Indexes:
About this entry:
- Updated 24 February 2002
- Updates planned: 12
|
The daughter of King Thingol of Doriath and Melian the Maia, and said to be the fairest Elf to have ever lived. She was discovered by Beren as he wandered the woods of her father's kingdom, and they grew to love one another. When Lúthien took Beren before her father, he was appalled that his royal daughter should wish to wed a mortal, and so set Beren what he thought was an unachievable task, to recover a Silmaril from the Iron Crown of Morgoth himself. So Beren left Doriath in pursuit of his hopeless quest.
After a time, a darkness fell on Lúthien's heart, and she learned from her mother Melian what this meant; Beren had been captured by Sauron, and was held in the dungeons of Tol-in-Gaurhoth. Though Thingol sought to stop her, Lúthien set out from Doriath to rescue Beren, if she could. Passing through many adventures, she gained the help of Huan the Hound, and together they came to Sauron's Isle. Through Lúthien's magic and Huan's strength they defeated Sauron and rescued Beren. Eventually Beren set out for Angband once again, and Lúthien accompanied him.
Through Lúthien's powers, they passed the gates of Angband, and the great wolf Carcharoth that guarded them. Coming before the Dark Throne itself, she wove a spell that put Morgoth and his court into a deep sleep, and Beren cut a Silmaril from the Iron Crown. Returning to the gates, they found that Carcharoth barred their escape. Beren held up the hallowed Jewel to protect them, but the monstrous wolf bit off his hand, and with it consumed the Silmaril. But the Silmarils were blessed by Varda herself, so that any unclean flesh that touched them would be withered and burnt. The wolf's innards were consumed with that burning, and it ran howling into the south.
Lúthien healed Beren, and they came at last back to her father's halls at Menegroth. There they heard tidings that the maddened wolf had entered Thingol's realm, and Beren set out with the King to the Hunting of the Wolf. After nightfall they returned; the wolf was slain and the Silmaril recovered, but Beren was wounded mortally. So he passed away, and soon after Lúthien too wasted of grief.
Their spirits were gathered in the Halls of Mandos in the Uttermost West of the world, and there Lúthien sang a song of such extraordinary power and beauty that it moved even the implacable heart of Mandos himself. So she was granted a unique fate, to become mortal and return to Middle-earth with Beren, where they dwelt for a time in happiness on the green island of Tol Galen in the River Adurant.
Notes
1 |
At least, according to The Etymologies (The History of Middle-earth volume V, The Lost Road and Other Writings III The Etymologies). |
See also...
Anfauglir, Angrist, Aranel, Arwen Evenstar, Beeches, Beren, Camlost, Celegorm, Children of the World, Dark Throne, Dior, Dírhavel, Doors of Angband, Dor Firn-i-Guinar, Eglador, [See the full list...]Eithel Nínui, Elu Thingol, Eluchíl, Fíriel, First Age, First House of the Edain, Foamriders, Fountain of Tinúviel, Gate of Angband, Ghosts, Great Enemy, Great Jewel, Great Jewels, Green Isle, Green-elves, Half-elven, Half-elves, Halls of Awaiting, Havens of Sirion, Hemlock, Hírilorn, Hound of Valinor, Huan, Iron Crown, Jaws of Thirst, King of Doriath, Land of the Dead that Live, Land of the Girdle, Larks, Lay of Leithian, Lay of Lúthien, Lómelindi, Lord of Nogrod, Maiar, Morgoth, Nauglamír, Nightingales, Oath of Fëanor, One-hand, People of Narog, Quest for the Silmaril, Release from Bondage, Ring of Barahir, Ruin of Doriath, Sauron, Saurons Isle, Seven Rivers of Ossir, Silmarils, Song of Parting, Sons of Fëanor, Star of Eärendil, The Empty-handed, The Fair, The Man, The Minstrel, The Wolf, Three Jewels, Thuringwethil, Tindómë, Tinúviel, Tol Galen, Two Kindreds, Union of Maedhros, Valley of Dreadful Death, Valmar, War of the Great Jewels, Wolf of Angband, Wolf-Sauron, Wolfhounds
Indexes:
About this entry:
- Updated 24 February 2002
- Updates planned: 12
For acknowledgements and references, see the Disclaimer & Bibliography page.
Original content © copyright Mark Fisher 1998, 2001-2002. All rights reserved. For conditions of reuse, see the Site FAQ.
Website services kindly sponsored by Axiom Discovery aptitude and skill testing.Personality is one part of understanding a candidate's suitability for a role, but aptitude can also be crucial.
|