POWER: Divine Restraint

SUMMARY: When some of the Ainur voice their concerns for their brethren in Eä, Atar explains why he will not interfere with what is happening.

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‘Of all His Designs, the issue must be for His children’s joy.’

— J. R. R. Tolkien

"Aira, aira, aira, Heru Eru Iluvala...."

Some of the Ayanumuz were singing a paean of praise to their Creator when two others appeared before the throne clearly agitated.

Atar raised a hand to quiet the singing and gestured for Ezelullumirub and his twin sister in Atar’s Thought, Ezelurushebeth, to approach Him. "What troubles ye, Children?" He asked.

"Our brethren in Eä are in sore straits, Atar," Ezelullimirub exclaimed. "Mbelekoro is nigh destroying all that they have striven to create."

"They need help, Atar," his sister added, her usual spring green aura going dark with anxiety for her friends struggling against their fallen brother.

"And what do you think I should do?" Atar asked, giving them both an embrace to comfort them in their agitation.

The two looked at each other, unsure how to answer. Other Ayanumuz were beginning to gather around the throne, drawn by the obvious turmoil that they could sense from the twins, wondering what had upset them so. Atar gestured for them all to come closer.

Ezelurushebeth finally answered. "Thou shouldst stop Mbelekoro, Atar. He doth ruin everything."

"Not everything, Child," Atar said, "only that which I allow him to."

One of the others then asked a question. "But why shouldst thou permit him to do any harm to thy creation, Atar?" Ullukeluth asked. He was one of the oldest of the Ayanumuz who elected to remain in the Timeless Halls.

Atar smiled, though it seemed rather sad. "Hast thou forgotten all I have taught thee, Ullukeluth, of My Purposes? What is the first and greatest gift I gave all of ye?"

"Thy love," Ullukeluth answered unhesitatingly.

"Nay, Child," Atar said, "My love is but a product of the gift given, but it is not the gift itself." He turned to the others. "Do ye know, My Children, what that gift is?"

No one ventured an opinion at first, many of their aurae darkening in confusion. Finally, Phanaínithil whispered somewhat uncertainly, "Thou didst give us the ability to love Thee?"

Atar’s smile was more brilliant and He nodded. "Thou’rt closer to the answer, Phanaínithil, but not quite there."

There were whispered consultations among some of the Ayanumuz but none was able to offer an answer to Atar’s question. Several of them appeared dispirited, their aurae dimming. Atar smiled even more and sent them all an embrace of Love to comfort them.

"Fear not, My Children," He said. "I am not angry with ye, nor dismayed at your unknowing. Perhaps if we look at it from a different angle ye will understand."

At that Atar stood and gestured for them all to follow Him to the very borders of the Timeless Halls until they were staring into the Void and watching the drama of Eä unfold before them. All could see their brethren battling against Mbelekoro and those who had followed him into rebellion against their Creator. They watched in awe and dismay as Mbelekoro’s People overturned the great Lamps that had been created, plunging the world of the coming Children into darkness once more. They saw the planet being reduced almost to molten slag and their brethren struggling to save what they could.

"It’s not fair, Atar!" Ulluinithil cried. "It was so beautiful and now it’s all gone. Why didst thou allow Mbelekoro to destroy everything?"

Many of the others voiced similar complaints. Atar gave them another smile.

"Fairness hath nothing to do with it, My little Lily," He said. "I gave unto Mbelekoro the same gift I gave all of ye and your brethren who fight so valiantly in My Name. Can ye tell me now what that gift is?"

They all stared at the drama unfolding before them. They saw Tulukhastaz and Aromez attempting to capture Mbelekoro while Manawenuz, Azulez and Ulluboz directed the other Ayanumuz to preserve what could be preserved. The Máyar, they could see, were busy battling with Mbelekoro’s People. When some of the enemy were hurled away by several Máyar working together, Tulukurush actually cheered. Then his orange-red aura shaded towards green with embarrassment. Several of his brethren laughed and Atar embraced him, kissing him lovingly so that his aura returned to its proper hue.

"It’s still not fair, Atar," Phanaínithil said with a sigh. "Mbelekoro is getting away. Why doth he hate Thee so much? Why doth he hate Thy creation that he would see it utterly destroyed?"

"The answer to those questions is the answer to My question to ye," Atar replied. "What gift doth Mbelekoro possess that all of ye have, the very gift that doth not permit Me to intervene, though ye would all like Me to?"

For a moment there was silence in the Timeless Halls, then Ullukeluth’s bluish-green aura brightened considerably. "Thy gift to us is the... the ability to refuse Thy gift."

