The Destruction of Doriath

So much has happened since the days I’ve spent in Valinor, and I know that I can now never return to the way things once were in Arda. Since leaving Aman, I’ve felt constantly on the run from the past, haunted by the kinslaying at Alqualonde of my mother’s people and their suffering at Helcaraxe, and separated from my father as he returned to rule in Valinor. Though I do not share the destructive and corrupting qualities of some of the Noldor, I do share their pride and ambition. I made my ultimate choice a while ago, and with the Doom of Mandos and the chase for the Similarils pulling the Noldor forwards, I have no choice but to continue, to leave the protection of Mirial’s Girdle and of Doriath. Once again, I’m leaving the place I once called home, and setting off again into the unknown.

Thanks to my Telerian heritage, I’ve been able to live, at least for a time, within the shelter of the borders of Doriath. From here, I’ve been a witness to the corrupting force of the Silmarils at work in Beleriand, started at first through Feanor, and now through the continuation of his cursed Oath with his sons. It has spread like a plague throughout Beleriand, devouring almost everyone in its path in its crossfire. While Morgoth’s reign in Angband has brought ruin and destruction, the quest for the Silmarils has equally corrupted the land and its inhabitants. It is almost a dual battle happening at the same time, with some at work to defeat the evil of Morgoth while trying to obtain a similar power/status themselves.

Closer to my home, this allure of the Silmarils couldn’t be overlooked. Over time, I could see how Thingol’s desire for the Simarils had started to consume him, and impact the lives of others - leading to the ultimate destruction of Doriath. His greed and pride, as well as that of the Dwarves of Nogrod over the Nauglamir, led to devastating ruin. After his death, fear has taken over my heart as Miriel fled to Valinor and left Doriath indefensible. Once again, the Oath has continued to enact grave consequences over the souls of the sons of Feanor, as they have moved in to take the Silmaril by any means necessary. Facing this mass destruction, I knew I had to make a decision and leave, in spite of my uncertainty. Having been isolated in Doriath during the wars, I mourn the loss of so many, such as my brothers Angrod and Aegnon at Dagor Bragollach and the immense tragedies that have taken place so far. While I remain steadfast in my beliefs and my commitment to continue my journey onwards, in spite of the corruption of the Silmarils and the evil of Morgoth, I have no idea what comes next for me or what the future will hold. I only hope that in the end, through the collaboration of the Free Peoples, and what is left of the goodness of Middle-Earth, we will be able to overcome this great evil.