The Silmarillion Recap: The Journey’s End

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

Last week, Gondor became the kingdom that we all know from The Lord of the Rings. This week, we finally  have the conclusion of our journey through The Silmarillion.

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“Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age” part 9

The current state of Middle-earth is a far cry from what the Valar originally intended. The peaceful world that they hoped for filled with the Firstborn and Secondborn of Ilúvatar (Elves and Men) has descended into chaos. And as this part of the story of Middle-earth concludes, there are a few final events to discuss that lead up to The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.

First, Elrond makes his home of Rivendell (called Imladris by the Elves) a refuge, filled with the books, songs, and lore that those familiar with the other books know well. Among those who take sanctuary in the Last Homely House (as it’s known in The Hobbit) are the Heirs of Isildur. After all, they are basically his great-nephews (with many generations in between). They also keep the Shards of Narsil (the sword that cut the Ring from Sauron’s finger) there as well. Even though Elrond doesn’t know the future exactly, he does feel that something great will become of Isildur’s descendants and the broken sword one day.

The main reason that Rivendell so well-preserved is because he still has one of the Three Rings that had been given to the Elves. Galadriel still has one as well, which maintains the beauty of Lothlórien. That third Ring, though? Well, its location isn’t revealed at the moment, but it is given in The Lord of the Rings.

Even though Sauron went missing for a while after his last defeat, he hasn’t been defeated. Instead, he sets up shop in Dol Guldor, an old fortress situated in the forest once known as Greenwood the Great. Thranduil (Legolas’ dad) has his kingdom there and has enjoyed peace for a long time, but once Sauron arrives, he focuses on keeping the evil forces that followed Sauron at bay. His beautiful forest loses the name Greenwood and eventually becomes Mirkwood. (And this is the state of things during The Hobbit.)

And now for the final piece of the puzzle: the Wizards. It’s been a long time since the Valar have directly intervened on behalf of the inhabitants of Middle-earth. However, they do so now by sending servants, known as the Istari or Wizards (by men). They are sent as a direct response to Sauron’s growing threat and to inspire Elves and Men alike. Even though only three of the five make appearances in the books, Gandalf and Saruman are key players in the books in which they appear.

Before the events of The Hobbit, Gandalf is the first to suspect that Sauron is trying to make a stronghold in Greenwood (aka Mirkwood). When he investigates Dol Guldor, Sauron flees. However, it’s not long before he shows up again… and brings us to the events of The Hobbit and later The Lord of the Rings.

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And that’s it. The rest of this book is actually summary of The Lord of the Rings and the backstory for what Gandalf was doing whenever he left the Company in The Hobbit (which was included in the Peter Jackson films).

Now where does that leave us on Wednesdays? That’s to be determined. I have some ideas, but if you have any suggestions, let me know! :)

The Silmarillion Recap: The End of an Age (and the Beginning of the Next Chapter)

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

Last week, the Silmarils and Fëanor’s sons met their end. Now, the final repercussions of the War of Wrath and the last part of the “Quenta Silmarillion.”

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Quenta Silmarillion Chapter 24 part 10

The war is over. Morgoth has been defeated. Fëanor’s sons and the Silmarils have met their fates. Now, it’s time for the Noldor who left Valinor so many years ago to return from exile. After building countless ships, the Noldor join the Valar and the Vanyar — the Elves who have lived in Valinor all along — sail back into the West, leaving Middle-earth behind.

However, not all of the Noldor choose to leave. Three stay: Cirdan the Shipwright, Celeborn of Doriath, and Galadriel (yes, the Galadriel). They chose to stay with Middle-earth and be a part of its fate for a little longer.

Some of the other notable Elves who stay behind are Gil-galad (who will play a role in the next part), Elrond Half-Elven (Eärendil and Elwing’s son), and Elros (Eärendil and Elwing’s other son).

Speaking of Elrond and his brother Elros, remember back when Eärendil first reached Vailnor and was given a choice? He, his wife, and their descendants were given a choice: to have the fate of either Elves or Men. (After all, they are descended from both.) Elrond (obviously) chose the fate of the Elves. Elros, on the other hand, chose Men. And while Elros might not be a very familiar name, let’s just say he has a very well-known descendant. But that’s for the next part of The Silmarillion.

The last person to meet his fate is Morgoth himself. He is throw out the “Door of Night beyond the Walls of the World, into the Timeless Void” (Tolkien 306). Needless to say, this means he won’t escape any time soon. Especially with Eärendil and others carefully guarding him.

However, what the Valar can’t fix is what Morgoth has already done. For years, he’s been planting his lies and hate. Over the years, they’ve only festered and grown, and now they are deeply rooted in the hearts of Men and Elves. And this will play a role in the fate of Middle-earth from here on out, especially in the next chapter.

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Next week, meet Elros’ descendants: the Dundedain (aka, the Numenoreans)!

