Worthy of the Valar, by Ellynn

[ellynn_ithilwen]

Author: Ellynn

Title: Worthy of the Valar

Characters: Maglor

Pairing: none

Text type / Format: Ficlet

Source / Fandom: Silmarillion

Rating: General

Warnings: none

Word Count: 516

Summary: Modern-day Maglor discovers one new drink invented by humans. He is doubtful at first, but after he tries it, the result will shock him.

Author notes: In this particular case, "modern-day" does not mean today, but the beginning of 17th century. But I think that this period is distant enough from Silmarillion and LotR, and close enough to today, to call this a modern-day story.

Big hug and thanks to Cairistiona for beta-reading.

-x-x-x-

"Come on! Try it!"

Hmmm...

"It will not bite you!"

Of course not, Maglor thought. He was not that stupid.

He has seen this... this, uhm, thing... several times during the past few months. In some inns and in military camps. A novelty from the east. Damn Ottomans and their conquering of Europe, people have been cursing for more than two centuries now. But there was one more thing they have been saying: Oh well, praised be Ottomans for this drink they brought with them!

Wasn't that crazy? To give such conflicted statements?!

Anyway, he had no wish to try it. It looked weird. Or, more precise, ugly. And he had a rule: he never ate or drank that which he didn't visually like. Nope, no way. And this, uhm, thing... this drink... he didn't find it nice looking at all.

But it seemed that this time he wouldn't be able to get out of it. His friend put a cup in front of him – and it was more than obvious that he was proud of himself. He cooked it a little while ago, by himself. For the two of them.

"This is the perfect thing for early mornings, my friend," Johann said. "It awakens you, and you are full of energy."

He liked Johann a lot, in fact. A good friend, and a great musician. All right, because of him, and only because of him, he will try it...

He leaned forward, observing the cup and its contents, trying to hide the expression of disgust on his face...

...and in that movement, as he came closer to the cup, the aroma of the drink filled his nostrils. His eyes widened. How good! How unique! Not once in his long life, neither in Valinor nor here in Middle-earth, had he smelled something like this. If he had to describe it, how would he do it?

This was the scent of... of all colours, all notes, all stars... all pleasures.

Well, if it smelled this good, perhaps the taste would be equally good, despite its repulsive appearance.

He sipped.

Oh!

Taste buds on his tongue blossomed and started to sing. Warmth spread through his throat. And through every part of his body. He fluttered, to the very tips of his fingers and toes. To the very bottom of his heart. Music played in his soul. He smiled.

Indeed... this thing... this coffee... its colour might be blacker than Morgoth's soul, but it is surely a drink worthy of the Valar themselves.

Men. A lot could be said about them. Full of flaws. If some of them hadn't failed in crucial moments, like Isildur for instance, some things in the history of Middle-earth would have been much easier. But because they invented this drink, he'll forgive them all of their mistakes.

And when, a little later, he started to feel alert like rarely before, and full of energy for composing for the whole day and night in front of him, his smile became even wider.

Perfect taste, perfect feeling. Oh yes, he will drink this thing every day!

-x-x-x-

End-note: dedicated to all coffee-addicts :)

Comments

[anerea]

Ahh! I can just smell that fresh brew! Ha! Maglor's hooked! I imagine they went off and composed the Coffee Cantata together after that!

[anerea]

(PS, I saw your note about the cut, and it seems your </cut> end tag is sitting after
"Come on! Try it!"</cut>
If you're in the rich text editor, try switching to html mode and cutting the tag and pasting it right at the end.

[ellynn_ithilwen]

Yep, that was it, I fixed it, thanks!
But I still don't understand why I couldn't make in rich text editor. I am totally sure that I selected the whole text for the cut, not just the first line.
Anyway, I'll know now for my future stories. Thanks!

[hhimring]

It is a Dreamwidth thing, somehow.
Sometimes the closing tag of the cut misbehaves, especially if you have a bit more complex formatting, and you have to move it by hand in html view.

By the way, you have an author tag now!

[ellynn_ithilwen]

Thanks for the tag ;)

[ellynn_ithilwen]

Haha, Coffee Cantata, yay!
Thank you so much! :)

[lferion]

This is delightful! A lovely little pick-me-up :-D

[ellynn_ithilwen]

Thank you so much, I am glad you like it! :)))

[hhimring]

Maglor being introduced to coffee by his musician friend! What fun!
I'm sure it will make his songs less mournful.
(And also I like the idea of his making friends with Bach.)

[ellynn_ithilwen]

Thank you so much! :)))

[sauronnaise]

Wait a minute, I'm sure I have bookmarked it on SWG.

I was fooled, I was certain Maglor would swallow those pesky medicinal syrups that taste like Satan's pimple pus (not that I am experienced in tasting Satan's pimple pus specifically).

[ellynn_ithilwen]

Haha, one reviewer on fanfictionnet wrote "coffee is life" *lol*

Thank you! :)