Lúthien

2009-02-26T23:47:04Z

71.253.46.145: /* Quest for the Silmaril */

{{sindar infobox
| image=[[Image:Ted Nasmith - Lúthien at Tol Galen.jpg|250px]]
| name=Lúthien Tinúviel
| othernames=
| titles=Princess of [[Doriath]].
| birth=c. [[Years of the Trees]] 1200, [[Beleriand]].
| realm=[[Doriath]], [[Dor Firn-i-Guinar|Tol Galen]].
| death= c. [[First Age]] 505.
| age=3,400 [[Years of the Sun|years]].
| gender=Female.
| hair=Black.
| eyes=Grey.
| parentage=[[Thingol]] + [[Melian]].
| spouse=[[Beren Erchamion|Beren]].
| children=[[Dior Eluchíl|Dior]].
|}}
'''Lúthien Tinúviel''' was the only daughter of King [[Thingol]] of [[Doriath]] and [[Melian]] the [[Maia]]. She was said to be the fairest maiden to have ever lived.

== History ==
Lúthien would often dance in the woods, while her friend Daeron would play his flute. Daeron came to love her, and while she enjoyed his company, she did not return his love.

===Quest for the Silmaril===

[[Image:Ted Nasmith - Lúthien.jpg|thumb|200px|left|''Lúthien'' by [[Ted Nasmith]].]]During such an occasion she was discovered by [[Beren Erchamion|Beren]] as he wandered the woods of her father's kingdom, and instantly fell in love with her. Daeron chirped out a warning, and she hid. While he searched for her, he accidentally laid his hand on her arm. He caught her alone some months later, 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 as is recounted in the ''[[Lay of Leithian]]'' 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 [[Tol-in-Gaurhoth|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, but this time 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.

===Aftermath===

[[Image:Luca Michelucci - 1999 - May.jpg|right|200px|thumb|''Lúthien Dances Before Morgoth'' by [[Luca Michelucci]].]]Their spirits were gathered in the [[Halls of Mandos]] in the [[Uttermost West]], 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]].

== Etymology ==

According to ''[[The Etymologies]]'' in ''The History of Middle-earth'' Volume 5, ''[[The Lost Road and Other Writings]]'', ''Lúthien'' seems to mean '''Enchantress'''. However, in a later note, published in [[Parma Eldalamberon]] 17, Tolkien chose '''Daughter of Flowers''' instead. ''Tinúviel'' means '''Nightingale''', or, more literally, '''Dusk-Singer'''. Both are Sindarin.

== Genealogy ==
<code>
[[Elu Thingol]] = [[Melian]]
|
|
| [[House of Bëor]]
| :
| :
'''LÚTHIEN''' = [[Beren Erchamion|Beren]]
|
|
[[Dior Eluchíl]] = [[Nimloth of Doriath|Nimloth]]
|
________|________
| | |
| | |
[[Eärendil the Mariner|Eärendil]] = [[Elwing]] [[Eluréd]] [[Elurín]]
|
____|____
| |
| |
[[Elrond]] [[Elros]]
</code>
==Other versions of the legendarium==
The name Luthien appears since the earliest conceptions. The name was connected with "[[Luthany]]", the Elfin name for England. In several drafts, Luthien would be the Elfin name of [[Ælfwine]], which would be translated as "traveler" and later as "friend".

== See Also ==
* [[:Category:Images of Lúthien Tinúviel|Images of Lúthien Tinúviel]].

[[Category:Quest for the Silmaril]]

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Lúthien