Prologue | Knocking on Aman's Doors

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Key:
"Sindarin/Earth Languages"
"Westron"
'Thoughts'
"Black Speech/Valarin"

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???? ????? | ???? ???

Location: Unknown

Time: Unknown

When he imagined heaven, he was not expecting pointy-eared people walking about the place.

He thought that it would be all up in the skies, walking on clouds and wearing white togas whilst people ate grapes, drank wine and played the harp. (Well, he did spot one person playing the harp the other day, but whatever they were singing clearly wasn't English or any language he heard back on Earth.) There would be angels flying about, maybe babies with their cupid bows and scrolls. Hell (ironic since this place almost feels like hell instead), he would have imagined the afterlife to be some paradise, with a replica of his house with the lake beside it. Maybe the chirping of birds and the yapping of the alpacas they once had.

Instead, all he got was a bunch of elves walking around – sometimes the odd human (thank the lord there were humans at least). Though, they did not indicate what he was talking about and practically ignore his questions on where the heck he was.

Even worse, there weren't even any cheeseburgers.

Talk about this being heaven. Clearly, God forgot that he existed and didn't greet him with at least a Burger King meal. [1]

Though, he questioned if a person needed to eat in heaven.

Maybe he should stop calling it heaven. He wasn't even religious at all, having not followed his mother's Christian views. And if he did, he would already have a first-class ticket to meet Satan after all the shit he did during his younger years alive.

However, surely after what he did for the universe - it must have given him some exception.

It was still vivid to remember what happened. The pain and energy that went from his hands into his entire body. It was like a thousand suns were in the palm of his hands, burning his blood whilst freezing them at the same time. The entire landscape blurred, only spotting the purple nutsack in front of him as he knelt there with his right hand up.

The Infinity Stones were whispering to him, asking what he was planning to do.

He then said those words.

The very same ones he once said to the entire world after he lost Obadiah Stane. When his entire world changed, and he brought to the world a new face in the eyes of the modern world.

What seemed to be another day in these dark and cramped caves (he really hated this heaven, considering the last time he was in a cave – a bunch of terrorists 'upgraded' him with a bunch of metal parts), and he woke up hearing the commotion coming from outside his own part of the place.

He got up to his feet, trying to sense if he did have feet whilst he walked about trying to understand what was happening. Everyone was running, or hiding, or maybe both. There was some feeling one way whilst the others stood and wondered what the heck was going on.

And then there was a rumbling in the ground. He spun his head around until he heard more cries. A solid force bumped straight into him and he apologized quickly as he pulled the person up. They had long straight hair, but that wasn't the thing that surprised him.

Their ears.

It was the pointy ears again.

That wasn't going to stop him freak out any time soon.

The pointy-eared person tugged his arm, but he quickly pulled back, still uncomfortable by having his arm not burnt in his sight.

"He is coming!" They cried aloud.

Confused, he echoed back, "Who?"

"The dark lord!" They panted; fear already etched on their face. "He has somehow broken out of from the Door of Night and into Aman once more!" [2]

Damn this guy's low and British voice was too quick for his ears.

"Woah, Woah slow down." He tried to calm the guy down, his hands both signalling downwards. Asking, back he furrowed his eyebrows. "Who now? Because the only dark lord I know is Voldemort and he doesn't even exist."

The pointy-eared elf just gave him a blank look.

Huh, well not everyone in the universe knew what Harry Potter was. Well with what happened to JK Rowling during the blip probably made her unpopular with the kids. [3]

They then breathed out, "You do not know, do you? What does the race of men even speak of these days in the East?"

Shrugging his shoulders, he replied. "Not sure, probably Nintendo or KPop." He then changed the subject and sighed. "Look I'm a Western-born cis white male. Not sure about the straight part but-Hey wait!" [4][5]

Just as another bang vibrated around them, the guy left him to stand in the middle of the large and dimly lit room. Talk about being ignored, honestly. This place sucked ass. However, that didn't stop him from continuing to search for answers.

What in America's ass was going here? Why were these people running away? [6]

And didn't anybody know who he was?

"Argh!"

A solid body slammed into him, and this time he was the one to be knocked out a blur of red. His hand rubbed his shoulders, wincing from the impact before he saw the hand reach out to him. Taking it, he hauled himself up to meet a pair of green eyes.

Wait...he's seen those pair of eyes before.

Though when his eyes panned over to her ears, his heart deflated slightly when he spotted them. Pointy ears as well.

A feminine and yet firm voice spoke, "Apologies." They rose an eyebrow, slightly surprised at him. "Though I wasn't expecting one of the Edain here in these parts of the Halls."

What the hell was an Edain?

He studied her for a couple of seconds, and it didn't need a second glance to know how red their hair was along with their cupid bow lips and narrow figure despite being at least taller than he was. They wore a dark green tunic along with a jacket with a belt around their waist.

In all honesty, he thought she was someone else for a moment.

"Is this where I am?" He questioned her.

It was her turn to act confused as she carefully spoke, "You do not know the Halls of Mandos?"

No. Should he? But then again, why would he be in these Halls of a sort? He should be dead, resting and having his cheeseburgers and Pina Coladas. Maybe see the other members of his team. [7]

The Avengers. He hoped they were doing well, and that they were happy.

That immediately gotten him to remember the rest of his family as well. Pepper, his loving wife that always went back to him. Happy, his bodyguard and now the brother he grew to love. And his three wards: Harley, Peter and Illyria (he wondered if they were all getting along and making sure each other were alright).

And then his sweet little girl. Morgan...

He still could remember her face before he left to go save the world again.

Returning his thoughts to her, he sarcastically answered: "Strictly speaking I just woke up exactly three days before shit just went down."

The woman gave him another deadpanned look before nodding. "Good. Ignorance may aid you from the suffering," She then turned away and began striding towards the opposing direction of where everybody was running from.

He was left struck at her words.

What did she mean by suffering? Who was coming that would potentially kill them all?

God, he hoped it wasn't Thanos again.

He really can't deal with his shit again.

He raced towards her, demanding an answer. "Hey wait! Why are some people leaving? What the heck is going on?"

Just as she turned around to speak, another figure rushed to them. This time, they wore a dark navy tunic, matching their long black hair. Again, more pointy ears. Their eyes never went to his but instead looked over to the red-haired woman and said, "My Lady Nerdanel, we must leave now before Námo—"

The woman, which he now dubbed at Nerdanel (not adding the lady because no offence, he was not up for that royal shit until there's some clear explanation about what was going on), interrupted the other person.

"No. Some of us must stay," Nerdanel grabbed the person's hand and spoke. "If the Valar discover what we have planned then they will surely rid of us permanently. Go."

His mouth opened wide, "But—"

"Go Findekáno," Her voice was stern and yet calm, assuring the person (who had a rather peculiar name and yet seemed to look like it suited him) before letting his arm go.

Findekáno nodded, speaking in another language to her before running along with the rest of the crowd. [8]

Nerdanel glanced back to the people, a grave expression on her face before she hardened her look and inhaled sharply.

"So, we're staying." He piped in, still wanting some damn answers about this. Honestly, at some point, he might just go straight into the danger and they'll probably give them the answer.

Her eyes went to his, looking at him like she wanted to apologize for this all going down. "You have no choice, Edain." Nerdanel explained to him, "Your fëa will either pass on by Námo's choice and that is all. Your fëa cannot step into Middle Earth."

Middle Ear-

Say what now?

She continued to walk ahead before he raced ahead of her and stood in front – hands out to stop her. "Wait, hold up." He questioned in disbelief, "Did you just say Middle Earth?"

Nerdanel slowly nodded, "Yes."

"The Middle Earth? Like elves, dwarves and hobbits?"

Her eyebrows furrowed as she wondered, "Do you call it something else now?"

"No." He scrunched his face and shook his head. Exasperating, he butted in, "But wait, that's bullshit! I..."

At the same time, a large bang reverberated around them. He glanced up to the ceiling to see the chandeliers shake, the grand columns around them shifting slightly. When their eyes met, he saw the fear growing on her face.

Nerdanel whispered, "He has arrived," Blinking for a few seconds, she inhaled and assured him, "Námo will keep you and the rest of the souls left here safe. I must go and ensure most have left."

