The Silmarillion Recap: The Silmarils’ Final Resting Places (or the End of Fëanor’s Sons’ Quest)

Want to catch up on The Silmarillion so far? Check out the Silmarillion Recaps page here.

Last week, Morgoth was thoroughly defeated by the Valar and their allies, and Eönwë (Manwë’s herald) was charged with protecting the two Silmarils pried from Morgoth’s crown. This week, Fëanor’s sons make a fateful decision to bring their quest for the Silmarils to an end.

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Quenta Silmarillion Chapter 24 part 9

In the aftermath of the War of Wrath, Middle-earth is a changed place. Not only is the topography (especially in the north) different, but one more major change is about to take place.

The Elves who have been living in Middle-earth live here under one of two circumstances: 1., they never left for Valinor so they have only ever lived in Middle-earth, or 2., they are Noldor and came to Middle-earth on a vengeful and cursed quest to retrieve the Silmarils from Morgoth. For the second group, the quest is now complete. Two of the Silmarils are under the Valar’s protection and the other is safe with Eärendil (who lives in Valinor). Now they will return where they belong… and without passive-aggressive Fëanor, the light of the Two Trees that Morgoth destroyed can be shared with everyone again.

So with this quest complete, it’s time for the Elves to go to Valinor, especially the Noldor who will be judged.

However, in the pattern of Fëanor, his two remaining sons — Maedhros and Maglor — refuse to comply. They have another plan in mind: to take the Silmarils. In fact, when Eönwë tells them that it’s time to go, they instead ask for the Silmarils. Eönwë clearly explains that their father’s claim to them is over thanks to all of the evil they’ve done. (Have they already forgotten how they killed Dior in cold blood?) Only the Valar can relinquish the Silmarils, and the only way they would consider it is if Maedhros and Maglor are judged for their actions.

After hearing this, Maglor wants to go. According to him: “The oath says not that we may not bide our time, and it may be that in Valinor all shall be forgiven and forgot, and we shall come into our own in peace.” (Tolkien 304)

Maedhros couldn’t disagree more. The oath still stands. Besides, what if the Valar decide to keep the Silmarils? They surely won’t let anyone wage war in Valinor again after all that’s happened. Besides, they swore by Ilúvatar himself, so nothing can release them. Maglor rebuts that they are doomed to “Everlasting Darkness” either way, so they might as well just break the oath and try to live in peace, but Maglor isn’t as strong as his brother. Soon, he gives in and they slip into camp to steal the Silmarils.

In disguise, Maedhros and Maglor make it all the way to Eönwë and the group that has been protecting the Silmarils. There, they kill all of the guards and prepare for a fight. However, Eönwë refuses to let them die or to fight them. Perhaps he knows what will happen as the brothers flee camp, each with a Silmaril for himself.

However, the brothers don’t make it far before trouble starts. The Silmarils begin to actually burn the brothers’ hands — something that has never happened with the Silmarils before. As they think it through, they realize it’s because they have no right to them anymore. The whole oath and their actions are in vain. They’ve already sealed their fate.

In his misery, Maedhros ends up throwing the Silmaril and himself into a fiery chasm. Maglor heaves the Silmaril into the Sea but doesn’t kill himself. He just wanders the shores of Middle-earth alone, filled with regret and still stinging from his wounds.

And so, as seems apropos, one of the Silmarils ends up in the earth (thanks to Maedhros), one in the Sea (thanks to Maglor), and one in the sky (with Eärendil during his nightly voyages). Thus the story of the Silmarils, Fëanor, and his sons come to an end.

S.B. Roberts 2015

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Next week, Morgoth’s fate, the lasting effects of the War of Wrath, and the end of the “Quenta Silmarillion.”

The Silmarillion Recap: The Beginning of Earendil’s Adventures and the Trouble with Silmarils

Want to catch up on The Silmarillion so far? Check out the Silmarillion Recaps page here.

Last week, Doriath and Gondolin’s survivors create a new society together. With ships, the Sea, and (perhaps unbeknownst to them) Ulmo’s protection, they have what they need to rebuild after two terrible tragedies. However, things won’t stay perfect forever.

