Enchanting relationships

[Raynor]

There are several romances in Tolkien's work which are truly heart-moving. The first I would like to present is that of Indis and Finwe - perhaps other fans could present/talk about their favorite one too :
From Laws and customs of the Eldar, HoME X:

She was not of the Noldor, but of the Vanyar, sister of Ingwe; and she was golden-haired, and tall, and exceedingly swift of foot. She laboured not with her hands, but sang and made music, and there was ever light and mirth about her while the bliss of Aman endured. She loved Finwe dearly, for her heart had turned to him long before, while the people of Ingwe dwelt still with the Noldor in Tuna. In those days she had looked upon the Lord of the Noldor, dark-haired and white-browed, eager of face and thoughtful-eyed, and he seemed to her fairest and noblest among the Eldar, and his voice and mastery of words delighted her. Therefore she remained unwedded, when her people departed to Valinor, and she walked often alone in the fields and friths of the Valar, turning her thought to things that grow untended, filling them with music. But it came to pass that Ingwe, hearing of the strange grief of Finwe, and desiring to lift up his heart and withdraw him from vain mourning in Lorien, sent messages bidding him to leave Tuna for a while and the reminders of his loss, and to come and dwell in the light of the Trees. This message Finwe did not answer, until after the doom of Mandos was spoken; but then deeming that he must seek to build his life anew and that the bidding of Ingwe was wise, he arose and went to the house of Ingwe upon the west of Mount Oiolosse. His coming was unlooked for, but welcome; and when Indis saw Finwe climbing the paths of the mountain (and the light of Laurelin was behind him as a glory) without forethought she sang suddenly in great joy, and her voice went up as the song of a lirulin in the sky. And when Finwe heard that song falling from above he looked up and saw Indis in the golden light, and he knew in that moment that she loved him and had long done so. Then his heart turned at last to her, and he believed that this chance, as it seemed, had been granted for the comfort of them both. 'Behold!' he said. 'There is indeed healing of grief in Aman!'

[Marky Lazer]

Maybe not a regular romance, but the love/hate relation Gollum has with Ring might be the strongest in whole Tolkien's work.

[Raynor]

Err... I was expecting members would reffer to more "natural" relations (Arwen-Aragorn, Luthien-Beren, Sam-Rosie etc)... . But everyone is entitled to their own favorite one.. I guess

[HieroGlyph]

The Silmarillion
Of Thingol and Melian

...Elwë, lord of the Teleri, went often through the great woods to seek out Finwë his friend in the dwellings of the Noldor; and it chanced on a time that he came alone to the starlit wood of Nan Elmoth, and there suddenly he heard the song of nightingales. Then an enchantment fell on him, and he stood still; and afar off beyond the voices of the lómelindi he heard the voice of Melian, and it filled all his heart with wonder and desire. He forgot then utterly all his people and all the purposes of his mind, and following the birds under the shadow of the trees he passed deep into Nan Elmoth and was lost. But he came at last to a glade open to the stars, and there Melian stood; and out of the darkness he looked at her, and the light of Aman was in her face.
She spoke no word; but being filled with love Elwë came to her and took her hand, and straightway a spell was laid on him, so that they stood thus while long years were measured by the wheeling stars above them; and the trees of Nan Elmoth grew tall and dark before they spoke any word...

Enchanting. For me, most enchanting...

A first-born Elf...
And a Maia...

This is one of those 'magics' within Tolkien's works. It is highly romanticised. I must be some kind of romantic, I guess. I have no qualms with that. Critics that view this in the real universe just miss the whole point, do they not?

...Imagine being immortal and falling in love with such a creature... Upon touch you are stilled in time... You forget all else... Not even your body makes any claim anymore... And you are unaware of the passage of so much time... Time is not the same thing to an immortal... How can 'man' understand... But it doesnt prevent us from some yearning...

Thus, is Tolkien 'magic'. There is love in the world.

And some darn good epic stories!

[Marky Lazer]

Originally Posted by Raynor

Err... I was expecting members would reffer to more "natural" relations (Arwen-Aragorn, Luthien-Beren, Sam-Rosie etc)... . But everyone is entitled to their own favorite one.. I guess

I understood that, that's why I said not "a regular romance," but still, if you think about it, there might not be a bigger love than Gollum had for the Ring in whole Middle Earth.

[HieroGlyph]

Originally Posted by Marky Lazer

... not a regular romance, but the love/hate relation Gollum has with Ring might be the strongest in whole Tolkien's work.

I agree, I think. Very powerful point, Marky and worthy of a thread all of its own.

This has to be the most intricate of relationships just prior to and including Lord of the Rings...

[Teresa Edgerton]

Originally Posted by Marky Lazer

Maybe not a regular romance, but the love/hate relation Gollum has with Ring might be the strongest in whole Tolkien's work.

But would you call it enchanting ...?

[Marky Lazer]

Well, I would certainly call the Ring enchanted, and therefore the love was more or less enchanted as well.