| Fay | |
| Biographical Information | |
|---|---|
| Other names | Gwilion (G) Wéland/Welund (OE) |
| Location | Valinor Great Lands |
| Affiliation | Aulë (formerly) |
| Physical Description | |
| Gender | Male |
Velindo was a fay of Aulë's folk, according to the early version of the legendarium associated with The Book of Lost Tales.[1]
History
Velindo was sent by Aulë into the world in order to fetch "some of the good heavy red gold of the dwarves". However, there he grew prideful due to the adoration of the Dwarves and Men owing to his skills as a craftsman.
Therefore, he never returned to Aulë, but rather set up on his own - and he grew famous, but as the Elves faded so did his own power and fame, yet he never became wicked.
Ages later, the mariner Eriol asked Rúmil, an Elf of Tol Eressëa, if the person of Wéland (a renowned smith in the Germanic legends) is the same as Aulë, but Rúmil corrected him, saying rather that Wéland is actually Velindo.[1]
Etymology
The name Velindo is in Qenya, with Gwilion[1] being its Gnomish equivalent - however, their meaning is unclear.[2]
Velindo's name in Old English was Wéland[1] or Welund.[3]
Other versions of the legendarium
In another contemporary text, the Germanic smith Wéland is instead identified with the Gnome Fëanor.
That text depicts an outline of a story placed during the wars of the Elves with Melko, in which Fëanor was captured by a man called Niðad,[note 1] King of the Niaroth. However, Fëanor killed Niðad's sons[note 2] and managed to escape by crafting artificial wings for himself; he also made love to the king's daughter Beaduhilde and fled with her, but ultimately lost her in woods.
Eventually Beaduhilde (who was now pregnant) forgave Fëanor, and in spite of her father's wrath at her pregnancy, she still managed to obtain Niðad's blessing upon her son.[3]
See also
External links
- "Skilled Smiths and Princes of Elves: The Wayland-legend and the First Age of Middle-earth" by Lillian Hammen in the second issue of Volume 9 of the Journel of Tolkien Research
Notes
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 J.R.R. Tolkien, "Sí Qente Feanor and Other Elvish Writings", in Parma Eldalamberon XV (edited by Christopher Gilson, Arden R. Smith, Patrick H. Wynne, and Bill Welden), "Early Runic Documents", ER1d: Fourth page, p. 96
- ↑ Paul Strack, "ᴱQ. Velindo m.", Eldamo - An Elvish Lexicon, accessed 26 June 2022
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, "Sí Qente Feanor and Other Elvish Writings", in Parma Eldalamberon XV (edited by Christopher Gilson, Arden R. Smith, Patrick H. Wynne, and Bill Welden), "Early Runic Documents", ER1f: Sixth and seventh pages, p. 97