Bred In Captivity

Bred in captivity

It is soon discovered that it takes effort to breed elves in Angband.

Orcs breed like rats, and Maiar and Balrogs can’t properly die, and thus don’t really need to be replaced.

But elves come with problems.

No matter how many threats Mairon makes, no matter the methods he uses, he cannot get results. And he tries mostly everything. Melkor wants more elf-slaves, wants the freedom to kill them without decreasing their already dwindling stock.

So, Mairon tries something new.

There are rooms in the upper levels of Angband. Rooms populated by elves taken in early childhood so they do not know the world outside. They are weavers and spinners- nothing like the toiling labour of other captives. They are treated well; kept away from the worst parts of the fortress, and especially from other elves. They are kept happy.

And if the price of this is giving up their children to their masters, well. Its not like they know any better.

Decided I haven’t tortured Maedhros enough, so consider this what Mairon is imagining during the events of this 

A diagram of the some of the more common injuries among the elves of Angband. Longer explanation under the cut.

Elves working under Sauron directly often work either as healers or lab assistants or both, and that means they have to wash their hands a lot. This is done with soap with large amounts of caustic soda (lye) because Sauron 1. enjoys cleanliness 2. enjoys watching them wince as they do it.

Weavers/textile workers only develop calluses because they need to be kept happy so they can breed to supply more elves.

Agricultural workers get larger rations because agricultural work is not only physically demanding, its a reward for especially loyal elves, so extra rations are part of their ‘reward’ (they still aren't enough though). Because of the higher risk of infection, overseers are only allowed to use blunt force trauma as a punishment so there isn't a high turn-over rate.

Mining is the lowest position an elf can hold, and so comes with a variety of health problems. Overseers are authorised to whip/beat them, or break bones if they want to. Elves often develop severe lung conditions from toxic fumes or inhaling dust, and its very common to die that way. Miners are also intentionally denied water and food, so dying of dehydration or starvation is also common. It’s also the norm for miners to develop muscular/skeletal issues,

most overseers do not target the legs- an elf can work more with a bad arm than a bad leg.

None of this applies to elves in the throne room. They exist purely at Morgoth’s whim.

Tw- this panel of the Angband Gothic Au contains themes of domestic abuse. I’d rather censor it now, than accidently hurt someone.

Current WIP- angband au portrait. I feel like I've sold my soul for next day and a bit to work on this

Question: do you think Melkor ever shows Maedhros his brother during their time in Angband? Maybe because Maglor thinks he deserves it he's more content with the treatment? And sometimes Melkor lets Maedhros try to explain to Maglor that it's not okay or something but never succeeds, either because Maglor won't listen or Melkor takes him away before Maedhros can get through to his brother. Maybe Melkor even does the same thing with the twins to Maedhros. (This got long, sorry)

No problem! But, yes, Melkor definitely shows Maglor to Maedhros. Maglor by this point has been convinced that everything Melkor and Mairon do to him is because he’s a terrible horrible person who led kinslayings and disgraced his family name and needs to be punished, and so he is completely willing and completely under their thumbs. Seeing Maglor actually ends up being a sort of mental torture for Maedhros because he is always so unnervingly relieved and thankful towards Melkor for torturing him and nothing Maedhros can say ever gets through to him, and he has to watch his brother willingly beg to be hurt more over and over again while he watches.

The twins  have basically been raised in a cult that venerates Melkor and that comes with a lot of indoctrination that Melkor enjoys watching Maedhros try to get through. They were still raised in part by Maglor, but that makes it even worse for Maedhros because that's just another way for him to see how twisted by Melkor his brother has become. Elrond tends to be slightly less willing to listen to him than Elros, but that’s in part because he works directly under Mairon who basically spouts pro-melkor propaganda every other sentence.

Hope that answered your question!