The Tale of Tinúviel: Difference between revisions

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Close to the abode of Melko, she came upon [[Huan]], Captain of the Dogs, chief foe of Tevildo, and he wondered at a lone elf-maiden wandering in such an evil place. She told him she was searching for Beren, taken captive by Tevildo; Huan thought this to be the same Beren whom the hounds of Hisilómë knew as a friend, and so as she rested, Huan devised a plan. He told her to tell Tevildo that he was lying injured nearby, and so he thought to slay the cat at unawares. Then Tinúviel made her way to the castle of Tevildo on the cliff-side, and Huan wondered much at her courage, until she came upon [[Umuiyan]], the doorkeeper of Tevildo. Insisting she had important news for the ears of Tevildo alone, the doorkeeper leapt up the terraces leading to the castle and began to weary due to the slumber-robe of Tinúviel. Before Tevildo, Tinúviel claimed her tidings were of a "very mighty dog" known to Tevildo and that they were best not told out in the open. So she was led inside his abode. Umuiyan, overcome by slumber, dropped to the ground, and Tevildo ordered he be thrown from the rocks; a great fear came upon Tinúviel then at the great cat's cold-heartedness.  
Close to the abode of Melko, she came upon [[Huan]], Captain of the Dogs, chief foe of Tevildo, and he wondered at a lone elf-maiden wandering in such an evil place. She told him she was searching for Beren, taken captive by Tevildo; Huan thought this to be the same Beren whom the hounds of Hisilómë knew as a friend, and so as she rested, Huan devised a plan. He told her to tell Tevildo that he was lying injured nearby, and so he thought to slay the cat at unawares. Then Tinúviel made her way to the castle of Tevildo on the cliff-side, and Huan wondered much at her courage, until she came upon [[Umuiyan]], the doorkeeper of Tevildo. Insisting she had important news for the ears of Tevildo alone, the doorkeeper leapt up the terraces leading to the castle and began to weary due to the slumber-robe of Tinúviel. Before Tevildo, Tinúviel claimed her tidings were of a "very mighty dog" known to Tevildo and that they were best not told out in the open. So she was led inside his abode. Umuiyan, overcome by slumber, dropped to the ground, and Tevildo ordered he be thrown from the rocks; a great fear came upon Tinúviel then at the great cat's cold-heartedness.  


Coming to the dining chamber of Tevildo, she noticed a hatch which led to the kitchens. Through it, she saw Beren toiling over the fire. Then Tinúviel began to speak her tale loudly so her voice might carry to Beren, and she shouted she was Tinúviel, Princess of [[Fairies]]. Then a crash was heard in the kitchen, and she concluded that Beren had heard her. However, she had endangered herself, because Melko held the people of Tinwelint as enemies, and Tevildo purposed to hand her over to his master, but not before she told her tale. Thus, she told of Huan lying injured and helpless in the [[Withered Dale|woods]] nearby, and how he tried to attack her when she had offered her assistance.
Coming to the dining chamber of Tevildo, she noticed a hatch which led to the kitchens. Through it, she saw Beren toiling over the fire. Then Tinúviel began to speak her tale loudly so her voice might carry to Beren, and she shouted she was Tinúviel, Princess of [[Fairies]]. Then a crash was heard in the kitchen, and she concluded that Beren had heard her. However, she had endangered herself, because Melko held the people of Tinwelint as enemies, and Tevildo purposed to hand her over to his master, but not before she told her tale. Thus, she told of Huan lying injured and helpless in the woods nearby, and how he tried to attack her when she had offered her assistance.


