Girdle of Melian

The Girdle of Melian was a magical barricade in Doriath's kingdom, formed by Melian's power, the Maiar wife of King Thingol and Queen of Doriath. Also called the Veil or the Veil of Melian, the barrier protected Doriath's lands, covering its territory in Aelin-uial and the forests of Nivrim, Neldoreth, and Region.

The Girdle of Melian keeps all intruders, dark forces, and creatures out of Doriath, especially against Morgoth's evil power. The barrier works the same way as Galadriel's sheltering of Lothlorien against the dark lord Sauron, through the power of her Elven Ring Nenya. The Veil of Melian's spell ensnares those who tried to cross the barrier. They grow confused and roam endlessly through the forest, losing any sense of direction. They grow tired, exhaust their food and supplies, and eventually die. But those allowed in Doriath by Melian and Thingol can pass through. Some also managed to break through the Veil. Carcaroth and Beren passed unaffected as they have a mightier force than Melian.

The Maiar Queen formed the Girdle of Melian at the end of the First Battle of Beleriand, to protect the kingdom of Doriath against Morgoth and his power. From then on, the only way to Doriath was through the Girdle. It also served its purpose as Thingol forbids any unknown entry to his Sindarin realm, especially at the Noldorin Elves' coming from Aman. Thingol banned the Elves of the Noldor because of what happened in Alqualonde, the First Kinslaying. Only Thingol's kin from the House of Finarfin could pass through the Girdle. The barrier remained steadfast with Doriath secluded and safe for an extended period. But in the First Age's fourth century, Beren managed to enter Doriath and through the Veil, unaffected by its power. And during the Quest for the Silmaril, the wolf beast Carcaroth ravaged through its enchantment and wreaked havoc in Doriath. In FA 470, Túrin traveled to Doriath at his mother's request and got caught by the Girdle's charm. He and his men aimlessly strayed in the forests until Beleg saved them from its peril.

The cursed treasure of the Petty-Dwarf Mim brought Doriath's fall and the end of the Girdle of Melian. Thingol endured a previous battle against the Dwarves settlers of the Thousand Caves, and later the deceitful Dwarves returned for revenge and reclaimed the cursed treasure. The treasure defiled the hearts of a group of Elves, letting the Dwarves from Nogrod and Belegost through the Girdle with them. Then, they killed Thingol while hunting in the forest. Melian removed the Veil upon her husband's death, the downfall of Doriath. Then she deserted Doriath and Middle-earth, sailed to the Undying Lands in the West, and settled there from then on. Christopher Tolkien mentioned more details on Doriath's fall and the cursed treasures in the History of Middle-earth.

They released the history and details of Doriath's downfall except for J.R.R. Tolkien's writings and papers about the subject. Many of these unpublished details were essentially modified and far too different from the history narrated in the Silmarillion. They did not include the writings as they were trivial scribbles and not considered essential by his father. Christopher added that there were unclear parts of the narrative. Tolkien may have written a resolution for them if he dedicated more time, but instead, Christopher told the story to how it is in the Quenta Silmarillion. One of these parts is the manner of how Nagrothrond's treasure reached Doriath. It indicates that Mim the Petty-Dwarf cast the curse upon the gold as he died. Those who took the gold from him gained the curse.

For this reason, Hurin and his companions fought each other. Then Hurin came to Doriath and asked Thingol's help, and the subjects of Thingol brought the gold to Menegroth, Doriath's Thousand Caves. It is uncertain why Hurin should ask Thingol to move the treasure to his kingdom and later shamed because of the gold. Christopher explained that his father has intended to reestablish the rebels in the story, who previously fought with Hurin, as the gold's carrier.

It did not mention the brutal fight between them and the Elves of Doriath. However, in Tolkien's scribbles about the Wanderings of Hurin Asgon, these rebels return following the tragedy that took place in Brethil and accompanied Hurin on his journey to Nargothrond. Christopher used Tolkien's initial storyline for Doriath's destruction in the Tale of Beren and Luthien. He did not apply the plot from the chapter "Of the Ruin of Doriath" [1] in The Silmarillion, as interpreted by Guy Gavriel Kay. He used a more concise description of Tolkien from the Quenta Noldorinwa and the Silmarillion's plot, where Hurin asked King Thingol to take the treasure for himself.

1. ^Ruin of Doriath.