Of bitter cold immoderate

Two days ago, the temperature in Chicago was 62° F (16° C). Today it's 12° F (-11° C) and dropping.

"Of this cold we must be wary—he thought—and not fare out at night, for surely some great evil is afoot. But let us turn our minds to the earliest of days and take comfort in the Music, even as all that is light and warm fades from the world." Then a deep voice called out, in words that mortal ears had not heard since the Downfall of the West.

And Ilúvatar spoke to Ulmo, and said: ‘Seest thou not how here in this little realm in the Deeps of Time Melkor hath made war upon thy province? He hath bethought him of bitter cold immoderate, and yet hath not destroyed the beauty of thy fountains, nor of thy clear pools. Behold the snow, and the cunning work of frost! Melkor hath devised heats and fire without restraint, and hath not dried up thy desire nor utterly quelled the music of the sea. Behold rather the height and glory of the clouds, and the everchanging mists; and listen to the fall of rain upon the Earth! And in these clouds thou art drawn nearer to Manwë, thy friend, whom thou lovest.’

Then Ulmo answered: ‘Truly, Water is become now fairer than my heart imagined, neither had my secret thought conceived the snowflake, nor in all my music was contained the falling of the rain. I will seek Manwë, that he and I may make melodies for ever to thy delight!’ And Manwë and Ulmo have from the beginning been allied, and in all things have served most faithfully the purpose of Ilúvatar.

From the "Ainulindalë", J.R.R. Tolkien, The Silmarillion (New York: Ballantine, 1979) 8-9.

Given Will Baude's recent reference to Heidi Bond's "Sauron: Offer and Acceptance", I thought it proper to release the Elf-f(r)iend.