These lies she told were the plan of Huan to lure out Tevildo, and indeed he tried to find out precisely where Huan was, but Tinúviel was vague about this. Eventually Tevildo agreed for Tinúviel to lead, and he took two of his great cats with him. One of these was [[Oikeroi]], a war-like thane. Then the three cats and Tinúviel came to the woods and saw Huan lying on the ground. Then Tevildo was overeager in approaching Huan who sprang up and slew Oikeroi at unawares. Then the third cat fled, and Huan and Tevildo duelled fiercely until Huan had the cat by the throat. Then Tevildo scratched the eye of Huan and fled up a nearby tree. Having Tevildo cornered and wounded, Huan found out where Tinúviel and Beren were. Tevildo cast his golden collar down as a token to enter the castle, but Huan knew this would alert the servants, and so Tevildo was forced to reveal the spell told to him by Melko which held his servants under his sway.  
These lies she told were the plan of Huan to lure out Tevildo, and indeed he tried to find out precisely where Huan was, but Tinúviel was vague about this. Eventually Tevildo agreed for Tinúviel to lead, and he took two of his great cats with him. One of these was [[Oikeroi]], a war-like thane. Then the three cats and Tinúviel came to the [[Withered Dale]] and saw Huan lying on the ground. Then Tevildo was overeager in approaching Huan who sprang up and slew Oikeroi at unawares. Then the third cat fled, and Huan and Tevildo duelled fiercely until Huan had the cat by the throat. Then Tevildo scratched the eye of Huan and fled up a nearby tree. Having Tevildo cornered and wounded, Huan found out where Tinúviel and Beren were. Tevildo cast his golden collar down as a token to enter the castle, but Huan knew this would alert the servants, and so Tevildo was forced to reveal the spell told to him by Melko which held his servants under his sway.  


Tinúviel went back to the castle and spoke the spell; the castle trembled and Tevildo's servants came out diminished in size. Then Elves and Men came out, and there was Beren, holding a kitchen knife for fear of what he would find outside the castle. Seeing Tinúviel he was shocked, and she led him away from that place. Upon the return of Beren and Tinúviel from the castle, Huan let Tevildo go free, and feared the cats no more after that. When Melko heard what had occurred, he was wrathful with Tevildo and banished the cats.  
Tinúviel went back to the castle and spoke the spell; the castle trembled and Tevildo's servants came out diminished in size. Then Elves and Men came out, and there was Beren, holding a kitchen knife for fear of what he would find outside the castle. Seeing Tinúviel he was shocked, and she led him away from that place. Upon the return of Beren and Tinúviel from the castle, Huan let Tevildo go free, and feared the cats no more after that. When Melko heard what had occurred, he was wrathful with Tevildo and banished the cats.  

Revision as of 23:51, 19 November 2022

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The Book of Lost Tales Part Two chapters
  1. The Tale of Tinúviel
  2. Turambar and the Foalókë
  3. The Fall of Gondolin
  4. The Nauglafring
  5. The Tale of Eärendel
  6. The History of Eriol or Ælfwine

The Tale of Tinúviel is the first chapter of The Book of Lost Tales Part Two. It is one of the earliest stories developed in the legendarium, having first been written in 1917, and contains the earliest versions of the story of Beren and Lúthien, later revisited as the Lay of Leithian and Of Beren and Lúthien from the Quenta Silmarillion.

Synopsis

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In the days after Eriol discussed the evil of Melko with Lindo, winter came to Tol Eressëa, and Eriol's desire of wandering lessened. During this time, he stayed in Kortirion, where he developed his knowledge of Elvish language and lore.

On one such grey day, Eriol was playing with the children of the Isle in the Hall of Play Regained, when one of them, Vëannë, asked him to tell a tale of Men. He told her of his home, an old town, where there was a great tower nearby. Vëannë asked him if it was "as high as Ingil's Tirin", but he could not say, having not lived there long during his childhood. He told how his father nurtured the sea-longing in his bones with many stories before he was killed in a siege upon the town, along with Eriol's mother. Vëannë and Eriol then spoke of war, but Eriol ended talk of such things and told the children of his first sailings on the sea, where he met an ancient sailor who told him tales of beyond the Western Sea and the Magic Isles. As a consequence, he sailed more curiously until he eventually arrived at Tol Eressëa. A boy named Ausir then begged Eriol for more tales of the sea and ships, but Eriol asked for a tale from one of them. Then Vëannë clapped her hands, and said "I will tell you the Tale of Tinúviel".

Of Gwendeling and Tinwelint

Gwendeling was a sprite from the gardens of Lórien who wandered in the woods of the world, with nightingales singing about her. One of these bird-songs was heard by Tinwelint, leader of the Solosimpi, during the march from Palisor led by Oromë, and he strayed aside and found Gwendeling. There he spent long years, and the two married and became king and queen of the Lost Elves of Artanor. Their dwelling in the caverns of the forest of Artanor was hidden from Melko, who had returned from Valinor, by the spells of Gwendeling.

