The feud between elves and dwarves in “The Lord of the Rings” has its origins in events from the First Age. The starting point was when dwarves killed Thingol, the King of Doriath, to seize the Nauglamír and a Silmaril. The underlying cause, however, was a web of fate woven by the evil of Morgoth, the curse of Mandos, and the oath of Fëanor. Notably, Thingol himself walked into this trap.
I. The Initial Incident: The Death of Thingol and the Dwarves’ Lies
Thingol was the original leader of the Teleri clan among the three great elf clans and the High King of the Sindar elves. His wife was the Maia Melian, and his daughter was Lúthien. He was the maternal ancestor of the brothers Elrond and Elros. Thingol was a highly respected and important figure among the elves and in Middle-earth. News of Thingol’s death at the hands of the dwarves spread quickly among the elves, fueling their hatred. The fleeing dwarves, however, spread lies, claiming that the elves had attacked them first, which in turn fueled the dwarves’ hatred. Both sides believed the other had betrayed them, leading to a cycle of revenge that each side deemed justified.
After Beren and Lúthien reclaimed a Silmaril from Morgoth and presented it to Thingol, Thingol became obsessed with the gem and wished to wear it constantly. Therefore, when Húrin found the Nauglamír in the ruins of Nargothrond and brought it to Thingol, he decided to have it refashioned with the Silmaril set upon it.
The Nauglamír, known as the “Necklace of the Dwarves,” was crafted long ago by the skilled dwarves of Nogrod and Belegost for Finrod. During Finrod’s lifetime, it was considered the most famous dwarf creation of the ancient times, surpassing all the treasures of Nargothrond.
A group of skilled dwarves from Nogrod in the Blue Mountains arrived in Doriath. Thingol summoned them to refashion the Nauglamír and set the Silmaril upon it. As the dwarves gazed upon their ancestral work and marveled at the Silmaril—the greatest creations of both dwarves and elves—their hearts filled with greed, and they desired to possess both treasures.
“The dwarves labored for a long time. While they worked, Thingol went alone to the deep underground workshop and spent the entire day with them. After some time, his wish was fulfilled, and the greatest creations of both elves and dwarves were joined together as one. It was breathtakingly beautiful, as countless gems on the Nauglamír reflected the light of the central Silmaril, emitting a dazzling array of colors. Alone among the dwarves, Thingol intended to take the necklace and wear it around his neck, but at that moment, the dwarves held it back, demanding he hand it over to them, saying, ‘The Nauglamír was crafted by our ancestors for the now-dead Finrod Felagund. What right does the Elvenking have to claim it as his own? The necklace came into his possession only because Húrin of Dor-lómin, like a thief, stole it from the darkness of Nargothrond and gave it to him.’ But Thingol saw through their intentions, knowing full well that they coveted the Silmaril and were using a grand pretext to hide their true motives. Out of anger and pride, he did not notice the danger he was in, and instead contemptuously said to them, ‘You, born of a crude race, dare to demand it from me, Elu Thingol, King of Beleriand? When I was born by the waters of Cuiviénen, your stunted ancestors had many years yet to open their eyes.’ He stood tall and proud among the dwarves, using insulting words to order them to leave Doriath empty-handed.”
“Insulted by the king, the dwarves’ greed turned into fury, and they rushed upon Thingol, surrounding and killing him.”
The dwarves coveted the Silmaril, and the proud Thingol’s insults led to their enraged, impulsive murder.
After killing Thingol, the dwarves were almost wiped out by the pursuing elves on their escape route. The Nauglamír was reclaimed by the elves. However, two dwarves who had killed Thingol escaped capture and returned to Nogrod in the Blue Mountains. They distorted the events that had transpired in Doriath, claiming that Thingol had ordered the elves to kill the dwarves to avoid paying them. Believing this tale, the dwarves assembled a large army and marched to Doriath, seeking revenge. This marked the beginning of the feud between elves and dwarves.
II. The Expansion of Hatred: The Battle Between Dwarves and Elves
After Thingol’s death, his wife Melian was deeply grieved. Her power waned, and the protective Girdle of Melian that shielded Doriath disappeared. A large army of dwarves marched into Doriath. They were numerous and fierce, making it difficult for the elves to resist. The dwarves advanced to the Thousand Caves of Menegroth, where they battled the elves, resulting in the deaths of many from both sides. This was the most tragic event of the First Age.
The dwarves won the battle, and Thingol’s palace was looted. The Silmaril was also stolen.
News of this spread quickly among the elves. Beren and Lúthien, upon hearing of the theft, gathered elves and ambushed the dwarves at the Sarn Athrad ford, where they were carrying their spoils. Many dwarves were killed, and others were driven into the dark forest. Beren personally slew the King of Nogrod and reclaimed the Nauglamír from him.
From then on, both dwarves and elves believed the other had betrayed them. This belief was passed down through generations within their respective communities, becoming deeply ingrained.