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Quenta Silmarillion Chapter 24 part 1

After all of the trouble that they’ve faced, the survivors of Doriath and Gondolin seem to be getting along well beside the Sea. Eärendil has married Elwing, uniting the two Half-elven lines mentioned so far in the Silmarillion. (Eärendil’s parents are Tuor — a Man — and Idril — an Elvish princess; Elwing’s grandparents are Beren — a Man — and Luthien — an Elvish princess who kicks Orc butt.) And, to bring this Half-elven line to more familiar territory, Eärendil and Elwing have two sons: Elros and Elrond (the one and only).

While Eärendil seemingly has a great family at home, his parents’ disappearance has never sat well with him. Tuor and Idril built a ship and sailed off to the West, never to return. So Eärendil decides to build his own ship to find them and Valinor. Finding his parents isn’t his only reason for finding Valinor, though. More than anything, he wants to plea for Men and Elves. Life under Morgoth is hard, and he wants to ask the Valar to have pity on them. (Yes, Ulmo asked for the same thing last time, but Eärendil doesn’t know that.)

With these hopes in mind, he and his buddy, Cirdan the Shipwright, build a ship named Vingilot (the Foam-flower). It’s certainly an impressive sight with its golden oars and white timbers. In fact, it’s perhaps the fairest ship to ever grace the Sea.

Once it’s finished, Eärendil takes it on an adventure to find his parents and Valinor, leaving his wife Elwing and sons Elrond and Elros behind. Eärendil searches far and wide but finds no signs of the things he’s searching for. Instead, one night, he has a foreboding dream and decides that he needs to return home quickly. And it’s a good thing because something is afoot.

Back when Elwing was just a child, Doriath fell. Fëanor’s sons had attacked in an attempt to take back the Silmaril that Beren and Luthien had won from Morgoth. The result? Her parents, Dior and Nimloth, are killed, and her brothers, Elured and Elurin, are never found. All that’s left of Doriath are the Elves who now live here by the Sea.

One of Fëanor’s sons, Maedhros, was heavily involved in the attack. And after he saw the terrible slaughter, he feels bad. In fact, he even tries to find Elwing’s brothers, but it’s too late. Now, years later, he discovers that Elwing is still alive. Perhaps that shouldn’t be a surprise to him since they never could find her. But he now knows where she is and that she still has that Silmaril that caused the fighting in the first place.

Because he still feels awful about what he did to her parents and brothers, he chooses not to just attack. Instead, he tries to put it out of his mind. Relax. Not obsess. The trouble though, is that this seems to be impossible for any of Fëanor’s sons. Their lives since Valinor have been dedicated to retaking the Silmarils. Knowing that Morgoth has two in his crown is frustrating enough. But knowing that Elwing still has the other one? It’s more than he can bear. After a while, he tells his surviving three brothers about it and demands that the Silmaril be returned.

When Elwing receives this message, she obviously refuses. Yes, Maedhros’ father made the Silmarils and died because of them. But her grandparents endured just as much — arguably, perhaps even more — to win it so that they could be together. Besides, it’s believed that the Silmaril has some sort of blessing on it. One that benefits their homes and ships. There’s no way that she would turn it over. Not to her parents’ killers.

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Next week, the sons of Fëanor make their move.

The Silmarillion Recap: Tuor Comes to Gondolin

First off, sorry for completely missing this post last week. Several big things were happening at once that required my full attention. The good news, though, is that I’m back! Here’s to getting ahead in posts again and returning to my regular schedule. :)

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Want to catch up on The Silmarillion so far? Check out the Silmarillion Recaps page here.

Last time, Tuor entered the story. After a brief imprisonment, he becomes a thorn in the Easterlings’ side. (Just like his father, Huor. And his uncle, Hurin. And his cousin, Turin. Don’t mess with them!) This week, though, he exchanges harrying the enemy for a much more important role.

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Quenta Silmarillion Chapter 23 part 2

For four years, Tuor has lived alone. His main goal in life has been seeking revenge on the Easterlings who killed the Elves who had raised him. However, after four long years, something changes. A new idea comes to mind. It’s time to leave.

