Day 15. Something that makes you impossibly happy to think about
I'm always confused about whether everyone gets reunited at Dagor Dagorath and after, because if the men, elves, and Ainur all fight the battle together they must, right? If the men sing the Second Song with the Aiunur, the men and the Ainur have to meet, right? So Melian could probably find Lúthien. But then there's that quote in RotK about Elrond and Arwen and their "and bitter was their parting that should endure beyond the ends of the world." Like, beyond including Dagor Dagorath, or not? (Maybe I'm reading it wrong, help?)
Maybe Tolkien just hadn't decided about Dagor Dagorath/The Second Song at the time he published RotK?
It would make sense to decide that the men and elves would be separate after the battle, but at least during it if they're all fighting, how are the Valar going to keep them apart? And if the men sing the Second Song with the Ainur, and Lúthien is partially both of those things, she'd at least get to see Melian then? So I'm pretty sure they see each other, and since Tolkien never said what happens in the Second Song unless you count that little hint of a line in RotK, I'm perfectly justified in imagining they all get to be reunited again.
No one, save perhaps Mandos, but if he knew he did not tell, knew of when the escaping of Morgoth would take place until it happened. First there was chaos; the Valar holding constant counsels where nothing seemed to be decided, the elves rushing around for a battle they knew would come but knew nothing of, everyone desperately trying to find family if they had been separated before.
The first appearance had been of the men of Númenor of old, when a chasm in hills on the edge of Aman had opened, and in a great host of men appeared, at long last, the men Eru Illúvatar had fatedto the Caves of Doom for so many ages past. They said little to the Elves or the Valar, save Eonwë herald of Mannwë, and they seemed to know their purpose and to await it valiantly and grimly.
Next the Halls of Mandos began to empty; all the men and elves still there were released, though Fëanor and his sons were not yet.
The dwarves appeared by Aulë's side one day and set to work in his smithies, building armor and supplies, but none can say when exactly when they returned, or from where.
Last to appear were the Men, come from their unknown fate of where mortality led them. A great light shown forth through the sea and men began to appear in hoards.
Elu and Melian were not the only ones anxiously tearing through the camps of Men when they had begun to settle in. Elrond and Celebrían, along with Elladan, Elrohir, Galadriel, and Celeborn, were there too, to search for Arwen and Elros. Elwing was not far; Dior and Nimloth had not been re-embodied yet, and she was awaiting her parents' arrival, as well as her son's.
"Queen Melian?" A mortal who had no way of knowing who she was asked, and Melian's first thought was that no one called her that anymore. But when she turned and saw a mortal girl standing behind her, the girl smiled widely.
"Oh, you look just like Lúthien! She told me you did. She's just nearby, I'll go get her!" And the girl disappeared.
Elu came and grasped Melian's hand, and a moment later they saw the girl returning with Lúthien and Beren behind her.
Melian and Elu rushed forward as one. Lúthien beamed and let go of Beren's hand for a moment to embrace them.
Thingol and Melian nearly crushed Lúthien between them in a fierce embrace, not a dry eye among them.
"At last." Melian murmured against her daughter's hair, when she could speak again. She did not care what the battle or the Second Song would bring, Illúvatar himself could not force her to let go of Lúthien ever again.