Atar’s smile deepened. "Yes, Child. My gift to all of ye is the free will not only to love Me but to refuse to do so, to reject Me. In giving ye that gift I bound Myself in such a way that I cannot and will not interfere in the free will decisions of any of My Children. I wished not for puppets with which to amuse Myself, but free creatures whom I could love and who could return that love... or not."

"W-wouldst Thou not like to stop Mbelekoro, though, Atar?" Ezelullumirub asked hesitantly.

"Nay, Child," came Atar’s surprising answer. "For otherwise the ultimate issue of all My Designs will not come about."

"What is that, Atar?" Ezelurushebeth asked and her confusion was mirrored by the others.

"Your joy," Atar said. "All that happens, even that which ye account as evil, ultimately will be for the joy of all My children, for in the end, nothing can be done unless I will it so. Mbelekoro thinketh he is frustrating My Designs in what he doth but in truth he is merely Mine instrument in bringing all My Designs to fruition in the fullness of Time."

"It sounds... hard," Phanaínithil said with a frown. "Dost Thou not regret giving Mbelekoro Thy gift, Atar, and never being able to stop the evil he commits?"

Atar gave her a gentle smile. "Nay, Child, I do not, for one can never regret a gift given in love. What the recipient doth with that gift is for them to decide. I gave all of ye this gift to freely act for good or for evil, knowing that some of ye would misuse the gift or reject it outright."

"It doesn’t seem right, though, that Thou canst not do anything to stop Mbelekoro," Tulukurush said sadly.

Atar hugged him. "I did not say that I can not do anything, Child, I said I will not interfere with My children’s free will choices. There is a difference."

Many of the Ayanumuz gave him puzzled looks. "What hast thou done then, Atar?" Ezelulumirub asked.

"I sent Tulukhastaz to help your brethren," Atar replied.

Phanaínithil gave him a surprised look. "I thought thou didst get rid of him so we could have some peace and quiet for a change."

Atar’s laughter rang through the Timeless Halls, impinging upon the Walls of Eä. "Nay, Little One. That I most certainly did not. Tulukhastaz is my secret weapon. Mbelekoro fears him and with good reason. I waited until the time was meet before sending him to your brethren."

"Secret weapon?" Phanaínithil asked, looking doubtful. "Tulukhastaz was your secret weapon?"

Atar nodded, smiling at the confused expressions among the Ayanumuz. Then Phanaínithil’s aura brightened and she turned to Atar with a sly smile. "Perhaps Thou shouldst have sent me instead, Atar. Mbelekoro never did like my poetry."

Atar wasn’t the only one to laugh at that. He took Phanaínithil into His embrace and kissed her gently. "If ever I have need of another secret weapon, Daughter," He whispered to her, "thou shalt be the first one I think of."

"Look!" Tulukurush exclaimed. "Our brethren have completely routed Mbelekoro’s People. They’re fleeing!"

A great cheer rang throughout the Timeless Halls and then the Ayanumuz spontaneously began singing: ‘Aira, aira, aira, Heru Eru Iluvala, ilyë Carmelyar laituvar Esselya, Arda ar Lúmelóra Mardissë...’ while Atar smiled benignly upon them all.

And in the depths of Eä a war came to an end and peace reigned for a time in the Little Kingdom.

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Linguistic Note: Obviously the Ainur would not have spoken Quenya but their own language, which we know as Valarin. Quenya is the closest one can get to it.

Aira, aira, aira, Heru Eru Iluvala...: ‘Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty...’

...ilyë Carmelya laituvar Esselya, Arda ar Lúmelóra Mardissë...: ‘... all Thy Works shall praise Thy Name, in Arda and in the Timeless Halls...’

Máyar: Older form of Maiar.

Ayanumuz (Ainur) of the Timeless Halls:

Ezelullumirub: "Green Water Wine", twin brother to Ezelurushebeth in the Thought of Ilúvatar.

Ezelurushebeth: "Green Fire Air", twin sister to Ezelullumirub in the Thought of Ilúvatar.

Phanaínithil: "Bright Lily".

Tulukurush: "Golden Fire".

Ulluinithil: "Water Lily".

Ullukeluth: "Water Mirror", known for his exquisite poetry.

Ayanumuz of Eä:

Aromez: Oromë.

Azulez: Aulë.

Manawenuz: Manwë.

Mbelekoro: Melkor. This is the attested oldest Quenya form of the name and most likely derived from Valarin. As we don’t have an attested Valarin form of the name I use this form here rather than the later ‘Melkor’ in keeping with the fact that everyone in this story is speaking the original language of the Timeless Halls.

Tulukhastaz: Tulkas.

Ulluboz: Ulmo.