III. Fëanor’s Oath and the Doom of Mandos
The feud between elves and dwarves, like many events of the First Age, originated from the possession and争夺 of the Silmarils. Fëanor’s oath, combined with the Doom of Mandos, cursed all who sought to possess or take the Silmarils, leading to betrayal, suffering, and death.
Thingol, upon learning of the kinslaying at Alqualondë, the Doom of Mandos, and the burning of the ships at Losgar, developed a strong dislike for Fëanor’s lineage and even forbade his people from speaking Quenya, the language of the Noldor.
The Sindar elves were not originally part of the consequences determined by Fëanor’s oath and the Doom of Mandos. However, Thingol’s decision to send Beren to retrieve a Silmaril from Morgoth, to prove that Lúthien could be trusted with him, entangled him and Doriath in the fate of the Silmaril quarrels.
The Oath of Fëanor
In the early days of the Two Trees, when the Silmarils were first created, Melkor greatly coveted them. He spread lies in Valinor, sowed discord between the Valar and the Elves, and planted hatred among Fëanor and the Noldor. Later, Melkor stole the Silmarils and killed Fëanor’s father, Finwë, before fleeing Valinor and establishing the fortress of Angband in the north of Middle-earth. No longer trusting the Valar, Fëanor gathered the Noldor and urged them to follow him to Middle-earth to reclaim the Silmarils and conquer the land.
“Fëanor made a terrible oath. His seven sons stood by his side and took the same oath, their unsheathed swords glowing red in the light of many torches, as if stained with blood. The oath they swore was unbreakable and should not have been made, even invoking the name of Eru, saying that if they broke it, eternal darkness would befall them. They named Manwë, Varda, and the holy mountain Taniquetil as witnesses, and swore that if anyone, whether Vala, demon, Elf, or unborn human, whether great or small, good or evil, dared to hold, take, or hinder their possession of the Silmarils, they would pursue them with vengeance and hatred to the ends of the earth.”
Those who swore this oath were Maedhros, Maglor, Celegorm, Curufin, Caranthir, Amrod, and Amras, all princes of the Noldor. Many who heard these fearsome words were filled with dread. For the oath, whether good or evil, once made, could not be undone, and it would haunt the oath-takers or breakers until the end of the world.
- The Doom of the Noldor
After the kinslaying at Alqualondë, Mandos himself came before the host of the Noldor and pronounced the following prophecy:
“Some say it was not a mere messenger of Manwë, but Mandos himself who came. They heard a solemn and terrible voice commanding them to stop and listen. So everyone stood still, and the entire host of the Noldor heard this voice pronounce the curse and prophecy, which was called the ‘Prophecy of the North’ and also the ‘Doom of the Noldor.’ It made many obscure predictions, which the Noldor would not understand until the sorrowful disasters truly befell them. But everyone heard the curse clearly, which was directed at those who would not stay or seek the judgment and forgiveness of the Valar.
‘You shall shed many tears. The Valar will close Valinor to you and keep you out, so that not even the echoes of your mourning can cross the mountains of Aman. The wrath of the Valar will cover the house of Fëanor and all who follow them, from the West to the ends of the East. The oath they have sworn will drive them, yet betray them, always keeping them from the treasures they swore to recover. All their well-begun deeds will end in evil, through treachery among kin and the fear of betrayal. They shall forever be ‘the Dispossessed.’
‘You have stained the land of Aman with the blood of your kin, shed unjustly. You shall repay blood with blood, and outside of Aman, you shall live in the shadow of death. Though it is decreed that you shall not die in Arda, nor be afflicted by disease, yet you can be slain, and surely will be: by sword, by torment, or by grief, and your wandering spirits shall then return to Mandos. You shall linger there long, yearning for your bodies, but even if all those you have slain plead for you, you shall receive no pity. Those who insist on staying in Middle-earth and not coming to Mandos shall grow weary of the world, as if bearing a heavy burden, and shall surely fade, becoming like a host of regretful ghosts before the younger race that comes after. So say the Valar.’
Mandos’s doom was directed only at the house of Fëanor and all who followed them; but Fëanor’s oath drew all who sought to possess or take the Silmarils into the ‘Doom of the Noldor.’
- The Warning of Melian
Melian perceived that the Noldor who came to Middle-earth from Valinor were shrouded in some sorrow and peril.
“She told Thingol all the rumors about the Silmarils. ‘The matter is of greater import than even the Noldor themselves realize,’ she said. ‘For the light of Aman and the fate of Arda are now sealed in the works of Fëanor, who is dead. I foretell that these three gems cannot be recovered by any power of the Eldar, and before they are wrested from Morgoth, the world will be broken by many wars. Behold! They have already caused the death of Fëanor, and I guess many others besides.’
When Lúthien brought Beren before Thingol’s throne, Thingol was both angry and contemptuous, ignoring Melian’s warning. He devised what he thought was a clever plan to send Beren to retrieve a Silmaril, not realizing that he was entangling himself and Doriath in the curse of Mandos:
Melian leaned close to Thingol and gently advised him to calm his anger. ‘Beren should not die by your hand,’ she said. ‘His fate will lead him on a free journey, yet it is intertwined with yours. Be careful!’
