The Peoples of Middle-earth (62 page)

The names Elros and Elrond, the last of the descendants of Finwe born in the Elder Days, were formed to recall the name of their mother Elwing. The meaning of wing is uncertain, since it occurs in no other personal name, nor in the records of either Sindarin or Quenya. Some of the loremasters, remembering that after their return to a second life Beren and Luthien dwelt in Ossiriand,(54) and that there Dior dwelt after the fall of Doriath among the Green Elves of that forest country, have supposed that suing is a word of the tongue of the Green Elves; but little was preserved of that tongue after the destruction of Beleriand, and the interpretation of wing as meaning 'foam, spume, spindrift' as of water blown by the wind, or falling steeply over rocks, is but a likely guess. It is supported, however, by the fact that Ossiriand was a land cloven by seven rivers (as its name signifies), and that these fell steeply and very swift from the Mountains of Ered Lindon. Beside one great waterfall, called in Sindarin Lanthir Lamath ('waterfall of echoing voices'), Dior had his house. Moreover the name Elros (in Quenya form Elerosse) means 'star foam', sc. starlit foam.(55)

The numbered notes to the preceding text are given on pp. 356 ff., but the following editorial notes on Gil-galad and Felagund are most conveniently placed here.

The parentage of Gil-galad.

My father originally supposed that Gil-galad was the son of Felagund King of Nargothrond. This is probably first found in a revision to the text FN II of The Fall of Numenor (V.33); but it remained his belief until after the completion of The Lord of the Rings, as is seen from the major early text of the Tale of Years (p. 173), and from Of the Rings of Power, where in the published text (The Silmarillion p. 286) Fingon is an editorial alteration of Felagund. In additions of uncertain date made to the Quenta Silmarillion (XI.242) it is told that Felagund sent away his wife and his son Gil-galad from Nargothrond to the Havens of the Falas for their safety. It is to be noted also that in the text of the Tale of Years just referred to not only was Gil-galad the son of Felagund but Galadriel was Gil-galad's sister (and so Felagund's daughter): see pp. 174 and 185 note 10.

It emerged, however, in the Grey Annals of 1951 (XI.44, $108) that Felagund had no wife, for the Vanya Amarie whom he loved had not been permitted to leave Aman.

Here something must be said of Orodreth, son of Finarfin and brother of Felagund, who became the second King of Nargothrond (for intimations of the decline in importance of Orodreth in earlier phases of the legendarium see III.91, 246, V.239; also Unfinished Tales p, 255 note 20). In the genealogical tables of the descendants of Finwe, which can be dated to 1959 but which my father was still using and altering when he wrote the excursus to The Shibboleth of Feanor (see note 26), the curious history of Orodreth can be traced. Put as concisely as possible, Finrod (Felagund) was first given a son named Artanaro Rhodothir (so contradicting the story in the Grey Annals that he had no wife) the second King of Nargothrond, and father of Finduilas. Thus 'Orodreth' was now moved down a generation, becoming Finrod's son rather than his brother. In the next stage my father (recalling, apparently, the story in the Grey Annals) noted that Finrod 'had no child {he left his wife in Aman)', and moved Artanaro Rhodothir to become, still in the same generation, the son of Finrod's brother Angrod (who with Aegnor held the heights of Dorthonion and was slain in the Battle of Sudden Flame).

The name of Angrod's son (still retaining the identity of 'Orodreth') was then changed from Artanaro to Artaresto. In an isolated note found with the genealogies, scribbled at great speed but nonetheless dated, August 1965, my father suggested that the best solution to the problem of Gil-galad's parentage was to find him in 'the son of Orodreth', who is here given the Quenya name of Artaresto, and continued:

Finrod left his wife in Valinor and had no children in exile. Angrod's son was Artaresto, who was beloved by Finrod and escaped when Angrod was slain, and dwelt with Finrod. Finrod made him his

'steward' and he succeeded him in Nargothrond. His Sindarin name was Rodreth (altered to Orodreth because of his love of the mountains ....... His children were Finduilas and Artanaro = Rodnor later called Gil-galad. (Their mother was a Sindarin lady of the North. She called her son Gil-galad.) Rodnor Gil-galad escaped and eventually came to Sirion's Mouth and was King of the Noldor there.

