On the 26th of Ethuil in the year 2962 of the Third Age, a boy was born in the Elven King’s Halls. It was one of the first warm spring days on which the sun finally climbed high enough during the day to paint the newly growing grass in a golden light, spurring on the growth of life in the former Greenwood - now called Mirkwood. Caladorn, son of Amdirnoen of Doriath and Glaerindis, daughter of Calear of Nargothrond welcomed their child with great joy and they named him Gilithlin 1, starlight song. For they had always found that their shared love for music and the quiet lights in the vastness of the night sky were what drew them together, and they hoped that their son would shine brightly in the music of the world in the years to come.
Not many children were born to the Eldar and even less in those later days, so the joy was great and many were eager to teach the child, to guide him and to protect him, before he was even born. Glaerindis and Caladorn graciously declined most of these offers very quickly, for they had already plans of their own.
After many years spent on the roads and at the different Elvish settlements east of the sea, they had decided to settle down for a while and to beget a child. Uncommonly late in their lives and despite the slowly re-growing darkness. But it was their wish to stay in Middle Earth for as long as it lasted and to not sail West and their love for each other and the world was so great that they wanted to pass it on to someone.
Some less kind voices said they had spent the years since the founding of Lindon wandering to and fro because they were unable to find a place they deemed worthy enough for raising a child. Some said it was Glaerindis’ insistence on a purely noldorin upbringing of her future children that delayed the process. But the truth was only known to the two musicians and they laughed at those remarks and paid them no mind.
Gilithlin had the green eyes of his father and his hair shone in a bright red for the first year, before it darkened to a dark auburn colour that came close to the colour of his mother’s hair, which was almost black, the lingering red hue a feature showing his noldorin heritage. Yet he was to be taught by Tirgoldis of Doriath, who had taught his father Caladorn and many others ere the world was changed. She had not taught any children since coming to the Greenwood with king Oropher and his sindarin following. But as someone had asked her in jest if she felt up to the task, she had bristled at it and had declared that she would even manage to teach the long grown up yet insolent guards their manners should she catch them, upon which the asker had ducked his head and fled the scene. So all was said and the decision stood.
It was needless to say that before young Gilithlin would learn his letters or the customs and history of his people, he would learn about music. And so it was. He sang before he spoke or learned to walk and he learned to read music before he learned to read words. His mind grew bright and fast as it was with all the Eldar, yet he did never venture out into the forest in the first few years. His love was for music and he could sit silently for hours and listen to the minstrels practice and play. So he was often found under his mother’s chair or on his father’s lap with his eyes closed or intently fixed on someone’s fingers on the strings of a harp. And sometimes he would hum quietly with the melody or burst into song with his fair voice. And all who heard it smiled and were glad and their steps became lighter for a while, as if the music was lifting some of their burdens off their shoulders.
The Elven King’s Halls were a curious place to grow up in and there were plenty of opportunities for exploration and learning. Yet Gilithlin seemed interested in none of them and would most likely have been content sitting in a mountain cave with no light, as long as it had music he could listen to.
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1 Glaerorn was named Gilithlin before and only chose his name later in life.
