Drabble: Defeated in Victory (Tolkien)

Title: Defeated in Victory
Fandom: Tolkien
Disclaimer: I do not own nor do I profit from these characters.
Rating: PG-13
Author: Alex (alex_cat_45@yahoo.com)
Type: 200 word Drabble
Note: For LOM’s Horrifying October: Balrog
Summary: Fingon knows he will die.

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DEFEATED IN VICTORY

Fingon, the High King of the Noldor, beloved and kind, wise and gentle, stood before the most horrible of all beings, Gothmog, Balrog of Morgoth. He knew it was over before it began. He did not dread the pain. He did not fear death. He felt sorrow for his people but he knew his suffering would soon end.

The Balrog laughed at the man before him. “You shall die!” He could not strike down the elf though, not until one of his companions came from behind and held him in a steely embrace. Gothmog struck, killing him quickly. He sought to draw from Fingon’s fear and pain. But there was no fear. The elf smiled at the last moment, then was gone.

Gothmog was so furious that he began to beat the dead body, imagining at every blow that Fingon laughed at him from above. He beat the body until there was little left but dust and a few metal buttons from his clothing. He beat the ground until even the buttons were ground to dust as well.

He still heard laughing. He had won the battle, won the war but he was defeated! Damn Fingon! Damn him to hell!