[Anguirel]

RESULTS OF DAY SIX (M-e)

On the day of Midwinter, Elwe Singollo, called Elu Thingol, King of Doriath, went missing.

His brother, Olwe, was not too worried. "He's done it again. Probably chasing pretty Maia."

And though Melian seemed concerned, most ascribed this to irritation at Olwe's tactlessness.

Yet the weeks passed, and Thingol did not return.

***

In Ossiriand, Curufin was indulging in a spot of brief hunting with Celegorm. After they'd caught a stag, the brothers intended to settle to a bit of scheming. The day passed pleasantly; Curufin never knew how close he had been to vanishing together with Thingol Greycloak...

RESULTS OF THE CHALLENGE

At last, it became clear that Thingol was lost. Again. There was instant pandemonium in the court of Menegroth.

Olwe insisted that his brother would return, but offered to take up the kingship in the interim. With the backing of Celeborn and Galadriel, he seemed certain to gain the throne.

But Melian defied him. She declared that Thingol would never return, and that without her guidance Doriath was doomed. She claimed the throne, and set up her court in Menegroth itself. Mablung and Beleg supported her.

And there was a third contender now. Beren and Luthien, in right of their son Dior, now a young man, claimed the throne; and they were welcomed by the folk of Brethil, and ruled over the west of Doriath. Thus Olwe ruled in the North, at the Court of the Old King; Melian in the centre and South, at the Court of the Queen; and Dior, aided by Beren and Luthien, at the Court of the Young King in Brethil and the western forest. And Luthien wore the Silmaril. But only the Queen's Court was now protected by the Girdle.

So it was that Morwen had to decide which Doriath to send her son to. The north, ruled by Olwe, where the old Telerin laws prevailed? The Sindarin centre, ruled by Melian? Or the human and Elven realm of Dior Half-Elven? Olwe was closest; and Dior made sense because he was himself a Man. But in what Morwen heard of Melian, she recognised something of herself. And so Turin, with the help of Beleg and Mablung, was escorted into Melian's realm.

It was the safest place in Beleriand; and to a young Man this was infuriating. Olwe's realm was regularly attacked by Morgoth, and only Galadriel's power allowed it to survive. Dior's realm was always warring with the Dwarves of Nogrod and with Celegorm and Curufin, especially after the deaths of Beren and Luthien. Yet in Melian's realm all was still.

Infuriatingly still. Beleg Cuthalion felt it too; and one night, he escaped with the youth. Together they made their way to the human lands...Turin taking with him the sword Anglachel...

It's Day Seven in Middle-earth...the contestants...

Tribes

VALAR

Elbereth
Ulmo
Mandos, Doom of

NOLDOR

Maedhros
Maglor
Celegorm
Celebrimbor
Curufin
Ereinion
Idril
Maeglin
Orodreth
Finduilas

TELERI/SINDAR

Olwe
Celeborn
Galadriel
Mablung
Beleg

MAIA

Melian
Uinen
Tilion (with Moon)
Arien (with Sun)

DWARVES

Telchar of Nogrod (incidentally, probably by now a different character. But with the same name. Like Durin the Deathless...)
Mim the Petty-dwarf
Khim
Ibun

MEN

Dior
Hurin
Tuor
Morwen
Turin
Nienor
Brandir
Forweg
Androg

FORCES OF EVIL

Morgoth
Sauron
Glaurung
Ancalagon (adolescent...)
Morgoth, Curse of

The last two Men, you should note, are I think only in Unfinished Tales. They're the leaders of the Gaurwaith Turin joins soon. Androg is among my favourite Men. A sort of human Curufin, hee hee...now I'll watch him get voted out. I'll remove them if people would rather I stuck to the Silmarillion proper.

Now-the seventh challenge-TURIN HOOD and LITTLE BELEG. Assist Turin's career as an outlaw!