Melodrama in Middle-earth

[Eomer of the Rohirrim]

Aye, aye.

I'm reading Quenta Silmarillion again (and have been able to confirm it's my favourite book) and happened upon a thought. It was right at the start of 'Nirnaeth Arnoediad' - in that little bit which is a continuation of 'Beren and Luthien'. The text reads:

"But Melian looked in her eyes and read the doom that was written there, and turned away; for she knew that a parting beyond the end of the world had come between them, and no grief of loss has been heavier than the grief of Melian the Maia in that hour."

It's about Luthien choosing to die with Beren rather than hanging around in Valinor forever.

Now, does anyone else find this a bit strange? That this event should be described in such grave terms? I get it: it's sad when a child leaves her mother never to return. But was there really no grief greater than this in history?