history

All information comes directly from the writings of J.R.R. Tolkien. There are footnotes at the bottom of each section and a complete list of those writings used can be found here.

dwelling in doriath

Through her kinship with Thingol (her mother's uncle), Galadriel and her brother Finrod were permitted to reside in Doriath for a time. After he left for Nargothrond Galadriel chose to remain, for she had grown to love Thingol's kinsman, Celeborn. While there she grew close to Melian, and from her "learned great lore and wisdom concerning Middle-earth."¹

Galadriel and Melian would speak sometimes of the wonders of Valinor, but all events after the death of the Two Trees Galadriel would not speak of. Melian was not easily deceived by the popular idea that the Noldor were messengers from the Valar, instead she believed that the Noldor had been driven into exile and that an evil lay on the sons of Fëanor. One day she asked Galadriel about this, asking if she was not close to the truth. Galadriel then revealed to Melian much of the tale, telling of the Silmarils, the death of King Finwë, and said that the Noldor had come from Aman of their own will. But when Melian sensed more and asked if Thingol should know of these things Galadriel replied that he might, but "not of me." ² Of course, Thingol eventually found out anyway.

Galadriel and Celeborn were probably married at some point during her time in Doriath. Despite the account of their meeting in The Silmarillion, in should be mentioned that in the Unfinished Tales there is another version. According to it Galadriel met Celeborn, a Telerin prince, while visiting her kin in Alqualondë. However, this story contradicts both The Silmarillion and the Appendices of The Lord of the Rings.

¹ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Silmarillion (New York: Ballantine Books, 2002) 131.

² J.R.R. Tolkien, The Silmarillion (New York: Ballantine Books, 2002) 148.

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