The words that I cannot read contain apparently a preposition and a proper name, and this latter could be Faroth (the High Faroth west of the river Narog). - In the last of the genealogical tables Artanaro (Rodnor) called Gil-galad appears, with the note that 'he escaped and dwelt at Sirion's Mouth'. The only further change was the rejection of the name Artaresto and its replacement by Artaher, Sindarin Arothir; and thus in the excursus (note 23) Arothir [Orodreth] is named as Finrod's 'kinsman and steward', and (note 47) Gil-galad is 'the son of Arothir, nephew of Finrod'. The final genealogy was: Finrod Felagund Angrod

Artaher/Arothir [Orodreth]

Artanaro/Rodnor/Gil-galad

Since Finduilas remained without correction in the last of the genealogies as the daughter of Arothir, she became the sister of Gilgalad.

There can be no doubt that this was my father's last word on the subject; but nothing of this late and radically altered conception ever touched the existing narratives, and it was obviously impossible to introduce it into the published Silmarillion. It would nonetheless have been very much better to have left Gil-galad's parentage obscure.

I should mention also that in the published text of Aldarion and Erendis (Unfinished Tales p. 199) the letter of Gil-galad to Tar-Meneldur opens 'Ereinion Gil-galad son of Fingon', but the original has 'Finellach Gil-galad of the House of Finarfin' (where Finellach was changed from Finhenlach, and that from Finlachen). For the name Ereinion see p. 347 and note 47. So also in the text of A Description of the Island of Numenor (Unfinished Tales p. 168) I printed 'King Gil-galad of Lindon' where the original has 'King Finellach Gil-galad of Lindon'; I retained however the words 'his kinswoman Galadriel', since Fingon and Galadriel were first cousins. There is no trace among the many notes and suggestions written onto the genealogical tables of a proposed descent of Gil-galad from Finarfin; but in any case Aldarion and Erendis and the closely related Description of Numenor preceded by some time (I would now be inclined to date them to about 1960) the making of Gil-galad into the grandson of Angrod, with the name Artanaro Rodnor, which first appears as a new decision in the note of August 1965 given above. Much closer analysis of the admittedly extremely complex material than I had made twenty years ago makes it clear that Gil-galad as the son of Fingon (see XI.56, 243) was an ephemeral idea.

The Dwarvish origin of the name Felagund.

Among the notes accompanying the Elvish genealogies and dated December 1959 (see note 26) the following should be recorded. I have mentioned (XI.179) that against the name Felagund in the chapter Of the Siege of Angband in the Quenta Silmarillion (where it was said that 'the Gnomes of the North, at first in jest, called him ... Felagund, or "lord of caverns" ') my father noted on the late typescript: 'This was in fact a Dwarfish name; for Nargothrond was first made by Dwarves as is later recounted.' The statement in the 1959 notes is as follows: The name Felagund was of Dwarvish origin. Finrod had help of Dwarves in extending the underground fortress of Nargothrond.

It is supposed originally to have been a hall of the Petty-dwarves (Nibinnogs), but the Great Dwarves despised these, and had no compunction in ousting them - hence Mim's special hatred for the Elves - especially for great reward. Finrod had brought more treasure out of Tuna than any of the other princes.

Felagund: Dwarvish v felek hew rock, felak a tool like a broad-bladed chisel, or small axe-head without haft, for cutting stone; to use this tool. v gunud equivalent of Eldarin s-rot: (56) gundu underground hall. felakgundu, felaggundu 'cave-hewer'. This name was given because of Finrod's skill in lighter stone-carving. He cut many of the adornments of the pillars and walls in Nargothrond. He was proud of the name. But it was often by others Eldarized into Felagon, as if it had the same ending (*-kano) as in Fingon, Turgon; and the first element was associated with Sindarin fael 'fair-minded, just, generous', Quenya faila (? from v phaya 'spirit', adjectival formation meaning 'having a good fea, or a dominant fea').

This note is the basis of the brief statement in the index to the published Silmarillion, entry Felagund.

The names of the Sons of Feanor

with the legend of the fate of Amrod.

