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An immense beech-tree that grew close to the gates of [[Menegroth]], the underground capital of King [[Thingol]]. Its original name seems to have been [[Neldor]], meaning 'triple-tree' because of its three tall straight trunks. It is a mark of the tree's fame that its name ultimately became the [[Sindarin]] word for 'beech', from which was named the entire forest of [[Neldoreth]], where it grew.  
[[File:Ted Nasmith - Lúthien Escapes the Treehouse.jpg|thumb|250px|[[Ted Nasmith]] - ''Lúthien Escapes the Treehouse'']]
'''Hírilorn''' was an immense [[Beeches|beech-tree]] that grew over the gates of [[Menegroth]], the underground city of King [[Thingol]]. The tree was originally named '''''Neldor''''', meaning "Triple-tree", because of its three massive trunks.


Its name was changed at the time of the [[Quest of the Silmaril]]. Concerned that his daughter [[Lúthien]] would risk danger seeking out [[Beren]], Thingol had a house built among the branches of the great beech, and imprisoned Lúthien there. After this time the tree's name was changed to Hírilorn, meaning '[[Tree of the Lady]]', though it did not hold Lúthien for long. Using her magical arts, she escaped from Hírilorn and set out to aid Beren in many adventures, eventually helping him to recover a [[Silmarils|Silmaril]] from [[Morgoth]]'s [[Iron Crown]].  
During the time of the [[Quest for the Silmaril]], Thingol feared his daughter [[Lúthien]] would risk her life to seek out her love [[Beren]] and help him in his quest. He had a house built among the branches of the great beech and imprisoned Lúthien there. Because of this the tree was then called '''Hírilorn''', meaning "Tree of the Lady"<ref>{{S|Index}}</ref> in [[Sindarin]], though it did not hold Lúthien for long. Using her magical arts, she escaped from Hírilorn and set out to aid Beren, eventually helping him recover a [[Silmarils|Silmaril]] from [[Morgoth]]'s [[Iron Crown]].  


As it had seen these first steps in the Quest, the mighty beech also saw its end: the Silmaril was finally recovered in the [[Hunting of the Wolf]], but in that hunt Beren received a mortal wound, and it was beneath Hírilorn's branches that Lúthien was briefly reunited with him before he died.
Just as the Quest for the Silmaril began near Hírilorn the quest ended there as well. During the [[Hunting of the Wolf]], Beren received a mortal wound from [[Carcharoth]] and died in Lúthien's arms beneath the branches of the ''Tree of the Lady''.<ref>{{S|19}}</ref>
 
When [[Túrin]] was seventeen years old news from [[Dor-lómin]] ceased due to the vigilance of the servants of [[Morgoth]].  Túrin went looking for King [[Thingol]] to ask for mail, sword, and shield; he found the king with [[Melian]] sitting under Hírilorn.  There they advised him and his wish for arms was granted.<ref>{{CH|5}}, pp. 82-85</ref>
 
==Etymology==
 
''[[hîr]]'' + ''[[-il]]'' + ''[[orn]]''<!--Lady-tree?-->
 
An obsolete name of the tree, used in an early version of the [[legendarium]], was ''Golosbrindi'' (glossed as "Queen of the Forest"), replaced with ''Hirilorn'' (glossed as "Queen of the Trees").<ref>{{LT2|In}}, p. 51</ref>
{{references}}
[[Category:Trees]]

Revision as of 09:20, 8 June 2014

Ted Nasmith - Lúthien Escapes the Treehouse

Hírilorn was an immense beech-tree that grew over the gates of Menegroth, the underground city of King Thingol. The tree was originally named Neldor, meaning "Triple-tree", because of its three massive trunks.

During the time of the Quest for the Silmaril, Thingol feared his daughter Lúthien would risk her life to seek out her love Beren and help him in his quest. He had a house built among the branches of the great beech and imprisoned Lúthien there. Because of this the tree was then called Hírilorn, meaning "Tree of the Lady"[1] in Sindarin, though it did not hold Lúthien for long. Using her magical arts, she escaped from Hírilorn and set out to aid Beren, eventually helping him recover a Silmaril from Morgoth's Iron Crown.

Just as the Quest for the Silmaril began near Hírilorn the quest ended there as well. During the Hunting of the Wolf, Beren received a mortal wound from Carcharoth and died in Lúthien's arms beneath the branches of the Tree of the Lady.[2]

When Túrin was seventeen years old news from Dor-lómin ceased due to the vigilance of the servants of Morgoth. Túrin went looking for King Thingol to ask for mail, sword, and shield; he found the king with Melian sitting under Hírilorn. There they advised him and his wish for arms was granted.[3]

Etymology

hîr + -il + orn

An obsolete name of the tree, used in an early version of the legendarium, was Golosbrindi (glossed as "Queen of the Forest"), replaced with Hirilorn (glossed as "Queen of the Trees").[4]

References