Melian is a fictional character of Middle-earth, created by J. R. R. Tolkien. She was a Maia of the race of the Ainur. She fell in love with the Elven-king Elu Thingol, King Grey Mantle, and with him ruled the kingdom of Doriath. She is the only Ainu known to have had children (though an argument can be made for Ungoliant as well); Melian's main line of descent is of the half-elven.

When Thingol (also called Elwë) met Melian, he lost track of the passage of time (which seems to have in some way altered at their meeting), and as a result all but his followers, staying behind to search for him, left for Valinor. Melian and Thingol thereby founded the kingdom of Doriath in Middle-earth. They had one daughter, Lúthien Tinúviel, who married the man Beren; as a result Melian's Maian blood passed to both Elves and Men.

In Doriath she used her powers to guard and defend it with a protection called the Girdle of Melian, which prevented anyone less powerful than Melian from entering the kingdom; however, she predicted that one day someone whose doom (fate) was more powerful than she was would enter. When Beren arrived as foretold, she counselled Thingol against sending Beren for a Silmaril, a quest which would eventually lead to Doriath's ruin. This is one of many instances in which she proves, though her wisdom and powers of foresight, to be wiser than her husband, and an effective queen of her land.

After Thingol's death, she allowed her body to "die", leaving Middle-earth for Valinor, where she mourned the loss of her husband to the Halls of Mandos and daughter to the unknown fate of human death.

Middle-earth Maiar | Fictional heroines | Characters in The Silmarillion

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