Melian
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Melian is a fictional character of Middle-earth, created by J. R. R. Tolkien. She was a Maia of the race of the Ainur. She fell in love with the Elven-king Elu Thingol, King Grey Mantle, and with him ruled the kingdom of Doriath. She was the only one of the known Ainur said to have born children, though Ungoliant may have also been a Maia. Her main line of descent is of the half-elven.
When Thingol (also called Elwë) met Melian, he lost track of the passage of time and was left behind when most of the Eldar left for Valinor. They had one daughter, Lúthien Tinúviel, through whom Melian's Maiarin blood passed into bloodlines of both Elves and Men.
In Doriath she used her powers to guard and defend it with a protection called the Girdle of Melian, but she predicted that one person would breach it. When Beren arrived as foretold, she counselled Thingol against sending Beren for a Silmaril, a quest which would eventually lead to Doriath's ruin.
After Thingol's death, she left Middle-earth for Valinor where she mourned the loss of her husband and her daughter, Lúthien.
| Ainur of Middle-earth | |
|---|---|
| Ainulindalë (Music of the Ainur) | |
| Lords of the Valar: | Manwë | Aulë | Oromë | Irmo (Lórien) | Námo (Mandos) | Tulkas | Ulmo |
| Queens of the Valar: | Varda | Yavanna | Vána | Estë | Vairë | Nessa | Nienna |
| The Enemy: | Morgoth (a.k.a. Melkor) |
| Maiar: | Eönwë | Ilmarë | Ossë | Uinen | Salmar | Sauron | Melian | Arien | Tilion | Gothmog Curumo (Saruman) | Olórin (Gandalf) | Aiwendil (Radagast) | Alatar and Pallando | Durin's Bane |