My father did not fulfil his intention to give in the 'excursus' an account of the names of the Sons of Feanor (see note 32), but some pages of initial drafting are extant. The text begins legibly in ink, but at the end of the list of 'mother-names' changes to ball-point pen, and the legend of Amrod and Amras would be too illegible to reproduce had not my father gone over it and glossed the worst parts more clearly. There are many experimental etymological notes on the Eldarin words referring to red colour and copper, and on the names of the twin brothers, which are here omitted. In the first list I have added the Sindarin names for clarity.

(1) [Maedros] Nelyafinwe 'Finwe third' in succession.(57) (Nelyo)

(2) [Maglor] Kanafinwe 'strong-voiced or ?commanding'.

(Kano) (58)

(3) [Celegorm] Turkafinwe 'strong, powerful (in body)'.

(Turko)

(4) [Curufin] Kurufinwe Feanor's own name; given to this, his favourite son, because he alone showed in some degree the same temper and talents. He also resembled Feanor very much in face. (Kurvo)

(5) [Caranthir] Morifinwe 'dark' - he was black-haired as his grandfather. (Moryo)

(6) [Amrod] Pityafinwe 'Little Finwe'. (Pityo) (59) (7) [Amras] Telufinwe Last Finwe'. (Telvo) (60)

Their 'mother-names' are recorded (though never used in narrative) as:

(1) Maitimo 'well-shaped one': he was of beautiful bodily form. But he, and the youngest, inherited the rare red-brown hair of Nerdanel's kin, Her father had the epesse of rusco 'fox'. So Maitimo had as an epesse given by his brothers and other kin Russandol 'copper-top'.(61)

(2) Makalaure Of uncertain meaning. Usually interpreted (and said to have been a 'prophetic' mother-name) as

'forging gold'. If so, probably a poetic reference to his skill in harping, the sound of which was 'golden' (laure was a word for golden light or colour, never used for the metal).

(3) Tyelkormo 'hasty-riser'. Quenya tyelka 'hasty'. Possibly in reference to his quick temper, and his habit of leaping up when suddenly angered.

(4) Atarinke 'little father' - referring to his physical likeness (5) to Feanor, later found to be also seen in his mind.

Carnistir 'red-face' - he was dark (brown) haired, but had the ruddy complexion of his mother.

(6) Ambarto (62)

(7) Ambarussa

These two names of [the] twins (i Wenyn) were evidently meant to begin similarly. Ambarussa 'top-russet' must have referred to hair: the first and last of Nerdanel's children had the reddish hair of her kin. Around the name Ambarto [> Umbarto] -

which one might expect to begin with an element of the same sense as (7) - much legend and discussion gathered. The most authentic seems to be thus:

The two twins were both red-haired. Nerdanel gave them both the name Ambarussa - for they were much alike and remained so while they lived. When Feanor begged that their names should at least be different Nerdanel looked strange, and after a while said: 'Then let one be called [Ambarto >]

Umbarto, but which, time will decide.'

Feanor was disturbed by this ominous name ('Fated'), and changed it to Ambarto - or in some versions thought Nerdanel had said Ambarto, using the same first element as in Ambarussa (sc. amba + Quenya arta 'exalted, lofty'). But Nerdanel said: Umbarto I spoke,. yet do as you wish. It will make no difference.'

Later, as Feanor became more and more fell and violent, and rebelled against the Valar, Nerdanel, after long endeavouring to change his mood, became estranged. (Her kin were devoted to Aule, who counselled her father to take no part in the rebellion. 'It will in the end only lead Feanor and all your children to death.') She retired to her father's house; but when it became clear that Feanor and his sons would leave Valinor for ever, she came to him before the host started on its northward march, and begged that Feanor should leave her the two youngest, the twins, or one at least of them. He replied: 'Were you a true wife, as you had been till cozened by Aule, you would keep all of them, for you would come with us. If you desert me, you desert also all of our children. For they are determined to go with their father.' Then Nerdanel was angry and she answered: 'You will not keep all of them. One at least will never set foot on Middle-earth.' 'Take your evil omens to the Valar who will delight in them,' said Feanor. 'I defy them'. So they parted.