The Silmarillion Recap: Revenge of Feanor’s Sons

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

Last week, Thingol and his realm were attacked by Dwarves bent on retaking the Nauglamir (a very old and precious necklace made by the Dwarves. This week, the repercussions of their decisions have a lasting affect, and Fëanor’s sons make another appearance.

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Quenta Silmarillion Chapter 22 part 4

Thingol lays dead in his palace of Menegroth, and his beloved queen, Melian, mourns by his side. Since the beginning, the Silmarils have been little more than trouble. Now, for a third time, they have brought grief to Thingol’s family. The first time was when Thingol’s relatives across the sea were killed because they refused to help Fëanor, and the second when Beren and Luthien had to retrieve one to be together. Now, Thingol is dead thanks to the one he had.

Now, Melian knows that worse things are coming. After all, she is one of the Maiar, servants of the Valar, so she can both perceive things that others can’t and has more power than them. This means that she also is aware that her life in Middle-earth has essentially relied on Thingol, her husband. Now that he is gone, her power wanes and she knows that it’s time for her to leave Middle-earth and return to Valinor. Before she leaves, she leaves strict instructions for Mablug to take the Nauglamir with the Silmaril to Luthien and Beren, her daughter and son-in-law.

Before Mablung can do this, though, the Dwarves who have been plotting to retake the Nauglamir arrive. Without Melian’s protection over the realm, the Dwarves easily march straight to the palace and engage in a bloody battle inside the halls of Menegroth. The slaughter is so terrible that it’s called “a thing most grievous among the sorrowful deeds of the Elder Days” (281). When it’s all said and done, many Dwarves and Elves are killed. Among them is Mablung, who died seemingly protecting the Nauglamir. Then the victorious Dwarves plunder the place, take the Nauglamir, and leave.

Meanwhile, Luthien and Beren have been enjoying life together. They have a son, Dior, who’s married to Nimloth (a relative of Celeborn — the Celeborn that is married to the one and only Galadriel). They even have three grandchildren: Elured and Elurin (the grandsons) and Elwing (the granddaughter). Life is great.

However, they soon receive news of marauding Dwarves in the area as well as word of what has happened in Doriath. While Luthien mourns at home, Beren and their son Dior grab their weapons and aid in an ambush headed up by the Elves. Soon, the Dwarves are trapped and slain between the Elves and the “Shepherds of the Trees” (282). (Yes, it sounds like the Ents make an appearance!) Beren gives the last blow to the dwarves, killing their lord and retaking the Nauglamir. However, before the lord dies, he curses the Nauglamir.

Though all of the rest of the treasure from Doriath is at the bottom of a river now, Beren returns home with the Nauglamir with the Silmaril that he and Luthien fought so hard to win. Luthien is understandably heartbroken, but she does begin to wear the Nauglamir. During this time, their home of Tol Galen becomes the closest thing to Valinor on earth. It’s bright and beautiful and plentiful.

Soon, Dior and his wife Nimloth decide to go to Doriath to restore it to its former glory, so they leave Tol Galen for the ruined Menegroth. It’s some time after they leave that Dior receives an unexpected visitor with a coffer. When Dior opens it, he sees the Nauglamir with the Silmaril in it. Though there is no note, he knows what it means. His parents, Luthien and Beren, have finally died and this treasure is his to keep. And he does. He wears it like his mother did. Unlike his mother, though, he is special in that he is descended of Men (through his father), Elves (through his mother), and the Maiar (through his grandmother, Melian).

However, not everyone is glad that Dior has the Silmaril in his possession. Yet again, Fëanor’s sons decide that it’s time to take the Silmaril for themselves.

Interestingly, Fëanor’s sons didn’t ever threaten Luthien while she had the Silmaril. I suppose there’s something inherently daunting about a person who faced Morgoth and death and was returned to life again with the man she fought alongside and fought to save.

The seven sons of Fëanor send a message to Dior, but he doesn’t reply. Frustrated by Thingol’s family yet again, Celegorm brings up the idea of war, and his brothers jump on the bandwagon. Before long, they attack Doriath yet again. This is specifically noted as the second time that Elf slayed Elf. (The first, of course, being when Fëanor attacked the Teleri, also related to Thingol.)

In the aftermath, many are dead, including three of Fëanor’s sons (Celegorm, Curufin, and Caranthir). Dior and Nimloth have also been killed. Dior and Nimloth’s young sons, Elured and Elurin, are taken from their home by Celegorm’s servants, and the boys are left in the forest to die. Interestingly, Maedhros (one of Fëanor’s sons) feels awful about what he’s done and tries to find the boys, but nothing ever comes of it. They are gone for good, and there’s no record of what happened to them.

S.B. Roberts 2015

And the Silmaril? Fëanor’s sons can’t find it. And for good reason. Before they attacked, some of the Elves of Doriath were sent away, including Elwing (Dior and Nimloth’s daughter). They took with them the Silmaril so no one could steal it and escaped to the shore of the sea. Fëanor’s sons are foiled again.

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Next week, it’s time to shift gears and focus on Tuor, son of Huor and nephew of Hurin. Like his cousin Turin, he has quite the story as well.