Tû (king of the Hisildi)

This article is about the king of the Hisildi. For the early name of Sauron, see Thû.

Tû
Fay
Biographical Information
Titles	Lord of Gloaming
Position	King of the Hisildi
Location	Great Lands (Palisor)
Language	Ilkorin (presumably)
Physical Description
Gender	Male

Tû was a fay, and the king of the Hisildi, according to the early version of the legendarium in The Book of Lost Tales.

His dwelling was in an underground lake near Koivië-néni.

History

Tû was a wizard, "more skilled in magics than any that have dwelt ever yet beyond the land of Valinor", who became a king among the Ilkorindi, the Elves who never left Palisor. Those Elves that followed him afterwards became known as the Hisildi, and he taught them much lore and wisdom.

According to one text, when an Elf called Nuin discovered the sleeping bodies of Men at Murmenalda, Tû subsequently forbade the Elves to wake them or even to visit them, fearing the wrath of Ilúvatar.

However, despite this warning, Nuin still visited the sleeping Men, and eventually woke two of them, later called Ermon and Elmir, and taught them his speech. After the awakening of Men, Melko learned of them, and sent his creatures after the Elves and the newly awakened Men, from which Tû protected them.

According to another text, Tû eventually "faded before the Sun and hid in the bottomless caverns" after Men "grew in stature".

Other names

The character was originally called Túvo, before being changed to Tû.

He was also called the Lord of Gloaming.

Other versions of the legendarium

In the earlier versions of his story, Tû (called Túvo in that text) was said to have met Melko in the halls of Mandos during Melko's imprisonment, and was corrupted by him. Túvo was said to have learned "much black magic" from Melko, and that after the darkening of Valinor, he went to the Great Lands where he set up a "wizard kingship".

However, in later texts, the character of Tû lost these negative connotations, and instead became the protector of Elves and Men.