboz had never been so controlling.

With luck, the deaths he had caused were hidden from the King’s sight. He swam slowly through the waters. Too fast would make him look anxious, and too slow would appear like he was trying to make Ulluboz wait on him. A steady pace was casual and confident. His fins trailed and billowed brightly, bioluminescence in full color. The scales along his body glistened and his huge eyes did not look side to side or take in the sights. As the King came into view, he locked eyes with him and did not waver. He needed to appear confident and strong and unapologetic if he wished to have his way.

Ulmo appreciated the larger picture.  He was a creature of simple things amidst the complex natures of his own domain.  If he was able to remain connected, then he was content and he had little to fear but he was not so connected.  There was a darkness, a cunning malice, that tainted the waters and turned them against their true King.  They created pockets of deafening silence and numbing blindness and try as he might to see behind the shroud, he was met with nothingness.  A lie in itself for he knew what was beyond it, within it, behind it.  Not what, but who.

As if that was not distressing enough, he had lost one of his own beyond the veil.  Ossë was removed beyond his sight and his influence.  Uinen had been so willing to help and she had succeeded far beyond anything the Aratar would have been able to accomplish for it was seen as compassion and love, not a challenge of power or dominance.  It was a refreshing moment to have Ossë back where he was seen and felt moving through the waters once more, even if there was a taint to him now that had not been there prior.

Now, as it was, he awaited the once-Vala as he approached the depths and waters that made up his home.  Anxiety radiated from him or was that a reflection of his own influence to the waves?  Ulmo knew he was anxious, this was a meeting that had consumed a large portion of his conscious thoughts for quite some time now.  It would set the tone for future relationships.  He knew their trust in one another was resting upon the edge of a knife in a maelstrom.

He seldom came to the Councils of Máhanaxar, and only when in great need. He preferred to stay in Arda, not by walking on the land, as his form would fill man or elf with great dread. All waters were under his government: bays, rivers and even the waters under the earth. Where the power of Morgoth was strong, however, Ulmo’s own power would be sapped from waters near to Morgoth’s corruption. It is through these that he kept in touch with Arda, and thus knew more of the goings on with the Children of Ilúvatar than even Manwë, for it was said he lived in the very veins of the world. He was said to be fearful to look upon to mortal eye, dressed like a giant wave in glittering green armour, blowing his great horns, the Ulumúri.

Mahal doodle by ancalinar

translation by steph and navy