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Monday, December 30, 2002
I went to see the second Lord of the Rings movie. The way the love between the man Aragon and the Elfish princess was portrayed reminded me of the story of Luthien Tunevial and Beren from the Silmarillion. Luthien was a elvish princess who came across Beren in the forest. His king father had sent him on an errand and when he got back he found his whole village had been destroyed by auks. Beren snuck up on them and killed the leader and fled. He was recovering in the forest when he heard Luthien singing and fell in love. A little later when she saw him she fell in love too; after living together in the forest, they went to the kingdom for Beren to ask Luthien's father King Thingol for her hand. But he was loath to give it to a mortal and very foolishly said "Bring to me one of the Silmarils in your hand and you can have her." That was foolish because first one of his kingdom's biggest rivals had sworn that the Silmarils were theirs -- having been taken by Morgoth from their ancestor who created them -- and they would fight whoever had them to get them back. And second because Morgoth had them and did not want to give them up. (There were three).
Well this is a really wonderful heroic love story about how Beren said "When you see me again, a Silmaril will be in my hand" and left to go take it from Morgoth (the King of Evil)'s crown. And how Luthien, held captive by her father, escaped with the help of Huan, the talking dog, to aid Beren. With Luthien's powers of singing to sleep and Beren's unrivalled bravery, they succeeded in taking a Silmaril. But on the way back Carcharoth, one of the horrible wolf monsters that Morgoth had created to protect his hellish underground castle Angband, bit off Beren's hand holding the Silmaril. Later as they went home and Beren was dying from the poison of the bite, Huan attacked the monster and killed it, but died in the process. This incredible huge dog had the ability to speak only three times in his life. He used all these times to help Luthien and Beren. He and Luthien even killed Sauron in rescuing Beren which is why later Sarron is only a disembodied spirit. The Silmaril was taken from the monster's stomach still in Beren's hand; now the king had it and was obliged to grant the marriage. Beren slowly died from the poison even though Luthien worked hard to save him with special herbs. Elves live forever unless they are killed in battle or die from grief.
Men are destined to die, but nobody knows what happens after they die -- if anything. Elves on the other hand had been created by the Valorian and go to a special happy waiting area if they are killed in battle or die from grief. After the worlds’ end, their lives will continue. Luthien died of grief soon afer Beren's death. In Mandos her beautiful sad singing moved the head Valinor, those highest living creatures who are like gods (but had themselves been created). He agreed to help her grief. Luthien was offered a choice -- either come to live in Valorian with the Vala and never remember her love for Beren or become mortal herself and bring Beren back to life too. She chose the latter. She and Beren went to live out their lives in the forest where they lived together in a house away from everyone. They were never heard from again. Or did they have a couple of children? Yes I think so.
Monday, December 30, 2002
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