He was then left alone in the empty chamber, not only confused but sensing the dread erupting from his chest.

God, he should have had second thoughts about dying if this shit was going to go down.

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Melkor | Lord of the Dark

Location: Halls of Mandos, Aman, Arda

Time: 2979 T.A

Returning to Arda was...pleasant.

For a long time – or perhaps no time at all – he had been wandering in the Void ever since he was thrown out of the Door of Night. Forced to be in utter nothingness and alone, without any one to speak or to be around with.

Though, it did not mean he did nothing.

He planned and plotted, working out his ways on how he would proceed once more when the time was right. He went through every choice he could make, predicting how each strategic move would potentially get him to success. How each pawn in this world would truly matter to him. And whilst he did take his time to think, he knew eventually that his most trusted servant would be already planning a way to bring him back from the Void.

Ah, the Void...

When one's being entered it, one would think that it is just a vast space in a large part of reality.

In fact, this was a lie. The Void was nothing and everything. It shared the planes of all existences, bringing in whispers and visions of what had happened, what will and what could be. Scenes and news from other worlds, how rumours spread of the powers from individuals.

It was where he had learnt about the Infinity Stones, and how they had been destroyed by the alien. A titan. He had heard and felt the energies of them, reminding him of the once-great jewels one certain elf created long ago.

He vowed to them. To the Valar and Eru Ilúvatar himself that he will return. That he will bring down Arda and complete what he had planned to do at the very start. To bring order to the world – balance and control. He once scoffed at them, especially the king of the Valar for they believed that what they were doing was along with the Natural Order as well.

They coddle the children of Eru Illuvatar; they wish for them to come to Aman and settle there instead of having the entire world of Arda for themselves. They would choose who would stay and who would go, determined by their good deeds for the Valar and not for one's own ambitions and successes.

A hypocritical world they have governed.

Soon, he would change this and rid of the unbalance they have lost control of.

When the Door of the Night opened, he was in shock. The guards who had kept those doors safe were knocked unconscious, under the feet of one elf with silvery-white hair and orange eyes. A smirk and triumph on his face.

Mairon greeted him in this odd elven form, shocking him as to how the maia managed to pass into Aman undetected. He bowed before him, wishing him well before asking him his next move. It was then he told of his plan before hearing the prophecy in which Manwë had given. He would be the one to bring the End of the World to Arda and allow his death to mark the rebirth of a new song.

However: his plan would soon change their predictions.

With the dark creatures and entities he had coerced during his time in the Void, he draped himself in utter darkness, using his powers to hide them in Aman. It wasn't long that word had begun to whisper that the Door of Night had been opened and he would arrive in the gates of the Halls that very day.

All fëar felt his presence, running from him as he walked through the great halls with his head up high. Once he entered the great chamber, it was where he saw both the eyes of the Valar he expected to see.

"Námo. Vairë." His voice echoed through the tall, cavernous hall, rumbling through the walls like the eruption of a volcano.

Opposed to the haunting and calm voice, Námo sat on his throne beside his wife Vairë as he spoke; "Melkor. You have returned." His voice echoed, "How is this possible. We threw you out..."

He had shifted into the great form he once used, his scars now healed due to time but ignored by the powers growing inside him. Melkor's lips upturned to a smirk, remembering again how Mairon had entered through the protective shields and the shaping of the world. He had told him that Eru had placed Aman out of Middle Earth after the fall of Númenor, an island gifted by Eru and the Valar for their deeds in his defeat.

Mairon had shown him the ring he had discovered and developed by his own creation. A great weapon that was once used by a mortal sorcerer. How this one ring could create gateways through any realm or world, only to imagine the place to go.

He answered Námo simply, "Then you must thank my most trusted lieutenant." Melkor slowly approached them as he continued, "Mairon has grown to become powerful in my steed. Greater than what even Eru has predicted."

He was proud of what had come to his servant, powerful and commanding with the wisdom and knowledge he had. Mairon's ambitions were along with his and in time, Melkor would use this advantage to continue what they have planned to complete.

Vairë had stopped knitting at the mention of the maia's name, dread in her face as she shifted herself back to her physical form. She cried out, "Mairon is not supposed to be here, how was he gone unnoticed—"

Her breath hitched as a dark force clamped against her throat. Melkor lifted his hand, clenching them as he brought Vairë towards him. Her form began to change sporadically but struggled to get away from his grasp.

