Gilfanon's Tale

[Sagan369]

In this short tale there is a mention of Tu the wizard: '...There was the dwelling of Tu the wizard, and fathomless hollow are those places, but their doors have long been sealed and none know now the entry...'
and later:
'...On a time did Nuin wander far to the east of Palisor, and few of his folk went with him, nor did Tu send them ever to those regions on his business, and strange tales were told concerning them; but now curiosity overcame Nuin, and journeying far he came to a strange and wonderful place the like of which he had not seen before...'
Where Nuin finds the Fathers of Mankind still asleep in the Vale of Murmenalda.
still later on:
'The wizard Tuvo told Nuin that the sleepers he had found were the new Children of Iluvatar, and that they were waiting for light. He forbade any of the elves to wake them or to visit those places, being frightened of the wrath of Iluvatar; but despite this Nuin went there often and watched, sitting on a rock...'

Is this Tu/Tuvo, Melko's Thu (Sauron) from the other lost tales/Sil/LOTR?

 

[Thorondor_]

I doubt Tu was of Melkor's gang; at the end of the Tale, it is stated that Tu never appears again. Considering his description at the begining of the story, I would say he is rather a precursor of Gandalf.

Moreover, Tu is filled with fear of Manwe and Iluvatar, which I think pretty much lacks in Melkor & co - they would have been eager to get near the Secondborn.

 

[Ithrynluin]

I have not read that part of HoME but off the top of my head, it seems like Nuin is the counterpart of Finrod, who was the first of the Eldar to discover Men. Now one may wonder what Gandalf was doing in Beleriand since we consider him as a Third Age character (at least Middle-earth-wise), yet there is one small hint in HoME XII: The Peoples of Middle-earth; Late Writings:

At some time, probably early in his [Glorfindel's] sojourn in Valinor, he became a follower, and a friend, of Olorin (Gandalf), who as is said in The Silmarillion had an especial love and concern for the Children of Eru. That Olorin, as was possible for one of the Maiar, had already visited Middle-earth and had become acquainted not only with the Sindarin Elves and others deeper in Middle-earth, but also with Men, is likely, but nothing is [> has yet been] said of this.

Therefore, it is possible that Gandalf (Olorin) already journeyed to Middle-earth in the 1st Age. Pity we have no accounts of his travels, though.

 

[Alcuin]

I need to reread this material, so my observations may be way off, but it seems to me that Nuin is nearly cognate with Nóm, the mannish name given Finrod Felagund. The description of this event is strikingly similar to Finrod’s discovery of Bëor and his folk. In the The Silmarillion chapter “Of the Coming of Men into the West”, Finrod had “journeyed east of Sirion” with his cousins Maedhros and Maglor, when he “wearied of the chase” and went into the far east of Beleriand until “he came into the North of Ossiriand.” There he found Bëor and his folk sitting around campfire, playing a rude harp and singing songs. When they fell asleep, Finrod came into their camp, took the harp, and began to sing, after which they awoke to find him there.

Tu/Tuvo is glossed as “the wizard or fay who became King of the Dark Elves.” Of all the Noldor, only Finrod took counsel with his uncle, Thingol, who claimed overlordship of Beleriand and “was ill-pleased … because he was troubled by dreams concerning the coming of Men, ere ever the first tidings of them were heard. …he said, ‘Into Doriath shall no Man come while my realm lasts…’”

I believe Tu/Tuvo, whose character was developed into Thingol, is an entirely different individual from Thû, whose character was developed into Sauron. Thû does not appear in The Book of Lost Tales I, but his predecessor does, Tevildo Prince of Cats.

 

[Ar-Feiniel]

It seems I read (it might've been in a note at the end of the chapter, though) that Tu protected both the elves and men from Melko's evil. At least while he was still in the story.

 

[Alcuin]

It seems I read (it might've been in a note at the end of the chapter, though) that Tu protected both the elves and men from Melko's evil. At least while he was still in the story.

I don’t think Tu ever left the Story: I think he evolved into Thingol, and with the help of Melian his wife, Thingol did protect both Elves and Men from Morgoth, at least in part and for a time.