Fëa and Free-Will; The Battleground of Eä?

[Ancalagon'sFire]

Central to the creation of Eä is the divine gift of the fëa and its hröa. The Children of Eru have existed from their initial awakening beneath the light of the stars and the first rising of the Sun respectively. Each of these Children is gifted their fëa and its hröa, in addition to free-will and independent thought.

This quote, from Last Writings specifically addresses the laws relating to the spirit (of Elves) following its departure from the body (the divorce of the fëa and its hröa) and the role of the Valar as decreed by 'The One'

When Glorfindel of Gondolin was slain his spirit would according to the laws established by the One be obliged at once to return to the land of the Valar. Then he would go to Mandos and be judged, and would then remain in the 'Halls of Waiting' until Manwë granted him release. Elves were destined to be 'immortal', that is not to die within the unknown limits decreed by the One, which at the most could be until the end of the life of the Earth as a habitable realm. Their death – by any injury to their bodies so severe that it could not be healed – and the disembodiment of their spirits was an 'unnatural' and grievous matter. It was therefore the duty of the Valar, by command of the One, to restore them to incarnate life, if they desired it. But this 'restoration' could be delayed by Manwë, if the fëa while alive had done evil deeds and refused to repent of them, or still harboured any malice against any other person among the living.

Here we see a specific set of laws, exclusive to the Firstborn in relation to the 'management' of their souls by The Valar. Yet, the consideration here is that embodiment could be delayed by them should the individual have commited acts of evil without repentance. This is incredibly significant in the overall scheme of things, especially when one views the fëa as an invaluable gift of Eru. Therefore, it is interesting to understand the motives of Melkor, ever seeking to mar, abuse or corrupt the souls of not only the Children of Iluvatar, but those Ainur who were considered lesser than the Valar! Consider this from Myths Transformed when understanding the motives of Melkor;

It does however seem best to view Melkor's corrupting power as always starting, at least, in the moral or theological level. Any creature that took him for Lord (and especially those who blasphemously called him Father or Creator) became soon corrupted in all parts of its being, the fëa dragging down the hröa in its descent into Morgothism: hate and destruction.

The connection between the two seems apparent, that if Melkor corrupts it, the Valar may deny it the freedom expressly offered by 'The One.'

Is this the beginning of the battle for the souls of Arda's inhabitants? Is Melkor's role within Eä much more sinister than his desire to have it as his own Kingdom? What becomes of those corrupted individuals who do not repent and are stayed for an enternity in the Halls of Mandos? Does this represent a victory for Melkor, to have denied the individual their freedom through lies and deceipt?

What then of the Secondborn? Their fëa does not reside in the keeping of Mandos after their short lives are expended. Does not the quote showing Melkors corrupting power seem more detrimental to the afterlife of the Edain? Their spirit departs and the journey begins, returning to the place set aside for them by Eru. But what of those corrupted by Melkor, those who called him 'lord' and failed the test? They do not belong to the Valar, for they have no power to restrain the fëa as punishment for its wrong-doing.
So also can the ''will' of these Children be considered a battleground among the Valar. For those allied to Eru the continued freedom of the 'will' of the Children their responsibility. Should the freedom of their 'will' be lost, then Melkor has gained lordship over them and thus controls the fëa. Yet what becomes of the doomed fëa, those who gave their will to Melkor and so paid the price for their blasphemy against Eru?
From The Athrabeth;

The first Voice we never heard again, save once. In the stillness of the night It spoke, saying: 'Ye have abjured Me, but ye remain Mine. I gave you life. Now it shall be shortened, and each of you in a little while shall come to Me, to learn who is your Lord: the one ye worship, or I who made him.'

If Athrabeth Finrod ah Andreth might be considered canon (which I believe it ought to be) then the battle for the souls of the Edain is the ultimate currency. The themes that permeate Tolkiens work suggest that this battle of 'evil against good' is in fact a battle for the souls of the Children of Eru. Each one saved or lost representing a victory to the successful side.

Is this how Tolkien envisaged his creation with the currency fought over being Fëa and Free-Will?