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PotbellyHairyfoot
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Post Quote of the Week 12/21/09 3-XIX; Of Beren And Luthien
on: April 18, 2005 12:02

Beren came stumbling into Doriath grey and bowed as with many years of woe, so great had been the torment of the road. But wandering in the summer in the woods of Neldereth he came upon Luthien, daughter of Thingol and Melian, at a time of evening under moonrise, as she danced upon the unfading grass in the glades beside Esgalduin. Then all memory of his pain depated from him, and he fell into an enchantment; for Luthien was the most beautiful of all the Children of Illuvatar.

Doesn't this remind of something/someone from the past?



[Edited on 23/12/2009 by PotbellyHairyfoot]
RubySandybanks
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Post RE: Quote of the Week 12/21/09 3-XIX; Of Beren And Luthien
on: July 17, 2005 11:07
Ah, but I don’t think that Lúthien actually puts an enchantment (or a spell) on Beren. I tend to think that his enchantment comes from within himself or is the work of Ilúvatar (fate).

And Lúthien, upon looking at Beren, falls instantly in love with Beren. He seems to have ‘enchanted’ her too. I find it interesting that she slips away from him as if she is wary of her strong feelings for him. Perhaps she is trying to resist her own fate.

Her mother Melian, on the other hand, seems to have ensnared Elwë first with her voice, which fills ‘all his heart with wonder and desire’ and then with a spell, which ensures that he does not leave her:
Then an enchantment fell on him, and he stood still; and afar off beyond the voices of the lómelindi he heard the voice of Melian, and it filled all his heart with wonder and desire. He forgot then utterly all his people and all the purposes of his mind, and following the birds under the shadow of the trees he passed deep into Nan Elmoth and was lost. But he came at last to a glade open to the stars, and there Melian stood; and out of the darkness he looked at her, and the light of Aman was in her face.

She spoke no word; but being filled with love Elwë came to her and took her hand, and straightway a spell was laid on him , so that they stood thus while long years were measured by the wheeling stars above them; and the trees of Nan Elmoth grew tall and dark before they spoke any word. ~ Of Thingol and Melian
In fact, I find Melian’s initial treatment of Elwë more closely resembles that of Eöl’s initial treatment of Aredhel:
Very fair she seemed to him, and he desired her; and he set his enchantments about her so that she could not find the ways out, but drew ever nearer to his dwelling in the depths of the wood. There were his smithy, and his dim halls, and such servants as he had, silent and secret as their master. And when Aredhel, weary with wandering, came at last to his doors, he revealed himself; and he welcomed her, and led her into his house. And there she remained; for Eöl took her to wife, and it was long ere any of her kin heard of her again. ~ Of Maeglin
Beren and Luthien’s beginnings seem more pure, honest, and consensual than either the beginnings of Melian/Thingol or Eöl/Aredhel.
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