The meeting of Beren and Tinúviel

Tinwelint and Gwendeling had two children: Dairon, a piper, and Tinúviel, famed for her dancing. The two would often leave the caverns for the woods, where Dairon played his pipe and Tinúviel danced under the trees. One such time, Beren, son of Egnor the Forester, a Gnome from beyond the northern hills in Hisilómë came into the woods of Artanor, and glimpsed the two Elves. The Gnomes were often taken in thraldom by Melko, where they heard lies regarding the Elves, but so taken was he by Tinúviel that he forgot all prejudices and watched her. Dairon glimpsed him and fled, and as Beren approached Tinúviel, she fled too. Then Beren spent many months searching for her until he found her dancing again from afar. She knew of this and smiled, and her fear departed her, seeing kindness in him. One day, he approached her and asked her to teach him to dance. "Who art thou?" she asked him, and he told her of himself. Then she danced through the forest, laughing, and Beren followed, until they came to the abode of Tinwelint.

In the halls of Tinwelint

In front of King Tinwelint and Queen Gwendeling, Beren was speechless, and so was unable to answer when the king asked him who he was. Tinúviel answered on his behalf, saying he was a Gnome, and the king was wroth at this, asking her if he had harmed her. He then asked Beren what he desired before leaving the realm, and Beren replied "Why, O king, I desire thy daughter, Tinúviel, for she is the fairest and most sweet of all maidens I have seen or dreamed of." Dairon laughed, breaking the silence of the hall, but the king replied saying he would ask a small price for a small request, and proceded to offer his daughter's hand in marriage for a Silmaril from the crown of Melko. Tales brought by the escaped thralls from Angamandi said that the crown containing the jewels never left the head of Melko and that he prized them very highly; knowing the difficulty of this task, Beren in anger criticised the king for asking such a small price for Tinúviel, and said he would do this deed. Then he left, and Tinúviel wept because she believed her father had sent Beren to his death. Gwendeling said nothing on the matter, and did not question her daughter on why she was weeping for an unknown Gnome.

Beren travels to Angamandi

In his rage, Beren marched to the Iron Mountains near to Angamandi before he began to weary. There, packs of orcs and other evil creatures roamed, and Beren thought about turning back, but in his heart he heard the weeping of Tinúviel. He was caught by orcs when searching for food, and was brought before Melko.

There, the Ainu was angered and wondered how one of the Gnomes - which he thought of as his slaves by birth - had left his abode. Then Beren said he was of a kindred of the Gnomes of Aryador who had many dealings with Men. Melko was wrathful at this, because he hated the mingling of Elves and Men. Knowing the danger he was in, Beren claimed he had no friendship with Men and only wanted to serve Melko as a hunter of birds and animals. Flattered at this, for flattery was a weakness of his, Melko did not kill him and instead accepted him as a kitchen slave under Tevildo Prince of Cats.

Beren was brought to Tevildo's halls, which were not far from Melko's abode. There, Tevildo set him the task of catching three mice in his halls as a test. These were of a wild and evil type, and Beren was unable to catch any, because he had no tools with which to devise a trap. Then Tevildo was angered and made him a scullion in the kitchens. Thus Beren's days were filled with misery, and he was starved of food and sleep, and wished he had never left Hisiliómë and seen Tinúviel dancing.

Tinúviel's plight

After Beren departed Artanor, Tinúviel wept and no longer danced for she had grown to love him watching her dance. With the possibility of Beren's death in her mind, she asked her mother of Beren's situation, and from Gwendeling, she learned of his thraldom at the hands of Tevildo. Then she sought to go after him, but her mother dissuaded her, and Tinwelint was filled with anger and forbade her to think of Beren, and said he would slay him upon seeing him again. Tinúviel asked Dairon for help, however he refused, and went to the king in order to prevent Tinúviel from taking a reckless course of action. Then Tinwelint asked his daughter to promise not to think of Beren, or to follow after him by herself or with any of their people, but she said only that she would not tempt any of their people to follow her.

