Of Thingol and Melian

           MelianwasaMaia,oftheraceoftheValar.ShedweltinthegardensofLorien,andamongallhispeopletherewerenonemorebeautifulthanMelian,normorewise,normoreskilledinsongsofenchantment.ItistoldthattheValarwouldleavetheirworks,andthebirdsofValinortheirmirth,thatthebellsofValmarweresilentandthefountainsceasedtoflow,whenattheminglingofthelightsMeliansanginLorien.Nightingaleswentalwayswithher,andshetaughtthemtheirsong;andshelovedthedeepshadowsofthegreattrees.ShewasakinbeforetheWorldwasmadetoYavannaherself;andinthattimewhentheQuendiawokebesidethewatersofCuivienenshedepartedfromValinorandcametotheHitherLands,andthereshefilledthesilenceofMiddle-earthbeforethedawnwithhervoiceandthevoicesofherbirds.

           Nowwhentheirjourneywasnearitsend,ashasbeentold,thepeopleoftheTelerirestedlonginEastBeleriand,beyondtheRiverGelion;andatthattimemanyoftheNoldorstilllaytothewestward,inthoseforeststhatwereafterwardsnamedNeldorethandRegion.Elwe,lordoftheTeleri,wentoftenthroughthegreatwoodstoseekoutFinwehisfriendinthedwellingsoftheNoldor;anditchancedonatimethathecamealonetothestarlitwoodofNanElmoth,andtheresuddenlyheheardthesongofnightingales.Thenanenchantmentfellonhim,andhestoodstill;andafaroffbeyondthevoicesofthelomelindiheheardthevoiceofMelian,anditfilledallhisheartwithwonderanddesire.Heforgotthenutterlyallhispeopleandallthepurposesofhismind,andfollowingthebirdsundertheshadowofthetreeshepasseddeepintoNanElmothandwaslost.Buthecameatlasttoagladeopentothestars,andthereMelianstood;andoutofthedarknesshelookedather,andthelightofAmanwasinherface.