Larks

From Tolkien Gateway

Larks were melodious songbirds found in Middle-earth. A "lark" in Quenya was a lirulin.[1]

History[edit | edit source]

After Finwë's first wife Míriel died he lived in grief for many years. Ingwë, wishing to lighten his heart, invited him to leave Túna and come visit him where the light of the Two Trees might bring him healing. As he approached the house of Ingwë on the west slopes of Oiolossë, Ingwë's daughter Indis saw Finwë and sang a song of joy to him, which was "as a song of the lirulin in the sky." Seeing Indis at this moment caused Finwë to fall in love with her and a year later the two were wed.[1]

Other versions of the legendarium[edit | edit source]

In an earlier version of the story above J.R.R. Tolkien used the word aimenel or aimenal but changed it to lirulin and wrote the word "lark" in the margin.[2]

External links[edit | edit source]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Morgoth's Ring, "Part Three. The Later Quenta Silmarillion: (II) The Second Phase: Later versions of the Story of Finwë and Míriel", p. 262
  2. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Morgoth's Ring, "Part Three. The Later Quenta Silmarillion: (II) The Second Phase: Laws and Customs among the Eldar, Notes [to Text A]", p. 252