Guilin

Noldo
Guilin
Biographical Information
Location	Nargothrond
Affiliation	Elves of Nargothrond
Language	Sindarin
Birth	First Age
Notable for	Possessing a really fancy cup from Valinor
Family
Children	Gwindor & Gelmir
Physical Description
Gender	Male

Guilin was a Noldo lord of Nargothrond, and father of Gwindor and Gelmir.

Throughout the majority of the legendarium Guilin appears only indirectly through the patronym of his sons (ex. "Gwindor son of Guilin"). It is only in The Lay of the Children of Húrin that he makes a direct appearance.

History

Guilin was lord of one of four kindreds within Nargothrond, and considered among the most noble of name. His folk were notable contributors to the building of deep mansions of Nargothrond, and they resided to its west on the slopes of Taur-en-Faroth, the Hunters' Wold. He had at least two sons, Gelmir and Gwindor, and his children were renown for their valour, being the first chosen for duties such as watchtowers commanders and keepers of the wold. His son Gwindor was born in Nargothrond, and was a childhood playmate of the princess Finduilas, to whom Gwindor became betrothed.

Around F.A. 455, during the Dagor Bragollach, Guilin lost his son Gelmir. At the subsequent Nirnaeth Arnoediad in F.A. 472, Gelmir, who had been taken captive, was presented and slain before Fingon's host; Gwindor was present within that host, leading a company from Nargothrond, and this prompted him into a reckless charge where his forces were eventually trapped and Gwindor himself lost.

In F.A. 490, Gwindor, who had been taken captive and managed to escape, returned to Nargothrond, bringing with him a Man who identified himself as Agarwaen. Guilin hastened forth on learning of Gwindor's return, and after beholding him, held him in sweet embrace.

A great feast was then held within Guilin's halls for Gwindor's homecoming. Yet mirth was mixed with tears as Gwindor's long bondage and torment within Angband had left him crippled, and bent and haggard like an aged mortal, and chilled the laughter that was once in his eyes and lips. During this feast Guilin poured his dear-hoarded mead into a great ancient silver cup that had come from Valinor; Guilin seldom filled this cup, save in pledge of love to proven friend. At this feast Guilin further offered for Agarwaen to dwell within his halls, which Agarwaen accepted. While Agarwaen resided there, he learned much of lore and the secrets of the lands.

Nothing further of Guilin's fate is known. In F.A. 495 however, Orodreth and Gwindor perished in the Battle of Tumhalad, and shortly after Nargothrond fell.

Etymology

The name Guilin is Sindarin, but the meaning is not glossed. It was suggested by David Salo that the second element may be lind (“song”).

In Noldorin guil is a phonological change for the word representing "Gnome" (ŋōloi [>] gūlī [>] guil); "guilan" and "guilain" are the genitive and genitive plural forms respectively.^:117 Another interpretation is that it may be related to a soft mutation of the element cuil ("life, quality of being alive, lifetime"), such as seen in "Dor Firn-i-Guinar".

Genealogy

GUILIN b. F.A.

Gwindor d. F.A. 495

Gelmir d. F.A. 472

Other versions of the legendarium

In Turambar and the Foalókë, from The Book of Lost Tales: Part Two, he appears only indirectly as Duilin, the father of Flinding (Gwindor) and of an ancient house of the Gnomes. His name takes the form Dhuilin when the patronymic is prefixed (ex. "Flinding son of Duilin" vs. "Flinding bo-Dhuilin"). Instead of dwelling with Guilin, Túrin dwells with Galweg, father of Failivrin (Finduilas).

The Lays of Beleriand he is named Fuilin. When Túrin arrives in Nargothrond, he is immediately known to all as the son of the renowned hero Húrin, to which Fuilin hails him. His people are stated to have built Nargothrond, something latter attributed to both the Petty-dwarves and the Dwarves of the Blue Mountains.