Tinfang Warble and Queen Meril

As Eriol rested sweet songs came to his dreams. Early the next day he met Vairë and told her of what he heard. She explained this was Timpinen, known to Rúmil and Littleheart as Tinfang, and to the children of the Cottage Tinfang Warble. She explained he played his flute at night for the joy of the first stars and the delight of all who heard. But elusive was he and none could catch him. Vairë explained that Tinfang was neither Valar or Eldar rather half-fay and half-elf. She also said that a love of summer nights and stars would always follow Eriol now and his longing for the music would be unquenchable.

Eriol asked if there was any cure. There was one: limpë a drink given only by Meril, Queen of the island. Several days later, after more visits from Timpinen Eriol sought for Meril with Littleheart guiding his way. Eriol was tongue-tied for her beauty. He finally declared that he wished to stay with the Elves on the island--but Meril said his sea-longing would return. He explained that would not be because his heart was ravished by Tinfang's fluting and he longed now for limpë.  "Then straightway did the smiling face of Meril grow grave..." (p. 96, The Book of Lost Tales - Volume I).

Meril explained that Eriol did not know what he was asking for. He was insistent that he longed to stay in fellowship and kinship with the Eldar. "But Meril said: 'Fellowship is possible, maybe, but kinship not so, for Man is Man and Elda Elda, and what ilúvatar has made unalike may not become alike while the world remains. Even didst thou dwell here till the Great End and for the health of limpë found no death, yet then must thou die and leave us, for Man must die once'" (p. 97, The Book of Lost Tales - Volume I). Again, shades of Christian theology.

Meril continued to caution Eriol; saying he knew little of the Elves to forsake his own race. Indeed, if he did not fully know and love the Elves he could not drink because he would need to stand with them at the great Faring Forth should Elves and Men war at the last. Still Eriol was determined. Meril began to tell him yet another great tale: the chaining of Melko.

The Valar seeing the tumult in the lands outside of Valinor arrayed themselves for war (to the delight of Makar) and came to Melko's great fortress Utumna. Melko would not heed their calls to come out, rather he demanded they lay down their weapons and pay homage to him. This they feigned to do in order to gain access to their great enemy. However, the site of Manwë preparing to kneel before Melko set wrath upon the hearts of Tulkas and Aulë who charged Melko and wrapping him 30 times in the great chain Angaino.

Melko was taken back to Valinor, temporarily defeated (chained for three ages was the decree) but his rage growing. The Valar were now free to go back to the Great Lands and prepare them for the Eldar and Men--the mention of these enraged Melko all the more. Thus Meril ended her tale. This earliest version of the chaining of Melko bears many similarities and differences to what would be published in The Silmarillion. It really is fascinating to read through the evolution of the stories I've come to enjoy so very much.

Interestingly it seems Tinfang Warble was a creation in Tolkien's mind even before Middle-earth as he penned a poem by that same name in 1914. It was re-written and finally published in 1927 as follows:

"O the hoot! O the hoot!
How he trill ups on his flute!
O the hoot of Tinfang Warble!

Dancing all alone,
Hopping on a stone,
Flitting like a fawn,
In the twilight on the lawn,
And his name is Tinfang Warble!

The first star has shown
And its lamp is blown
to a flame of flickering blue.
He pipes not to me,
He pipes not to thee,
He whistles for none of you.
He music is his own,
The tunes of Tinfang Warble! (p. 108, The Book of Lost Tales - Volume I).

You can see shades of this poem in the description given to Eriol of Tinfang Warble. Tolkien wrote one more poem about this fay--in 1915-16 while serving in the Army. This was entitled: Over Old Hills and Far Away and in it the writer chases after the elusive Tinfang in vain.