Board Thread:Lore Texts/@comment-25792814-20170531123807

A book of lore written by a lore master of Rivendell:

 §lOf the Kingdom of Doriath§r §oBy Elenwë of Rivendell§r §oCopy made by {name:high_elf_male}.§r
 * 1) title:Of the Kingdom of Doriath
 * 2) author:Elenwë of Rivendell
 * 3) types:lindon,rivendell,lothlorien,eregion,woodland_realm
 * 4) The randomization is here to simulate the effect of handwritten text, which each writer may change a bit.
 * 1) The randomization is here to simulate the effect of handwritten text, which each writer may change a bit.

Before the {choose:Firstborn/Eldar} awoke, before the first Dawn and the first sunset, the Great Forests covered {choose:Endor/Middle-earth}. When the Calaquendi arrived in Beleriand, on their way to Valinor, they rested on the shores of Middle-earth... and some of them never crossed Belegaer. Amongst them was Elwë of the Teleri, who would later be known as Elu Thingol, the greatest King of the Sindar ever to live in the first Ages of {choose:Arda/Eä}.

Thingol met Melian of the Maiar in the dark woods of Nan Elmoth, where sang the nightingale. Her voice enchanted him, making him walk into the deepest parts of the ancient forest; and in a clearing of silver grass, under the dim light of {choose:Varda/the stars}, he froze in front of the Maia. The years passed and the trees grew, and yet he stayed there, forgetting the Valar, the Two Trees and even his own people.

When at last he awoke, it was only to find his people gone, except for his most loyal followers. Most of the Teleri {choose:went/had left} with his brother Olwë. But in the forests of Region and Neldoreth, Thingol set his realm, and Melian sat by his side, the fairest and wisest Queen of Arda. They lived in Menegroth, the Thousand Caves. The power of Melian protected the Kingdom, encircled the forests which Thingol ruled; and so it was called Doriath, the Land of the Ring, in {choose:the language of the Grey Elves/the tongue of the Sindar/Sindarin}.

Thingol reigned on all of Beleriand, until the Exiled Noldor arrived, led by Fëanor. He gave them the lands he needed not, and only kept under his sovereignty the two Forests of Region and Neldoreth. The Ring of Melian allowed his realm not to be disturbed by the everlasting War of the Exiles against {choose:Melkor, renamed Morgoth/Morgoth}, who had recently returned to Middle-earth.

The lust of Thingol was the downfall of Doriath. After Beren and Luthien left the country, he sought the help of the {choose:Dwarves/Naugrim} in order to reforge the Nauglamir, brought back in Menegroth by Húrin son of Galdor, of the House of Hador. The Silmaril of Fëanor was included in the Nauglamir, and never was a jewel so bright and beautiful. But the Dwarves saw their own work and greatly desired to keep it for themselves; and the answer of Thingol put them in such wrath that they killed him there, in the Deep Caves of Menegroth. Beren and the Green Elves avenged the King of Doriath, attacking the Dwarves on their way back to Nogrod. The newly remade Nauglamir went to Dior, heir of Thingol, after the death of Beren and Luthien. Melian vanished from Beleriand and returned to the Gardens of Lorien in Valinor, weeping her husband and king.

And so the Oath of Fëanor caught the House of Thingol. For the remaining Sons of Fëanor invaded Doriath, killed Dior and tried to recuperate the Jewel of their Father. This battle led to the Ruin of Doriath, the Glorious Realm of old; but the Sons of Fëanor did not get back the Silmaril of Beren. It was part of a far greater destiny, and led to the Great Journey of Eärendil.  