A more...lighthearted? telling of the fall of Gondolin. Just in time for whatever midwinter holiday you happen to celebrate.

Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to either J.R.R. Tolkien's The Silmarillion or Clemet C. Moore's "A Visit from St. Nicholas."

Note: I have no idea what possessed me to write this. None whatsoever.

~~

A Visit from Lord Melkor

'Twas just before daylight, and all through the city

The elves were all waiting, and looking quite pretty.

Not a word did they sing, until the sun's rising,

And ne'er did they think about evil's uprising.

They looked to the east as in silence they stood

And nothing could damage their peaceable mood.

My wife with the baby, and I with my blade

Stood side by side, and together we stayed,

When away to the north there arose such a sound

That it startled the Eldar by shaking the ground.

Our swords they were drawn and raised in a flash,

And then the gate fell with a shuddering crash.

A light in the darkness, a hellish-red glow,

Gave a lustre of terror to the Eldar below.

Then what to our horrified eyes should appear,

But a legion of Balrogs and orcs drawing near.

With a dark-headed leader, so shrouded in sin,

That I knew right away we'd been sold by Maeglin.

More rapid than eagles these creatures they came,

Ancalgon and Glaurung and Gothmog by name.

"Come Turgon! Ecthelion! Come Glorfindel, quickly!

Draw saber, or else this may get very sticky!

They attack from the north! They've climbed over the wall!

For Gondolin, Gondolin, Gondolin, all!"

Like the dry wind that causes a fire to spread

Soon Turgon and 'Thelion and others were dead.

Now up through the city the Uruks they swarmed,

And I fumed when I realized we hadn't been warned.

And then, of a sudden, I knew we must flee

Or else the next sunset we never would see.

With my blade in my hand, I was turning around,

And there laughing stood Maeglin; with smoke he was crowned.

He was dressed all in black, from his head to his foot

And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.

"I've come for your lady," he called o'er the din.

"I'll take her for wife, or I'm not Maeglin!"

His eyes—how they twinkled! His smile so fell!

His eyes were like coals from the fires of hell!

He winked as he passed me, and silent he fled,

And I followed him close, with high-mounting dread.

But I lost him too soon in the midst of the fray,

In the fumes as they rose up to block out the day.

But then through the haze, I heard my son call,

And I found cold Maeglin on the city's white wall.

He'd kidnapped my wife, that licentious elf,

But I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself.

For standing alone, with the mountains around him,

I knew what to do from the instant I found him.

I spoke not a challenge, but brandished my sword,

And he met my blade swiftly, without any word.

We strove there together, for Idril my wife,

And Maeglin or I must pay with our life.

My sword struck his side, and Maeglin then stumbled,

And fell to his knees, then o'er the edge tumbled.

And I called to his form, 'ere he fell out of sight,

"In Mandos' dark halls may you languish this night!"