It was then what predicted turned out right as Námo rose from his seat and began to shift back to the greater fuller form of his power – ready to tackle Melkor.

"Unhand her, Melkor!" The Judge of the Hall commanded, the entire hall shaking under his voice. "Vairë has no part in this!"

He slowly loosened his grip, enough for her to breathe. Melkor wondered, "But she knows the future, don't you Weaver?" His eyes bored into hers, trying to get through the Vala's head to search for answers. "You know where they are. The Oialëa and the Fëanorian."

Vairë rasped back, "I do not know where they are—"

"Lies!" Melkor snapped before scoffing, a manic grin on his face. "Is this what has come to the Valar? I did not even need to be present to understand that there are cracks in the orchestra you've played."

When his eyes turned to Námo, he spotted his expression grow dark. "You don't know what you speak of."

Surprised at his ability to lie, Melkor laughed. "But I do," He grinned, allowing his hand to fully let go of Vairë. "I have heard...whispers that the Valar are...undecided. Divided by their love of one thing and that is the children of Eru."

As the Weaver coughed in the air, her hands rubbed her neck before widening her eyes.

Well, this is interesting indeed.

Approaching him, Vairë questioned him. "Námo? Husband, what does he speak of—"

Namo did not dare to look at her, keeping his eyes trained on him as his arms clenched around his fists. Melkor had never seen the Judge of the Halls become heated at the mention of the Eldar, expecting that all of them would agree that all shall be loved despite all the wrongdoings so many of them had done.

Most importantly, those who were related to Finwë.

He grinned back, pleased at both the betrayed expression Vairë wore and the anger in Námo's. "Have you not told your wife?" The silence between the two answered his question. "Well then, pray to explain why certain elves are not in your halls no longer? Or did you realise that now?"

When he saw the immediate fear in Námo's face, Melkor felt the victory in this cause. (He would have to Mairon for this news, knowing how one part of the Eldar will be subjected between the love and hatred of the Valar.)

Námo's form changed, the very one he used as the Vala searched through his halls with his powers before he shifted back.

"No—"

"No? That's rather unfortunate." Melkor glanced up, dismissive by both the confusion and worry filling Vairë's face whilst Námo was on the verge of anger. Melkor could sense his energy radiating from him, his physical body beginning to morph back to its first form.

Námo scowled at him, "The Noldor are not your place. You have corrupted them once. You shall not take them again!"

"Oh no. I never did." He nonchalantly answered, "You mistake yourself, Námo. The Noldor were always going to be this way. You are only afraid of one thing...and that is their ambition."

There was a look from both him and Námo in which he knew they were thinking of the same thing. And neither of them needed to peer into their minds to know what Námo's plan along with his brother. His good and just brother; King of the Valar and Arda. Eru's viceregent.

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"To those of the House of Finwë, I have heard that they won't be chosen to sing the Second Song."

Mairon told him as they travelled through the golden gateways. They had stayed far south of Aman, away from the Eldar and the eyes of the Valar. "Words I have heard during my travels in the halls and Tirion. One mentioned had been the youngest of Finwë and Indis – Arafinwë. He is conspiring with the Noldor in the halls...word of their plan to re-enter Middle Earth." [9]

"They cannot escape the Valar's fate, no matter where they run," Melkor spoke, amused at the Noldor's choices. "And I assume Fëanáro Curufinwë devised this all." [10]

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Vairë's hair whipped around her, golden strands levitating as she brought herself up in front of her husband. She finally understood what they meant.

She gasped, "That cannot be true." Pleading surged through her voice. "Námo you agreed!"

A stoic and solid tone came from Námo, "Manwë had agreed that the second song will be perfect. And that is our fate—"

"And rid of Illuvatar's children!" The Weaver's form brightened, the blue light emitted from her silhouette as she raised her voice. "One of the greatest houses of the Calaquendi. You would rid of Míriel's own family. Who agreed to this?" [11]

"Tell her, Námo." He hid his amusement at this ordeal through his blank expression, "Tell us who agreed."

Námo simply replied, "All."

"And none had come to speak of it to me?" Vairë questioned.

Melkor wasn't sure how the Weaver felt about this, but it had been more than just disappointment. There was anger in the fieriness of her tone. The simmering of betrayal and sadness.

If this was truly how the Valar could be broken, he should have done this ages ago.

"Because I know how you would react to this," Námo answered his wife, trying to assure her.

However, it did not sway her opinion. "I may not have much love for the Atani but the Eldar. The Noldor..." Vairë spoke, "This is not right."

Melkor began to laugh once more, his voice echoing as both wife and husband stared at each other. One pleading whilst the other wanted to make the other understand. "Oh, this is what I wanted to see." He sighed, "Vala versus Vala."

Soon, he felt Námo's own force try to grasp his neck. Melkor could felt his strength but only grinned.

"Go back to the darkness." The Judge commanded him, "You will have your war for Arda, but I forbade you to destroy within these walls. The war has not begun."

When the grasp of his neck disappeared, Melkor responded, "I seek only two elves in your halls, Námo." He continued, "The craftsman...Fëanáro...and the Oialëa."

"No! Námo you can't!" Vairë cried out, now trying to reach her husband's form but was ignored.

Námo stared at him.

"...Fëanáro's fate resides with us." Námo blankly answered him. "You will have to search for him. As for the Oialëa—"

When he felt the coldness through his voice, Melkor's eyebrows rose. "Is this hatred I see? For the Oialëa?" He tutted to him, "My...I was not expecting this."

It was somehow Námo's turn to scoff at him. "She is a danger to all. And you cannot handle her. No one can." He told her, "She brings chaos and destruction. Even for the great Melkor."

Melkor didn't allow his grin to fall, only more pleased at this outcome. He had not imagined the Oialëa would even make some of the Valar fear her...but here was the evidence. He was not impressed by her in the Void, already knowing who she was and what had become of her in the whispers of the Void.

"We shall see." He simply spoke, allowing Námo to use his power to go through the souls of his halls.

Once Námo returned he coolly told him, "I sense no presence of him," He continued, "He must have escaped with the Noldor. Unfortunate of you, Melkor."

For now, Melkor was becoming impatient. He would have thought that Námo would forbid Fëanáro out of all Noldorin fëar to escape. His brother, Manwë, would demand Námo for answers after this.

It would not matter now. He would only need one of the important fëa.

"And the Oialëa," Melkor spoke, his patience waning thin. "I demand her now."

The was a pause.

"...No." Námo trailed off as his eyes widened in disbelief. "That cannot be. She cannot."

Had he also lost another fëa?

His eyes narrowed, his form beginning to shift to his greater form. "You promised me two fëar, Námo." Melkor darkly spoke, "And if you cannot bring me, I have already begun my plans to reach Manwë halls. Perhaps your wife would join me to question my brother's choice in ridding of Eru's children."

Námo's own voice matched his, still shaken after the realization of the Oialëa gone. "Take whoever is left of the Noldor and Edain."

"Please, husband. Please do not become like this!" Vairë begged his husband.

However, Námo did not refuse or shift. He simply stared right at Melkor whilst he walked over to the Judge, passing over his shoulder.

"I am glad that we have agreed then." Melkor's eyebrows rose in glee. "I am impressed with what has come to you."

Narrowed eyes directed at him whilst Melkor turned his eyes away from him. "You realise that you will not win this war," Námo warned him, "Even trying to access both the Oialëa and Fëanáro."

He stopped where he was going and answered plainly, "No. They will be your destruction first."

Melkor wandered through the halls, searching for the various fëar. None of them were the ones he wanted, next from the Oialëa and Fëanáro, until he came across the blot of copper hair alone in one chamber.

However, she was not alone.

Someone else, another fëa, was several feet away.

When he approached her, he bowed to the nissë. "My Lady Nerdanel."

Nerdanel the Wise, the wife of Fëanáro and one of the more powerful Noldor was composed – her head up high as she brought herself to speak.

"Morgoth." She greeted him, laced with coldness and fire.

He was amused at her façade as he stated, "Your husband is not here." Melkor continued, "Though I am surprised you are in these halls. Or were you aiding those of the Noldor to escape back to Middle Earth?"

