Chapter 19: Of Beren and LÃºthien

***Earniel*** · 11-18-2018, 09:07 AM

I wondered at the absence of Melian from most of the tale. You'd think with her forsight and skill in song (i.o.w. magic) she'd at least play a more prominent role, at least as giver of advice.

She knew one would come, driven by a stronger force than hers (fate in this case) and break through her Girdle. But did she know how it would decide the fate of her daughter?

She knew it could endanger Thingol and she warned him of that but she doesn't counsel him on which action to take, and Thingol doesn't seek her counsel either. Because what does the dolt do? he gets himself entangled with the silmarils and the Oath. Tssk.

She also doesn't tell Thingol off when he goes one further and locks up their daughter! At least, as far as we know of. I wonder whether there is some lesser-known version of the Lay of Leithan, perhaps more in style of the Lokisenna, that was maybe sung very far away from Doriath and only late at night when too many drinks had been consumed, which in lurid detail tells of the dressing-down proud Thingol receives of his Maia-wife.

One can only hope.

In any case Thingol seems to have started his fall from grace here. Here he makes light of Melian's warning of involving himself with the silmarils and then in the later chapter, he outright ignores her counsel to return the silmaril to the Sons of FÃ«anor. Was it just the influence of the silmaril or did Thingol in some part blame Melian for what happened to LÃºthien and no longer heeds her counsel as he did before?

But also to LÃºthien, Melian does not offer advice at any point. She does tell her of Beren's predicament in Sauron's dungeon, which spurs her daughter to attempt a rescue of her own. But perhaps LÃºthien simply didn't need such advise. Nor does Melian seem inclined to hinder her daughter in her quest and movements either. In fact, she seems a lot more at ease with the idea of having a mortal son-in-law than Thingol. Which is maybe something Thingol resented.

But then... when LÃºthien and Beren return from the dead, Melian is sorrowful when she looks at LÃºthien and sees the full scope of her doom. So apparently Melian didn't forsee this fate for her daughter. I wonder then what fate she had forseen for LÃºthien at Beren's side if Thingol hadn't meddled.

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11-18-2018, 09:07 AM	#34
*Earniel* The Chocoholic Sea Elf Administrator Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: N?n in Eilph (Belgium) Posts: 14,363	I wondered at the absence of Melian from most of the tale. You'd think with her forsight and skill in song (i.o.w. magic) she'd at least play a more prominent role, at least as giver of advice. She knew one would come, driven by a stronger force than hers (fate in this case) and break through her Girdle. But did she know how it would decide the fate of her daughter? She knew it could endanger Thingol and she warned him of that but she doesn't counsel him on which action to take, and Thingol doesn't seek her counsel either. Because what does the dolt do? he gets himself entangled with the silmarils and the Oath. Tssk. She also doesn't tell Thingol off when he goes one further and locks up their daughter! At least, as far as we know of. I wonder whether there is some lesser-known version of the Lay of Leithan, perhaps more in style of the Lokisenna, that was maybe sung very far away from Doriath and only late at night when too many drinks had been consumed, which in lurid detail tells of the dressing-down proud Thingol receives of his Maia-wife. One can only hope. In any case Thingol seems to have started his fall from grace here. Here he makes light of Melian's warning of involving himself with the silmarils and then in the later chapter, he outright ignores her counsel to return the silmaril to the Sons of FÃ«anor. Was it just the influence of the silmaril or did Thingol in some part blame Melian for what happened to LÃºthien and no longer heeds her counsel as he did before? But also to LÃºthien, Melian does not offer advice at any point. She does tell her of Beren's predicament in Sauron's dungeon, which spurs her daughter to attempt a rescue of her own. But perhaps LÃºthien simply didn't need such advise. Nor does Melian seem inclined to hinder her daughter in her quest and movements either. In fact, she seems a lot more at ease with the idea of having a mortal son-in-law than Thingol. Which is maybe something Thingol resented. But then... when LÃºthien and Beren return from the dead, Melian is sorrowful when she looks at LÃºthien and sees the full scope of her doom. So apparently Melian didn't forsee this fate for her daughter. I wonder then what fate she had forseen for LÃºthien at Beren's side if Thingol hadn't meddled.