Lúthien and Beren’s Quest for a Silmaril: Lúthien’s Perspective (9/29 Assignment)

        In a time of increasing violence between the inhabitants of our world and great fear for what the future held, it was a pleasant break to meet Beren, mortal son of Barahir. This period of Arda’s history was plagued with the evils of Morgoth and the desires for his power, so my encounter with Beren had been like a breath of fresh air. He found me in a moment of peace; embracing the nature of Arda through dance and changing the seasons with song. My charms had enchanted him right away, as he enchanted me soon after. He referred to me as Tinúviel, meaning “Nightingale” or “Daughter of Twilight.”
        While I only ever cared for Beren, there were many others who were just as enchanted by my charms. Daeron, the minstrel of Doriath, had cared for me too, although his actions indicated otherwise. My father Thingol was a stern man. When Daeron had informed my father about my relationship with Beren, I knew I had to expect the worst—and I was correct. While my father made a hasty oath promising to not slay nor imprison Beren, his task for him was just that. My heart nearly sunk upon hearing that Beren was to collect one of the Silmarils from Morgoth’s crown. How was that fair? Not a single inhabitant of Arda had ever been able to succeed in such a feat. I had found out afterwards that my mother, Melian, disagreed with this order of Thingol’s, but it was too late for her to argue with him.
        I am eternally grateful for the assistance and generosity offered to Beren in his quest for a Silmaril by Finrod Felagund, son of Finarfin. Together, the two went against Sauron, ultimately ending up in the Dungeons of Tol-in-Gaurhoth. It is with great regret and sorrow that I learned of Felagund’s death in the dungeons. I felt incredibly helpless at the time, as I had been prohibited from helping them escape. Despite these obstacles, I was still eager to assist. Miraculously, I was able to stealthily escape Doriath with a cloak for disguise and a sleep spell for defense, though I didn’t get far. On my journey, I had encountered a Noldor Elf called Celegorm, son of Fëanor. Like myself, he was also eager to obtain a Silmaril, following a grave, vengeful oath he had taken upon his father’s death. In hindsight, I shouldn’t have been so naive. Shortly after meeting him, I was betrayed; brought all the way to Nargothrond. Luckily, with the help of Huan, I was able to make an escape.
        When the long journey had brought us to Sauron’s dungeon, I used my abilities to sing a song of great power. The gates opened, his prisoners released. After a treacherous trek out of Tol-in-Gaurhoth, Huan, Beren, and I arrived at the Gates of Angband. Through the use of disguise and my enchantments, we were able to make an entrance and tip the crown from Morgoth’s head, retrieving a Silmaril . . . until it was taken. This moment was followed by an extremely bloodied battle, filled with violence and loss. Beren was killed and my soul with him, bringing us to Mandos together. Surprisingly, he had pitied us, giving Beren and I an option that no souls had ever received: the chance to return as mortals.
        Upon meeting Beren, I had always desired mortality. Other Valar questioned my decision, but there was never really a decision to be made. Mortality was the greatest gift. When we returned, we knew we had to leave Doriath. It was not the same place I had grown up in. Morgoth’s evils and my own unpleasant memories encouraged us to seek permanent shelter elsewhere. We settled in Ossiriand, eventually raising a son there called Dior. It was a better life, one I had always dreamt about. The journey was immensely strenuous, yet we had both prevailed, allowing us the opportunity to experience whatever came next together.

The Songs of Melkor and Eru

Melkor’s Song:

