Tuor in Gondolin

The tale turns back to Tuor who has remained in Gondolin with Turgon and gained much favor in the eyes of the king and his people. So much favor in fact that Turgon allows Tuor to marry his daughter, Idril, who loved him. For although Turgon did not heed Ulmo's advice he thought the Valar's favor remained on his messenger and he forgot not the words of Tuor's father long ago. "...thus there came to pass the second union of Elves and Men" (p. 241, The Silmarillion). All were pleased save Maeglin. He hated Tuor for he wanted Idril, the heirship of Gondolin, to himself.

In the Spring of 503 Eärendil Halfelven was born to Tuor and Idril. He was of surpassing beauty with a light in his face like stars in the heavens. He possessed with the wisdom of Elves and hardihood of Men. He was ever drawn to the sea as Tuor was. There was still a time of peace for Gondolin as the Eagles kept vigilant watch so that even though Morgoth thought ever of that region he could not penetrate it.

"But Idril Celebrindal was wise and far-seeing, and her heart misgave her, and foreboding crept upon her spirit as a cloud" (p. 241, The Silmarillion). She had a secret escape route planned and only a few ever knew of its existence. Maeglin was not told of this path. For it was Maeglin who would betray Gondolin in perhaps the worst betrayal of all the First Age. He led all mining activities learning the trade by the Dwarves his father had befriended long ago. For a time Maeglin was lost in the mines.

And so it was that Maeglin and his following would leave the Encircling Mountains by secret underground ways in violation of the King's command and without Turgon's knowledge. In one of these ventures Maeglin was captured by the servants of Morgoth and tortured. He revealed the secret ways to Gondolin and how it might be attacked. In return Morgoth promised him lordship of Gondolin (but in service to Morgoth) and Idril Celebrindal. Maeglin was then released to aid the attack from inside Gondolin. So it was that he was found to the joy of many but Idril's heart grew ever darker.

The smells of the Doom of Mandos as Elf betrays Elf. Maeglin was greedy for his own power and fame and decided his self-interest was more important than a people who had taken him in and esteemed him. That seems, to me, to be the way of the world sometimes. Greed, power, and lust. More money, more control, more please for myself. That selfish interest lives inside of me and you. I hope and pray that I am not overcome by it as Maeglin was. 

Middle-earth timeline: First Age, 502-510

Today's reading comes from: The Silmarillion, pages 241-242