The following timeline is based on the frame narrative presented by
Christopher in the P-text of
The Book of Lost Tales.
We will soon have an article on the alternative orderings discussed by
Christopher.
Eriol arrives on Tol Eressëa
Eriol wanders the island for many days
First Day at the Cottage
Eriol arrives at Mar Vanwa Tyaliéva,
the Cottage of Lost Play
the Cottage of Lost Play
Eriol crosses the threshold and is greeted by Lindo and Vairë
Many folk bearing candles enter the hall and Tombo, the Gong of the Children, sounds
Food is brought in and everyone sits down
As they eat, Eriol tells Lindo and Vairë of his adventures
Eriol learns some geography and history of the region
At the end of the meal, Eriol learns of limpë but is served wine because only Queen Meril can serve limpë to non-Elves
The Gong sounds thrice and they all move to the Room of Logs
Lindo sits in the deep chair and asks what tales should be told that night
Upon Eriol’s request, Vairë tells of the Valar, Kôr, and how the Cottage of Lost Play came to be
Eriol asks about the Valar and Lindo is keen to tell him more, but Vairë says it is time for rest
Vairë invites Eriol to stay at the Cottage as long as he desires to hear tales
Rúmil the door-ward and Littleheart guide Eriol to his bed chamber
Eriol hears music through his dreams
Second Day at the Cottage
Eriol wakes and wanders out into the garden where he meets Rúmil
Rúmil tells Eriol of the history of languages
Eriol asks him about the Valar
RÚMIL TELLS OF THE MUSIC OF THE AINUR
Eriol asks about the Sun and the Moon, the geography of the Earth, and the origins of the Elves and Men
Rúmil says it’s not the time of day for tales and heads back into the house
Littleheart emerges, bringing food for Eriol
That night, they gather again in the Room of Logs
After some music and poetry, Eriol requests to hear about Valinor
RÚMIL TELLS OF THE COMING OF THE VALAR AND THE BUILDING OF VALINOR
Amid amazement at the tale, the Candles of Sleep signal the end of the tale-telling for the night
Eriol again hears music in his sleep
Third Day at the Cottage
The next morning, Eriol goes out to the gardens early where he meet Vairë
Vairë first calls him Eriol and Eriol tells her of his dream-musics
Vairë tells Eriol about Tinfang Warble and the longing he causes that can only be cured by limpë
After a few more nights of hearing Tinfang’s dream-music, Eriol sets out for the dwellings of Meril-i-Turinqui guided by Littleheart
When they arrive, Eriol is welcomed by Meril and Littleheart heads back
Eriol explains that he thirsts for limpë and Meril gravely explains that he does not know enough about the Elves, their history, and their fate to have kinship with them
Eriol, hurt from the refusal, still wishes to know more and Meril offers to tell him one tale before he departs for the cottage
MERIL TELLS OF THE CHAINING OF MELKO
Eriol asks how it came that the Gods unchained Melko
MERIL TELLS OF THE COMING OF THE ELVES AND THE MAKING OF KÔR
At dusk, Eriol heads back to the cottage
Eriol arrives back at the cottage
Days pass and Eriol never fails to go to the Room of the Tale-fire each evening
Days later
Eriol still wishes to know how it came that the loveliness of Valinor was abated and why the Elves left and one night Lindo tells another tale for his benefit
LINDO TELLS OF THE THEFT OF MELKO AND THE DARKENING OF VALINOR
LINDO CONTINUES WITH THE FLIGHT OF THE NOLDOLI
Eriol interrupts with a question about the passage of Qerkaringa
RÚMIL CONTINUES THE FLIGHT OF THE NOLDOLI AND CONCLUDES THE DARKENING OF VALINOR
Eriol laments the destruction of the Two Trees
at one point, the Tale of Tinúviel was to go here
One evening, Eriol asks about the Sun and the Moon, the coming of Men, and the deeds of the Elves beyond Valinor
Present that evening is the Gnome Gilfanon from Tavrobel who Lindo says can tell of such matters if Eriol goes back with him
Gilfanon says he’s planning to stay in Kortirion a week so encourages Lindo to tell more tales of the Gods
LINDO TELLS THE TALE OF THE SUN AND MOON
Gilfanon interrupts suggesting Lindo has spoken for too long but Eriol says he doesn’t mind
Lindo says he will wrap up soon but that in three days they should have a tale-telling of greater ceremony where Gilfanon will relate the travail of the Noldoli and the coming of Mankind
LINDO CONTINUES THE TALE OF THE SUN AND MOON
Eriol recalls a promise that Lindo would relate the present courses of the Sun and Moon
Lindo says he does not remember the promise and encourages Vairë to take up the tale-telling
VAIRË TELLS OF THE HIDING OF VALINOR
Gilfanon warns that on the morrow he will weave a long tale
The Next Day
GILFANON BEGINS THE TRAVAIL OF THE NOLDOLI AND THE COMING OF MANKIND
the text cuts off and the tale is never completed
Over the course of months, Eriol visits other halls in Kortirion and learns more of their languages and customs
A Gray Day in Winter
Eriol plays with the children in the Hall of Play Regained
Vëannë asks Eriol for a story
Eriol tells of his past and how he came to Tol Eressëa
Eriol requests a story from the children
Vëannë announces she will tell the Tale of Tinúviel but is briefly interrupted by Ausir
VËANNË TELLS THE TALE OF TINÚVIEL
The children present alternative endings to the tale
The great gong rang marking time for the evening meat
what follows dates from an earlier version of the timeline
Ailios finishes speaking and the first day of Turuhalmë comes to an end
The Second Night of Turuhalmë
In Ailios’s absence, Lindo asks Eltas to tell a tale
ELTAS TELLS OF TURAMBAR AND THE FOALÓKË
Eltas hints at the tale of the Nauglafring and many beg him to tell it but he insists it must wait
Eltas offers to tell the tale of Tuor and the coming of Eärendel or the tale of Beren
They say they all know the tale of Beren but little enough of Eärendel has ever been told
Lindo says it’s the greatest of the stories of the Gnomes and that Littleheart knows it better than anyone
Littleheart enters and Lindo tells him everyone desires to hear of Tuor and Eärendel
Littleheart says it will take a week and that it is so entwined with the stories of the Nauglafring and of the Elf-march that it would be good to have Ailios and Meril aid him
The Next Day
Messengers are sent to Meril requesting she join them for a festival and tale telling before Eriol heads off to Tavrobel
Three days are spent preparing and no tales are told during this time
The Fourth Night
Meril arrives with her company of maidens and, after the evening meat, they sing before the Tale-fire
Heorrenda sings one of the songs in the language of his folk
Meril requests Littleheart begin the tale of tales
LITTLEHEART TELLS THE TALE OF THE FALL OF GONDOLIN
Some want to hear of Eärendel, others of the Nauglafring
Littleheart says would be better if Ailios told of the Nauglafring
AILIOS TELLS OF THE NAUGLAFRING
the frame narrative according to the P-text continues no further
“And methinks that is tale enow for this time of telling.”
— Ailios, 02:P6b.042