Of the Hostilites Between Elves and Dwarves

Thingol pondered his gift after Húrin left and an idea came into his head. For he was now in possession of the greatest work of the Dwarves, the Nauglamir, and the greatest works of the Noldor, a Silmaril that Beren and Lúthien had retrieved from Morgoth himself. Thingol wished to remake the necklace with the great Jewel as its center piece. He therefore called upon the Dwarves to remake the great necklace. Dwarves were still many in Beleriand, although now they came in great armed companies because of the servants of Morgoth. Often they came to the halls of Menegroth where Thingol and Melian dwelt for repairs and other work.

Immediately the Dwarves coveted Thingol's treasures but they sought to heed his request. Often Thingol spent his time among the Dwarves as their smiths worked for by now Thingol was consumed by the beauty of the Silmaril. Upon completion of this great new work the Dwarves withheld the jewels from Thingol. The Elf knew they sought to keep it for themselves and heedless of his surroundings (for surrounded by Dwarves he was) he cried out: "'How do ye of uncouth race dare to demand aught of me, Elú Thingol, Lord of Beleriand, whose life began by the waters of Cuivienen years uncounted ere the fathers of the stunted people awoke?'" (p. 233, The Silmarillion). He commanded them to leave.

This, however, roused the Dwarves anger and they killed Thingol. "So died in the deep places of Menegroth Elwë Singollo, King of Doriath, who alone of all the Children of Illúvatar was joined with one of the Ainur; and he who, alone of the Forsaken Elves, had seen the light of the Trees of Valinor, with his last sight gazed upon the Silmaril" (p. 233, The Silmarillion). Nice little Middle-earth history lesson embedded in that eulogy. The Dwarves fled but were hunted by the Elves of Doriath and the Nauglamir with the Silmaril was brought back to Melian. A few Dwarves escaped the ambush only to be driven into the shadowy woods by the Sheperds of the Trees. Only two Dwarves made it back to their homeland.

When their tale was told the wrath among the Dwarves was great (for they were not given the full story) and seeking aid from the Dwarves of Belegost they marched to war. But the Dwarves of Belegost would not go and counselled against such action. Meanwhile things were changed in Doriath as Melian grieved beside Thingol's body. Her power was now withdrawn from Doriath; it was no longer protected by the Girdle. And she who took the form of the Children of Illúvatar for the love of Thingol and bore to him Lúthien became bound by flesh to Arda.

"Thereafter Melian spoke to none save Mablung only, bidding him to take heed of the Silmaril, and to send word speedily to Beren and Lúthien in Ossiriand; and she vanished out of Middle-earth, and passed to the land of the Valar..." (p. 234, The Silmarillion). By then the Dwarven army came to Doriath, unprotected and one of the greatest of the many sorrowful deeds took place. A battle ensued in Menegroth where many Elves and Dwarves died. Mablung was killed in that battle. And the Dwarves reclaimed the Nauglamir.

War for a jewel. War for a material thing. It's sad to think that happens in real life not just some fantasy world of Middle-earth. I've said it before, Tolkien understood humanity. How noble and good we can be. And the depths of evil that reside in us as well. And because of this ill-fated war, the beginning of Dwarven/Elven animosity, Thingol is killed, Melian leaves Middle-earth and now only Turgon and the Hidden City of Gondolin (who has rejected Ulmo's counsel) and the Haven's of Círdan are capable of any formidable stand against Morgoth and his domination of Middle-earth.

Middle-earth timeline: First Age, 502
Today's reading comes from: The Silmarillion, pages 230-234