Silmarillion Readalong - Of Thingol and Melian

Summary

Melian was one of the Maiar, particularly renowned for her beauty, singing, and skill at enchantment. The Valar themselves would come to watch her sing and dance, and nightingales accompanied her. Some time after the Elves awoke, she left Valinor for Middle-earth, and there Elwë Singollo of the Teleri came upon her singing and dancing in the forest. An enchantment came over him, and he took her hand, and they stood there, silent, gazing at each other under the stars while years passed. Elwë's people searched for him, but were unable to find him. Eventually Elwë's brother Olwë took up the lordship of the Teleri and, sadly, led his people West.

In the time after Ever became King of the Eldar of Beleriand, who were known as the Sindar. Elu Thingol was his name in Sindarin. He never came again to Valinor, but is still counted among the High Elves because he did see the light of the Trees. And through his union with Melian there came a strain of the Ainur in both Elves and Men.

Commentary

A very short chapter this time.

So this is a classical fairy story in the midst of a fairy story. It's got a forest glade, a beautiful fairy maiden, a man enchanted by the sight of her, years passing, white hair for the guy at the end of it, etc.

It's also strikingly similar to the first meetings of Beren & Lúthien and Arwen & Aragorn. Enough so that I feel like an idiot for not noticing it before. And they're all similar as well in that it's a guy falling in love with a woman far above his station.

Not a huge amount to say about this in the end, but there's just not that much to work with.

Here’s the One Mike to Read Them All index.

Next time, more stuff I'm going to tell you not to worry about remembering when we learn “Of Eldamar and the Princes of the Eldalië.”