The Prophecy of Nargothrond

[Anamatar IV]

"You speak of high things," Gwindor answered, "and plain it is that you have lived among the Eldar. But a darkness is on you if you set Morgoth and Manwë together, or speak of the Valar as the foes of Elves or Men; for the Valar scorn nothing, and least of all the Children of Ilúvatar. Nor do you know all the hopes of the Eldar. It is a prophecy among us that one day a messenger from Middle-earth will come through the shadows to Valinor, and Manwë will hear, and Mandos relent. For that time shall we not attempt to preserve the seed of the Noldor, and of the Edain also? And Círdan dwells now in the South, and there is building of ships; but what know you of ships, or of the Sea? You think of yourself and of your own glory, and bid us each do likewise; but we must think of others beside ourselves, for not all can fight and fall, and those we must keep from war and ruin while we can."

Unfinished Tales

Thus Gwindor spoke. How do you suppose the Elves of Nargothrond prophecied this? And when they did do you think that they thought it would be one of the Edain? Do you think that they even thought that the messenger would be guided by a Silmaril? What do you think of this prophecy?

 

[Ithrynluin]

Perhaps Ulmo conveyed this message to the people of Nargothrond, since he helped the Exiles most of all the Valar after their flight...if so, he probably just "planted" these thoughts into their subconsciousness.

 

[Inderjit S]

The coming of Earendil was prophecised by Mandos in the 'Statute of Finwe and Miriel' (part B;Morgoth's Ring, HoME 10) that out of Finwe's and Indis's marriage, goodness shall come, culminating in Earendil. Though no Eldar were present at the meeting, Ulmo may have passed the message on to the Noldor.

 

[Arvedui]

I don't think that the elves of Nargothrond ever imagined that the messenger would be anyone other than one of the exiles. I guess that they thought that probably one of the sons of Fëanor would be the only right option to offer a most significant pardon for the deeds of their father and themselves. They probably imagined the Edain as weak and unable to stand up to the power of the Valar.

I think that they might have had an idea that any messenger would need to bring a Silmaril in order to get to Valinor in the first place.

 

[Eriol]

Hmm... I wonder at Finrod's connection with the Edain. Both Finrod and Turgon got very specific messages from Ulmo in their holidays beside the Sirion. We know the content of those messages only generally; perhaps Finrod got some specific information about the Edain connection.

We know that Ulmo knew something about the nature of the messenger (from his dealings with Tuor).

It must be noted, though, that the quote presented in the OP does not sound (to me) as anything definite about the nature of the messenger. Gwindor was speaking to Túrin. He was basically "covering all bases" with his comment that "we should attempt to preserve the seed of the Noldor, and of the Edain". I don't know whether he'd say that if his interlocutor were another Noldo (and, to be sincere, I see no reason why he should exclude the possibility that the messenger is from Thingol's people, or one of the Avari, or a Dwarf, or a hobbit, or an Ent... ).

Very weird possibilities, of course, but I see no reason to exclude them (from Gwindor's POV).

 

[Ar-Feiniel]

I've only read Unfinished Tales once, but I recently re-read Turin's story in the Book of Lost Tales I. It seems to me that they were similiar enough for me to agree with Eriol. If you're in dire straights you just want there to be an answer to your prophecy. By that point in time you don't care if they're just like you.