Tinwelint was then wrathful, and somewhat afraid of the change that had overcome his daughter, and so he built a house for Tinúviel at the top of Hirilorn, the Queen of Trees, above his cavernous halls, where he ordered her to stay until she became wise in this matter. There she had any provision she wished and a guard was placed at the bottom. For a time, she was happy there, but one night a dream of Beren came to her and she desired to find him. So she began devising a plan to escape. Asking her visitors to bring her clear water and wine, by her arts, she mixed the two and sang songs of growth. Then she put the mixture through her hair and sang a song of sleep. Her hair grew a huge amount, and cutting the extra growth, she wove a robe of magic soaked in sleep. With the remainder, she made a rope which she used to climb down from the top of the tree. The guards below fell into a slumber, and she escaped.

She wandered the Forest of Night, where Túrin would later slay Beleg, and made her way closer to the regions of Melko. Though her journey was wearying, she was not exposed to the same dangers posed to Beren by virtue of her potent robe of slumber.

Close to the abode of Melko, she came upon Huan, Captain of the Dogs, chief foe of Tevildo, and he wondered at a lone elf-maiden wandering in such an evil place. She told him she was searching for Beren, taken captive by Tevildo; Huan thought this to be the same Beren whom the hounds of Hisilómë knew as a friend, and so as she rested, Huan devised a plan. He told her to tell Tevildo that he was lying injured nearby, and so he thought to slay the cat at unawares. Then Tinúviel made her way to the castle of Tevildo on the cliff-side, and Huan wondered much at her courage, until she came upon Umuiyan, the doorkeeper of Tevildo. Insisting she had important news for the ears of Tevildo alone, the doorkeeper leapt up the terraces leading to the castle and began to weary due to the slumber-robe of Tinúviel. Before Tevildo, Tinúviel claimed her tidings were of a "very mighty dog" known to Tevildo and that they were best not told out in the open. So she was led inside his abode. Umuiyan, overcome by slumber, dropped to the ground, and Tevildo ordered he be thrown from the rocks; a great fear came upon Tinúviel then at the great cat's cold-heartedness.

Coming to the dining chamber of Tevildo, she noticed a hatch which led to the kitchens. Through it, she saw Beren toiling over the fire. Then Tinúviel began to speak her tale loudly so her voice might carry to Beren, and she shouted she was Tinúviel, Princess of Fairies. Then a crash was heard in the kitchen, and she concluded that Beren had heard her. However, she had endangered herself, because Melko held the people of Tinwelint as enemies, and Tevildo purposed to hand her over to his master, but not before she told her tale. Thus, she told of Huan lying injured and helpless in the woods nearby, and how he tried to attack her when she had offered her assistance.

These lies she told were the plan of Huan to lure out Tevildo, and indeed he tried to find out precisely where Huan was, but Tinúviel was vague about this. Eventually Tevildo agreed for Tinúviel to lead, and he took two of his great cats with him. One of these was Oikeroi, a war-like thane. Then the three cats and Tinúviel came to the Withered Dale and saw Huan lying on the ground. Then Tevildo was overeager in approaching Huan who sprang up and slew Oikeroi at unawares. Then the third cat fled, and Huan and Tevildo duelled fiercely until Huan had the cat by the throat. Then Tevildo scratched the eye of Huan and fled up a nearby tree. Having Tevildo cornered and wounded, Huan found out where Tinúviel and Beren were. Tevildo cast his golden collar down as a token to enter the castle, but Huan knew this would alert the servants, and so Tevildo was forced to reveal the spell told to him by Melko which held his servants under his sway.

Tinúviel went back to the castle and spoke the spell; the castle trembled and Tevildo's servants came out diminished in size. Then Elves and Men came out, and there was Beren, holding a kitchen knife for fear of what he would find outside the castle. Seeing Tinúviel he was shocked, and she led him away from that place. Upon the return of Beren and Tinúviel from the castle, Huan let Tevildo go free, and feared the cats no more after that. When Melko heard what had occurred, he was wrathful with Tevildo and banished the cats.

Beren and Tinúviel then departed that place with Huan, and formed a strong friendship with him. Beren regained his strength, and Tinúviel loved him.

The claiming of a Silmaril

Differences to the later texts

Differences present in The Tale of Tinúviel when compared with later versions of the narrative include the following:

  • Tevildo is the first version of Thû/Sauron
  • The knife Beren uses to cut out the Silmaril is a kitchen-knife of Tevildo rather than Angrist
  • Lúthien wears silver-white instead of sky-blue

See also