Quenta 16 — Of Maeglin
Chapter 16 of the Quenta Silmarillion
Summary
Aredhel the White, daughter of Fingolfin, wearied of the hidden city and rode out from Gondolin with a guard, wandering at last into the dark woods of Nan Elmoth where the smith Eöl, “the Dark Elf”, held sway. Against the wish of Turgon she married Eöl, and bore him a son named Maeglin, “Sharp-glance”, who learned the craft of steel and became a master of the deep mines. When Aredhel returned with her son to Gondolin, Eöl followed them in wrath, and by a wicked cast of his javelin struck Aredhel rather than the boy; she died of the wound, and Eöl was cast from the city walls. Maeglin grew great in the city and in skill, and the king’s favour rested on him; but his love turned upon Idril the princess and, being slighted, festered into an evil which would one day betray the city. The chapter closes with the shadow of that hidden malice already lying upon the bright towers of Gondolin.