What Tuor doesn’t know is that it’s not completely his idea. Ulmo has put the thought in his heart. Unlike the rest of the Valar who stay across the Sea in Valinor (and unlike Morgoth who is bent on taking over Middle-earth), Ulmo stays off the coast of Middle-earth, watching what happens and helping when he can. And this is one of those moments in which he can help its inhabitants. Or at least try.

Tuor finds himself on roads he doesn’t know. No one else knows them either, especially Morgoth’s servants. And before long, Tuor finds himself at the Sea. Namely in an abandoned city called Nevrast. He absolutely loves it there and stays for about a year before he spots seven swans flying over head and decides that he’s been sitting around too long. There’s something he has to do, and he needs to do it now.

What Tuor doesn’t know about Nevrast is that it used to belong to the Elvenking Turgon. (Want to read the full story? Click here.) Before building Gondolin, Turgon and his people lived here, against the Sea. Years before, Ulmo had shown up and warned them to leave because Morgoth was far more dangerous than any of them yet realized. Before Turgon and his people evacuated to the secret kingdom of Gondolin, Ulmo left a last instruction. Leave behind armor, a shield, and a hauberk. It would make sense later.

And this is later. Tuor happens upon the abandoned palace, and inside he finds the armor, shield, and hauberk that Turgon had left years ago. Tuor puts them on before heading outside again.

S.B. Roberts 2015

There, though, he’s met with a storm over the water, and Ulmo is literally there. Ulmo tells Tuor that he needs to go to Gondolin and deliver a message. He also gives Tuor a special cloak that makes him like a shadow so that he will travel more safely. And once the storm clears and Ulmo vanishes, Tuor finds that Ulmo has left one last thing for him. A guide.

A while before, Turgon (again) had sent ships West. On one of these ships was an Elf named Voronwë. The key word here is was. During Ulmo’s storm, he took Voronwë from his ship, told him that he needed to take someone to Gondolin, and plopped him right in the middle of Nevrast, where Tuor was. So when Voronwë sees Tuor, he knows exactly what to do, and they head off together for Gondolin.

Fascinating fact: On the way, they see Glaurung’s destruction and pass by a Man wearing black with a black sword. None other than his cousin, Turin.

Finally, Tuor and Voronwë arrive in Gondolin. When they do, Tuor removes the cloak from Ulmo, revealing the armor that Turgon had left back in Nevrast so long ago. He’s immediately ushered into Turgon’s throne room where Turgon listens with interest to what Tuor has to say.

However, Tuor has come with a warning that Turgon has long dreaded. The Curse of Mandos (also known as the Doom of the Noldor) is about to be completely fulfilled. All of the work of the Noldor will be destroyed. Ulmo told Turgon this back when he originally told him to build Gondolin: “Love not too well the work of thy hands and the devices of thy heart; and remember that the true hope of the Noldor [the group of Elves to which Turgon belongs] lieth West, and cometh from the Sea” (288).

But Turgon doesn’t want to leave. The city of Gondolin is beautiful. It’s been safely hidden for countless years. And, on top of that, Turgon has become a bit proud. Maybe there’s another way.

When Turgon speaks with his council, his nephew Maeglin is quick to side against Tuor. (This shouldn’t come as a surprise. Maeglin’s father was a Dark Elf, and some of his malice lived on in Maeglin’s heart. On top of that, Maeglin never liked Tuor’s dad or uncle.) And Turgon unwisely decides to side with Maeglin instead of listening to Ulmo’s warning.

However, Turgon doesn’t ignore the warning completely. Afraid of what might come (including treason from within), he has all of the entrances to Gondolin completely blocked. No can come in or out. The only way that they receive news is from Thorondor, King of the Eagles, and most of that news is bad. First Nargothrond falls. Then King Thingol is killed. And then his grandson Dior is murdered.

Instead of doing anything about it, Turgon keeps Gondolin completely shut. They will never leave Gondolin again. Ever.

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Next week, Tuor finds love and learns why Maeglin was his dad and uncle’s frienemy.