Come to me, and listen close

For I’m the one who cares the most

For your desires, wants, and needs

But only if you’ll follow me

Be my devoted servant, not friend, nor foe

To kill the Two Trees, and dim their glow

Let’s live in darkness, I’ll take command

And repay you if you lend a hand

When I’m in power, the Silmarils abducted,

The land we know will be destructed

The only light will be flames ablaze

To live in my rule for the rest of days

So prepare yourselves and embrace the rebirth

Of the home you once called Middle-earth


    In developing the lyrics to Melkor’s song, I wanted to convey his alluring appeal to many of the innocent Elves and Dwarves that were victim to his scheming in the earlier days of Arda, shown in the beginning chapters of Tolkien’s Silmarillion. In addition to his convincing act, I described Melkor’s hunger for power and destruction within the lyrics, making his goals clear. Chopin’s Étude, Opus 25, No. 5, nicknamed “Wrong Note,” captures the discord and confusion of Melkor’s song, as well as its eerie appeal. The notes do not combine pleasantly, instantly conveying the feeling that Melkor’s intentions are not what they seem, while the melody underneath tries to mask his deceit. As the piece continues, there are small moments of harmony; a section that could almost belong to Eru. Despite the moment of consonance, a menacing presence remains in the increasing volume and chords that move to a lower octave. Eventually, this Eru-adjacent sound returns back to its original dysfunction. These elements embody Melkor’s actions and represent the characteristics of his strategies and character as a whole.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7C2it9cCsY&list=RDg7C2it9cCsY&start_radio=1


Eru’s Song:

Come to me, and listen close

For I’m the one who cares the most

For your desires, wants, and needs

You now have a home within the Trees

Be a good follower, respectful and true

And I will lend my gifts to you

It is I in charge of all creation

Making Elves and Dwarves for one grand nation

Within my song you’ll reach one conclusion:

That you all must live in one strong union

Free from destruction, revenge, and greed

I will grant you everything you need

Remain in my order, the one that I birthed

To live the intended way of Middle-earth


    The intent behind writing these lyrics for the song of Eru was to fully express the extent of his power and role in Middle-earth. He is the Creator and God of this world, his power of creation directly rivaling Melkor’s desire for destruction. I wanted to highlight the contrasting ideals between the two by making their songs parallel each other through the use of the same lyrics. Gustav Holst’s The Planets IV. Jupiter, the Bringer of Jollity is an instrumental piece that I believe accurately represents a similar character and feeling to that associated with Eru. It is a grand, regal symphony fit for the creator of Arda, containing a variety of instruments and sounds. This variety can represent the unity of the different species Eru created, embodying his vision for Arda. The piece was initially written to represent the Roman king of gods, Jupiter. Similarly, a mighty powerful mythological figure. As the piece nears its three minute mark, the music evolves into a calming, heavenly, and harmonious sound. This moment is the stark opposite of what Melkor desires and an excellent summary of what Eru believes in. It is followed with a build-up of sound that symbolizes the extent of Eru’s power and the vastness of his world.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUM_zT3YKHs&list=RDBUM_zT3YKHs&start_radio=1

Introduction to Lúthien

            While some may refer to me as the most beautiful child of Illúvatar, or the fairest to ever live, my true name is Lúthien. It is a complex name, with multiple meanings; “Daughter of Flowers” or “enchantress” in its Sindarin and Noldorin translations. I am additionally referred to as Tinúviel, meaning “Daughter of Twilight” in Sindarin. Despite what my name claims, I am the daughter of Melian and Elu Thingol, making me the princess of Doriath. I was born in the beautiful Forest of Neldoreth. Before falling in love with the mortal Beren, I lived a peaceful and tranquil life in Doriath. I very seldom used my enchantment abilities, nor participated in any conflict as my parents did. It wasn’t until Beren and I had to partake in the quest to obtain a Silmaril in order to wed, that I was able to utilize my strength and determination. Upon Beren’s death, I sung my grief, ultimately earning the favor of Mandos and a chance at mortality. 

            Despite my abilities, I did not have as strong of a role during the years of Morgoth’s quest of destroying the Trees and draining the light from Middle-earth with Ungoliant. Although I wasn’t directly involved, I am appalled by how someone could so carelessly disrupt the peace and stability of my land. There were times prior to Morgoth’s involvement when Beleriand was a better place. When the Dwarves first came to our land, I was worried about conflicts between them and the Elves. I was pleased to see them all work together efficiently, and even prouder when the Dwarves protected our land against Morgoth’s wicked attempts of destruction. As a result of watching their valiant efforts, along with my parents’ efforts of protecting Doriath, I would’ve offered any help I could to keep my home safe from the evil of Morgoth. I would’ve been willing to join the Elves and Valar to help rid Middle-earth of that evil, just as I was willing to do whatever it took to spend my life with Beren. I have always been determined to make the world a safer place that can live in union and harmony, just as it was before I was born.