List of Middle-earth Elves - D

D

• Daeron

Daeron was the loremaster and minstrel of King Thingol of Doriath. He was also a skilled linguist, and invented the Cirth alphabet.

Daeron loved Lúthien, daughter of Thingol and Melian the Maia, but she did not love him. Nevertheless they were good friends, and Lúthien would often dance to his music. After Daeron found out about Lúthien's love for the mortal Beren, he betrayed them both to Thingol. When Lúthien later sought his help in freeing Beren who was held captive by Morgoth, Daeron again betrayed her to Thingol.

After Lúthien departed in secret from Doriath Daeron repented, and set out to search for her. He never did find her and never returned to Doriath either, passing over the Ered Luin into Eriador where he apparently dwelt long after writing songs lamenting over the loss of Lúthien.

Daeron is mentioned as the greatest minstrels of all the Children of Ilúvatar, and only Maglor son of Fëanor is said to come close to his skill.

In earlier versions of the mythology as set out in The History of Middle-earth, Daeron (spelled Dairon) was originally envisioned as Lúthien's brother.

• Denethor

Denethor was the son of the Nandorin Elf leader Lenwë (or Dan), who lived during the Years of the Trees. Hearing of the power of Thingol, he led many of his people over the Ered Luin to Beleriand. They settled in Ossiriand, renaming it Lindon, in the east of Beleriand, and Denethor became their king. They were called the Laiquendi, or Green-elves. Some time later, Morgoth loosed an army on Beleriand. The lightly armed Laiquendi were driven back to the great hill of Amon Ereb, where Denethor was slain. The Laiquendi became a reclusive people, seldom taking up arms, and never again naming a king.

In later years Stewards of Gondor bore the name "Denethor", most famously Denethor II.

• Duilin

Duilin was a noble of Gondolin, lord of the House of the Swallow. He and his men were great archers. He appears in The Book of Lost Tales.

Tolkien later used his name in The Lord of the Rings for a Man from Gondor.