Who Performs the Weddings?

I think you're right about that, I had forgotten that of course Eol kills Aredhel because he didn't want anyone to have her if he couldn't...but there was still the implication in some of Tolkien's writings that it may have been wrong for Eol to be executed even then, as Elves had never done such things before. I don't have exact quotes, but I'm sure I read something of the sort. Of course this could be one of those things Tolkien changed his mind about, but I think it was in some of his latest published writings.

Sorry I haven't checked back in this thread for so long, should have noticed and replied sooner.

And yeah, I'm almost certain there was something about Beren and Luthien being happy alone in the forest for some time then Beren going off in search of the Silmaril anyway. He sneaked off while she was asleep in the Lay.

My assumption has always been that a wizard did the more important ceromonies, i believe Gandalf crowned Aragorn, so i always figured, if possible, and the event be important enough, a Wizard was head of stuff like that.

The Bull Roarer said:

My assumption has always been that a wizard did the more important ceromonies, i believe Gandalf crowned Aragorn, so i always figured, if possible, and the event be important enough, a Wizard was head of stuff like that.

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Welcome to the Forum Bull Roarer!

As for the crowning of Aragorn, in "The Steward and the King" in ROTK, Faramir says:

"Men of Gondor, the loremasters tell that it was the custom of old that the king should receive the crown from his father ere he died; or if that might not be, that he should go alone and take it from the hands of his father in the tomb where he was laid. But since things nust now be done otherwise, using the authority of the Steward, I have today brought hither from Rath Dinen the crown of Earnur the last king, whose days passed in the time of our longfathers of old."

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and then

Then to the wonder of many Aragorn did not put the crown upon his head, but gave it back to Faramir, and said: "By the labour and valour of many I have come into my inheritance. In token of this I would have the Ring-bearer bring the crown to me, and let Mithrandir set it upon my head, if he will; for he has been the mover of all that has been accomplished, and this is his victory."

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Thus, it was not normal for a wizard to crown the king. Also, since there were only six wizards and of them Saruman stayed in Orthanc and three others mainly stayed in the East (if I remember correctly), then poor old Gandalf and Radagast would have been hard-pressed to perform all the marriages and other ceremonies in Middle Earth.

Greenwood said:

...poor old Gandalf and Radagast would have been hard-pressed to perform all the marriages and other ceremonies in Middle Earth.

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But think of the side business they could have had! All those weddings taking place in the Fourth Age...

Barley

Barliman Butterbur said:

But think of the side business they could have had! All those weddings taking place in the Fourth Age...

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Maybe that's what happened to Radagast? We never heard of him taking ship to the West.

Ah yes, he went to Minas Vegas and opened Radaghast's chapel of love! I can see it all now. . .

Gosh, I have been working on a laptop all week. Makes a desktop keyboard feel really weird. . .

Anyway, HG, I wasn't arguing about whether the death penalty was normal for Elves. I was just stating that you had the accusation wrong.

Anyway, I particularly remember a point in the story of B and L where it is announced, "and for this point on they were husband and wife."

HLGStrider said:

Ah yes, he went to Minas Vegas and opened Radaghast's chapel of love! I can see it all now. . .

Anyway, HG, I wasn't arguing about whether the death penalty was normal for Elves. I was just stating that you had the accusation wrong.

Anyway, I particularly remember a point in the story of B and L where it is announced, "and for this point on they were husband and wife."

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LOL, I can't even describe the utterly hilarious picture that brought into my head...

I think I'm gonna subscribe to this thread. I forget all about it and then when I finally remember something really interesting has happened...two months ago.

And yes, you were right, I had the accusation all wrong, and even my correction had a false implication since it had been so long since I read the Sil, I have since re-read it.

HERE I CLARIFY WHAT REALLY HAPPENED AND WHY I'M SUCH AN IDIOT:
Eol tried to kill Maeglin, saying he had the right to choose death for his son as well as himself, but Aredhel jumped between them to save her son, and then died much later that evening, for even though the wound in her shoulder was slight, Eol's javelin was poisoned and for whatever dark, brooding reason that guy had he didn't tell anyone so until too late.

All right, as for Beren and Luthien...I really don't remember that, though that's hardly to say it's not true, just that I need a refresher course. Does anyone have some exact quotes from some of the B & L stuff that might be helpful? I can't believe I can't keep this stuff straight, but then, there's a lot of it, even if you don't count the different versions Tolkien so loved to write, so I guess I won't be too mad at myself.

a very interesting thread

ROTK says Faramir & Eowyn were 'trothpolighted' at the feast of Thingol's funeral:

'Faramir and Eowyn stood forth hand in hand and all who were there drank their health and were glad'

So perhaps that's it or that's just the Rohirrim's custom.