Glaring up at him, the nissë replied: "I won't say much of this. Just take me now. Spare everyone here."

"Oh, I will." Melkor's eyes then averted to the other figure in the room. "Though the Atan is rather fascinating."

Once he had spoken of those words, he felt the quick hesitation in her voice.

"No." Nerdanel spoke aloud, "I will not allow you to take him."

His eyes wandered back to the Noldorin elf and smiled inwardly. Melkor had suspected this ever since he even brought himself to Aman to meet with her husband. Her fëa had always been strong and yet different from the rest. It was older...and yet familiar.

Melkor had seen her through the Void. In another world.

With a raised eyebrow, he wondered. "Is this memory recollecting Noldor?" He saw her eyes widen briefly before hiding her shock with a scowl. "My... the Eternal has altered this entire plane."

What did intrigue him had not been Nerdanel herself...but what the Eternal could do. It daunted him. How much could the Eternal truly do to break the lining of reality...

And with the wave of his hand, a dark web wrapped around the nissë. Nerdanel did not refrain, only glaring daggers up at him. Green eyes that bore into his that almost brought him to remember a vision.

He had seen her death. Her fall.

All the red in her fëa.

Suddenly, he heard a voice cry out, "Hey! Put her down, emo lord!" The Atan bravely puffed his chest. "If you want me, then I'm all yours!"

He brought his eyes down at him, grinning. "I see a fire in you, Merchant of Death."

Their eyes widened as their jaw slackened.

"...How do you know that name..."

Morgoth spoke: "Time is meaningless in the Void...but I have seen the splits of reality and the fabric of this world come apart." He continued, "Visions of the man of iron...The man with the name they called Stark."

As he saw the fear grow in the mortal's face, he already knew how terrified he was.

So, this was the famous Tony Stark he had seen through the Void.

The mortal who had defeated the Titan with the aid of the Infinity Stones.

Reduced into this mortal frame under his guise.

Melkor had plans already forming in him; how he would use Stark's skill and craft to aid him in the war to come.

As he brought the two fëar, entwined by his powers, he returned to the main halls where both Vairë and Námo waited for him. Melkor glanced over to the Weaver, though all she did was continue her work – tears flowing down her face as she weaved the fabric with her magic.

Melkor returned his eyes to The Judge and said, "Two I shall take, and your precious children will be spared – for now."

"I hope you understand what you have done Melkor," Námo warned him once more.

"I already know." Melkor smirked back, "But you: you have yet to decide how this song ends. Whether you like it or not: you already understand it has already changed."

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[1] - Burger King: An American multinational chain of hamburger fast food restaurants
[2] - Door of Night: A portal in the distant Uttermost West that leads to heaven, and/or the Void.
[3] - JK Rowling: A *cough*transphobic*cough* woman, the author of Harry Potter.
[4] - Nintendo: A Japanese Gaming Company that created famous characters such as Mario.
[5] - KPop: Korean Pop Music.
[6] - America's Ass: An Avengers: Endgame reference about Steve Roger's dump truck of an ass.
[7] - Pina Coladas: A sexy cocktail alcoholic beverage that has pineapple in it and there's a song about it.
[8] - Findekáno: Fingon's father name in Quenya.
[9] - Arafinwë: Finarfin's father name in Quenya.
[10] - Fëanáro Curufinwë: Feanor's mother name and father name in Quenya (in that order).
[11] - Calaquendi: The three group of elves that arrived in the sacred land Aman, that included the Vanyar, the Noldor and the Falmari.

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A/N: And nowww we start the sequel. Welcome to a brand new shiny story based on the works of both Tolkien and Marvel Studios.

As you can see, there is going to be a lot more viewpoints this time round so I've now began adding the names and titles of each person, sometimes it won't be said sometimes it will be. It will depend on plot and just suspension.

I will let you know, this is based of Dagor Dagorath and my take into it. If you don't like it, the door is there 🚪. It will follow some of the dialogue of the trilogy and will be more of the movie aspects but will have some elements of the books.

I think by the end of that, you might guess who got resurrected. ;) A lot more will be coming such as this.

Edited: 17/10/2021