Telimektar

Telimektar, son of Tulkas, is one of the so called "Lost Valar", a character that appeared only in the early versions of Silmarillion, published in The Book of Lost Tales 1 (henceforward LT1, Part II = LT2). Later on, he only survived as a constellation, but eventually lost his original name which, however, reappeared as a name of Telumehtar (2) Umbardacil, 28. King of Gondor.

Telimektar is first mentioned in an early story, The Chaining of Melko (LT1, 94-112). Telimektar was "but just war-high" when he fought at his father's side against Melko in the war which ended with the captivity of the Enemy. Telimektar had "a long sword girt about his waist by a silver girdle." (LT1, 101).

Later on, in the tale The Theft of Melko, in the darkness after the darkening of the Trees Telimektar is pursuing Melko with other Gods (as they were then called) and "his face and weapons gleam as silver in the dark" (LT1, 154).

In The Tale of the Sun and Moon (LT1, 174-206) Telimektar is already conversed into a constellation, casually mentioned in a representation of the Heavens by Manwë, who tells that the star Nielluin (Sirius, called Helluin in Silmarillion) is "nigh the foot of Telimektar son of Tulkas whose tale is yet to tell." (LT1, 182 cf. 200).

Alas, the tale was never properly told. Telimektar's last appearance in Tolkien's mythology is in The History of Eriol or Ælfwine and the End of the Tales (LT2, 278-334), or more properly, in the sketches for this story collected (and edited) by Christopher Tolkien from Tolkien's notebooks.

In the conclusion of the whole story that was to become Quenta Silmarillion, later totally rejected, Melko breaks away after the breaking of Angamandi (later: Angband) and goes to Tol Eressëa in order to create dissension among the Elves. The Gods do not interfere, but Tulkas decides to privily send Telimektar to aid the Elves.

Telimaktar, with his silver sword, and Ingil (son of Inwë, king of the Eldar in Kôr or Valinor) surprise and wound Melko and then pursue him until Melko climbs to the great Pine of Tavrobel. There he must stay and Telimektar and Ingil (or Gil, now the star Sirius) remain in the sky in guard against Melko's return. (LT2, 281).

The last statement about Telimektar concerns with Telimektar's shape in the Heavens: the constellation should only be "the image of Telimektar in the sky?" (ibid.) and the stars are given to him by Varda so that the Gods would know that he still is watching Melko. Also "he has diamonds on his sword-sheath, and this will go red when he draws his sword at the Great End" (ibid.)

Then the end of the story was entirely changed and the character of Telimektar was also dropped. But as an echo of Telimektar, in the two following versions of the Silmarillion, the host of Valar in the War of Wrathi (The Shaping of Middle-earth, 11-75) was led by Fionwë, son of Tulcas (SM 37, 149). Later on, Fionwë was called son of Manwë, and finally he was transformed to Eönwë, Manwë's herald (as in Silmarillion, Chap. 24). Of Telimektar remained only the mention of Telumehtar as a name of Orion in the Appendix E II of The Lord of the Rings, in an entry concerning the pronounciation of H in elvish languages.