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It's All in the Family: The Elweans and Ingweans - Page 3

© Michael Martinez

What we learn from these statements is all the Elves of Aman and Beleriand remembered the ancient divisions and told virtually the same stories about the three Elf-fathers. There is no indication that either Elwe or Ingwe were identified with Imin and Enel. In fact, the very absence of such identification works where the absence of denial fails. That is, if Tolkien didn't identify Enel with Elwe and Imin with Ingwe, we cannot assume that such an identification exists. The two absences don't cancel each other out. Rather, the statements of fact take precedence. Imin was an individual who awakened at Cuivienen, and his wife Iminye lay beside him. Ingwe is no longer said to have awakened at Cuivienen. In preparing The Silmarillion for publication, Christopher Tolkien carefully side-stepped the entire issue. He says nothing about who among the three Elf-kings may have awakened at Cuivienen. In "Of the Ruin of Doriath", which Christopher wrote with some help from Guy Gavriel Kay, Thingol proudly says to the Dwarves of Nogrod, "How do ye of uncouth race dare to demand aught of me, Elu Thingol, Lord of Beleriand, whose life began by the waters of Cuivienen years uncounted ere the fathers of the stunted people awoke?" Some people misread this passage, or elect to interpret it to mean that Thingol claims to have awakened at Cuivienen. But the text doesn't say he awakened there. It only says his life began there before the Dwarf-fathers awoke. Now, we don't know when the Dwarf-fathers awoke, but J.R.R. Tolkien's Elu Thingol most likely would not have made such a claim anyway. The original story from The Book of Lost Tales, "The Nauglafring", holds that Tinwelint (the precursor of Thingol) had fallen prey to Mim's curse on the hoard Hurin had taken from Nargothrond. Tinwelint contracted with Dwarves to shape the gold and place the Silmaril in the Nauglafring. Ufedhin, a Gnome (who evolved into the Noldor), arranged for the contract. But because Tinwelint had held him prisoner, Ufedhin asked the Dwarves to demand an insulting price for their work. The Dwarves made the request and Tinwelint had them and Ufedhin whipped. He then paid them common wages and forced them to pay for Ufedhin's food and lodging during the time he was a prisoner. The Dwarves and Ufedhin eventually left and plotted their revenge. They allied themselves with Orcs and attacked Artanor (Tinwelint's kingdom) while he was ridinng in the hunt, celebrating Beren's hunting of the wolf. Another Elf, overcome by lust for the cursed gold, helped Ufedhin enter Artanor without Gwendelin (Melian's) knowledge.

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