But Thingol remained silent, looking at Lúthien and thinking, ‘Unhappy human, descendant of insignificant lords and fleeting kings, can such a one touch you and still live?’ So he broke the silence and said, ‘Son of Barahir, I see the ring and perceive that you are proud and think yourself strong. But even if your father once served me, his deeds cannot help you win the daughter of Thingol and Melian. Listen! I too desire a treasure that cannot be obtained. Rock, iron, and the fires of Morgoth guard a gem, and for it, I would defy the entire strength of the Elven kingdoms. I have also heard you say that such bonds do not frighten you. Then go! Bring me a Silmaril from the crown of Morgoth with your own hand, and then, if Lúthien is willing, she may pledge herself to you. Then you shall have my treasure. Even though the fate of Arda is bound up in the Silmarils, you must still think me generous.’
Thus, he brought about the doom of Doriath, entangling himself in the curse of Mandos.
After Beren left Menegroth, Melian said to Thingol:
“Lord, you have set a clever plan. But if my eyes have not grown dim, then whether Beren succeeds or fails, this plan is harmful to you, for you have either brought doom upon yourself or your daughter. Now, Doriath is caught up in a larger fate.”
The Foreboding of Finrod
Finrod, the eldest son of Finarfin and brother of Galadriel, was the most beautiful and beloved king of the House of Finwë. He was the wisest and most contemplative of the exiled Noldorin Elves. Beren came to Nargothrond seeking Finrod’s help to obtain a Silmaril. Finrod, both astonished and troubled by Beren’s story,
“understood that, as he had long ago foretold to Galadriel, he was now about to fulfill the oath he had made with his life. He said to Beren with a heavy heart, ‘It is clear that Thingol wants you dead. But it seems that this fate extends beyond his plans, and Fëanor’s oath is at work again. Because the Silmarils are cursed by a hate-filled oath, even the mere mention of them stirs a dormant and immense power. The sons of Fëanor are driven by that oath and would rather destroy all the Elven kingdoms than allow anyone else to win or possess a Silmaril. Now Celegorm and Curufin are staying with me. As a son of Finarfin, although I am a king, they have gained significant power in the kingdom and command many of their own people. Although they have shown me friendship whenever I needed it in the past, I fear that once your task is revealed, they will not show you any goodwill or leniency. But my own oath remains valid. Thus, we are all drawn into this.’
It is evident that the enmity between Elves and Dwarves, although it began with the Dwarves’ killing of Thingol, actually involved the fate of many Elves being entangled in the doom and curses woven by oaths and curses when Thingol asked Beren to obtain a Silmaril.
The Plot of Morgoth
Morgoth’s evil also permeated the history of the enmity between Elves and Dwarves.
In the distant past, it was Morgoth who, in his quest to seize the Silmarils, sowed discord between Fëanor and the other Noldor and the Valar, causing them to lose trust in the Valar and act recklessly, leading to their subsequent doom. More recently, Morgoth blinded Húrin, filling him with resentment towards Thingol:
“Húrin’s fate was most unfortunate, and the progress of Morgoth’s malicious schemes was such that whenever Morgoth knew, Húrin also knew, but the truth was mixed with lies, and good deeds were either hidden or twisted. Especially those done by Thingol and Melian, Morgoth always sought to cast an evil light on them, for he both hated and feared them. So, when Morgoth judged the time ripe, he set Húrin free, telling him he could go wherever he wished, pretending to pity his defeated enemy. But he lied. Morgoth’s true purpose was to use the remainder of Húrin’s life to further vent his hatred for Elves and Men.”
To insult Thingol, Húrin found the Nauglamír in the ruins of Nargothrond and threw it at Thingol’s feet:
“Take this, as your reward,” he shouted. “Thank you for your kind care of my wife and children! This is the Nauglamír, well-known among Elves and Men. I took it from the darkness of Nargothrond for you. Your kinsman Finrod left it behind when he set out with Beren, son of Barahir, to fulfill the task given by Thingol, King of Doriath!”
Melian’s Girdle blocked Morgoth’s dark will, and Melian also clarified the truth to Húrin. Although this made Húrin understand the true past, the Nauglamír he brought was the very thing that sparked Thingol’s desire to set a Silmaril within it.
In summary, the starting event of the enmity between Elves and Dwarves was the Dwarves’ coveting of the Nauglamír and the Silmarils, and Thingol’s taunting words, which angered the Dwarves and led them to kill Thingol, the High King of the Sindar. However, this event occurred because Thingol ignored Melian’s warning and sent Beren to retrieve a Silmaril, entangling himself and the fate of Doriath in the doom of Mandos and the cause-and-effect of Fëanor’s oath—from which the Sindar were originally excluded. The entire process was also permeated by Morgoth’s evil.
