Daeron
| Biography: Daeron | |
|---|---|
| Birth - Death | First Age ? - ? |
| Race: | Sindar Elf |
| Gender: | Male |
| Daeron | |
| Info: | Minstrel of Doriath, Loremaster and Chief minstrel of Thingol |
Daeron was a Sindarin Elf of Doriath, renowned as the chief minstrel and loremaster of King Thingol during the First Age. He is remembered both for devising written runes, and for his part in the tale of Beren and Lúthien, where, out of unrequited love for Lúthien, he twice betrayed her to Thingol. Daeron was considered the greatest musician of the Elves, rivalled by few among the Noldor. He was also skilled in woodcraft and devised the Cirth runes, which were later spread by the Dwarves beyond Beleriand. Among his own people, however, the script saw little everyday use.
History
Little is known of Daeron's early life, though he was already in Thingol's service prior to YT 1300, when he devised magical runes. Unlike the Noldor, the Sindar relied largely on memory rather than writing, and his script was mostly used in Doriath and by the Dwarves, who adopted it enthusiastically.
Daeron was enamoured of Lúthien, daughter of Thingol, and much of his music was inspired by her. At the Feast of Reuniting in FA 20, he served as one of Thingol's messengers. Later, in FA 464, he was present when Beren first beheld Lúthien dancing. Suspecting Beren of being an intruder, Daeron warned her and fled.
The following year, Daeron discovered Beren and Lúthien together and informed Thingol. He later urged the king to put Beren to death, but Thingol, bound by his word to Lúthien, instead demanded that Beren retrieve a Silmaril from the crown of Morgoth as bride-price. When Lúthien attempted to rescue Beren from Sauron, Daeron betrayed her intentions to Thingol, leading to her imprisonment in a tree. Though he later made her a small loom at her request, Daeron did not reveal her plans to escape.
When Lúthien finally fled Doriath, Daeron searched for her in vain and wandered east over the Blue Mountains. He remained there for many ages, making lament by dark waters for the loss of Lúthien, the most beautiful of living things.
Etymology
The name Daeron is derived from the Sindarin word daer (“large, great”). In earlier writings, the character appeared under the name Dairon, possibly related to the element dae (“shadow”).
In-game mentions
- Balin's Tomb, the Inscribed Collar, Rally Points, and Rói's Edda-stone makes use of Daeron's runic script.
- Quest:Deep Secrets of Rune-craft too mentions Daeron's role in the development of the runes.
- Some items like Item:Robe of the Moon-lands also make use of Daeron's script.
References
- J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion
- J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Lays of Beleriand
- J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Book of Lost Tales
- J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Jewels
- J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales