A Silmarillion minimum structure, and Leithian-Gondolin forced integration

It is evident, from J.R.R. and C. Tolkien's views on the works and tales within The Silmarillion, that despite the reworking of many other elements the three great tales of the Atanatárion resist the surges of their changing environment [1]. Apart from previous considerations "in theory", I have experienced it "in practice" through the composition of the "Preboot" [2] and "Full" [3] Silmarillion versions.

Those three Great Tales of Men stand against the waves because of their being rooted in three respective disparate motifs, which to me are:

• For the tale of Beren and Lúthien, a fantasy on Tolkien's relationship with his wife Edith.
• For the tale of Túrin, a tragic story rooted in Kullervo [4].
• For the tale of Tuor and the fall of Gondolin, a mythological and sometimes a bit steampunk rendering of some war experiences.

We must not forget that the Beren and Tuor stories are linked by a common "aim", the fact that they are entwined in another motif, the story of the adventures and ascension of Eärendil they lead to, which is strictly a continuation of the Tuor tale but was never developed into a full-fledged tale.

Whatever the case, this Eärendil story is the germ of this -another- literature-fiction post in this Gardisos blog mainly devoted to that. The fact of Beren and Tuor being linked by Eärendil (within the story that comes by means of the union between Eärendil himself and Elwing) led me to consider whether it would be possible to merge those two stories of Men into a grand tale centred in one or two Mannish characters, embedded in a general context of the Elven legends of the Elder Days.

To begin with, we can devote some quick thoughts to check whether it would even be possible to merge the other -Túrin- story into a single Men-led tale. In my view it becomes basically impossible to do so without getting rid of the basic elements of Túrin, as this is a tragic character, pursued by ill fate, without issue, survived by his parents -whose last actions become an epilogue to his children's tale-, but who in the midst of tragedy and flight is able to achieve a heroic feat giving him lasting fame.

On the other side, the narrative arcs of Beren and Tuor go the opposite way: through destruction and loss to final salvation.

So I list below the succession of elements which are parallel and therefore mergeable in the Beren and Tuor tales, or diverging and therefore requiring substantial modification in orden to be a part of the same tale. I am conscious that the parallels are not strict, I just list them as such in order to highlight their similarities:

The two points in Tuor without apparent parallels in Beren do show additional similarities:

• We are told that a higher will or fate guides the hero towards his destiny, in Tuor's case being Ulmo's will.
• There is a happy life as a couple, but it happens after the adventure and ordeal (Beren) or before it (Tuor). 

We also see that the most complex story is Beren, and under the light of the comparison Tuor becomes basically a medium for the salvation tale of his son Eärendil, adorned with the Fall of Gondolin.

All that said, we might now attempt the merger and synthesis by means of a chronology of the First Age until the changed events imperceptibly join the later tales of Sauron's definitive defeat and of Númenor. And, since we are dealing with a simplification of the stories, I have chosen the shorter and simpler events in the Lost Tales [5, 6], starting from the coming of the Noldoli back to the Great Lands (I am also using names in their Lost Tales form):

1. The Noldoli enter Hisilómë. They encamp by the waters of Asgon and reassemble. Turgon is born.
2. The Noldoli leave Asgon, and after crossing the Iron Mountains they fight the invading Orcs for the first time in Artanor. Fëanor dies.
3. Maedhros son of Fëanor attacks back Angamandi but is captured, tortured and maimed. The seven sons of Fëanor swear their oath.
4. The Noldoli meet Men, who have just come out of the East, and ally with them.
5. Noldoli and Men are defeated in the Battle of Unnumbered Tears. The Mannish host of Úrin is destroyed, and he is captured and brought to Angamandi, and cursed by Melko. Turgon escapes and founds Gondolin in the Iron Mountains themselves. Other Noldoli flee south and find hiding in caves, coming to be called the Rodothlim.
6. Finwë Nólemë rides against Melko and is slain. Men are shut in Hisilómë, some of them allied to Melko, others enslaved. The boy Túrin son of Úrin, however, finds shelter within Artanor, where he becomes a march-guard.
7. Beren, a younger, distant cousin of Mavwin Úrin's wife, survives the slaughter of his outlaw band and, after some time as a fugitive, he dares to cross the Iron Mountains, enters Artanor, and there he meets princess Tinúviel, daughter of Tinwelint and Gwendeling, Kings of the Ilkorin Woodland Elves. They fall in love, but the King rejects him, and spares his life only under promise to bring one of the Silmarilli from Melko's Iron Crown.
8. Beren wanders in despair by the waters of Sirion, where Ulmo appears to him, encouraging him to go back north and bring a message to Gondolin. Ulmo promises to let him know the path to the hidden realm of the Noldoli.
9. Near the Iron Mountains, Beren is captured by Orcs and brought to the tower of Tevildo, controlling one of the mountain passes, where he is held as a slave.
10. Túrin, after an involuntary killing, begins his outlaw life, which ends when he is brought to the Rodothlim by Flinding the Elf.
11. Tinúviel flees Artanor, finds Huan, and together they expel Tevildo and free Beren. They have to make a choice between two commitments: Silmaril or Gondolin. They head to Angamandi in the Quest of the Silmaril. They succeed to steal a Silmaril, but Karkaras the Wolf bites Beren's hand with the Silmaril, and in madness runs away to the world, bringing destruction wherever he comes. Beren and Tinúviel are rescued by the Eagles, who bring them to Gondolin. There they convey Ulmo's message to Turgon, but the King dismisses it. They stay there however.
12. When the feats of Beren and Tinúviel are known, Túrin and the Rodothlim come forth against the Orcs, temporarily clearing the lands from them, and allowing Mavwin to seek refuge in Tinwelint's halls with her daughter Nienóri.
13. Glórund the Dragon destroys the Rodothlim. Some survivors come to Tinwelint and tell of Túrin. Mavwin and Nienóri go with a force to the caves, but they are disbanded and enchanted by Glórund. In the meantime, Túrin goes to Hisilómë and finds Mavwin's house empty, and in an attempt to escape his ill fate, seeks refuge among the Woodmen, whose leader he finally becomes. Amnesic Nienóri appears among them and is sheltered by Túrin. They marry shortly before Glórund sets forth against the Woodmen in search of Túrin. Túrin slays Glórund but he and Nienóri find their tragic ending.
14. Melko releases old Úrin, who involuntarily reveals his knowledge of the location of Gondolin.
15. Melko attacks Gondolin, and the survivors flee south. After a time, Beren and Tinúviel lead them into Artanor.
16. Attracted by Beren's coming to the light again, Karkaras reappears and enters Artanor. In the Hunt of the Wolf, Karkaras is slain and Beren yields the Silmaril to Tinwelint; he dies of his injuries, but is brought back to life by Tinúviel's intercession. Beren and Tinúviel go down Sirion to live in isolation as decreed by the Valar. There their son Eärendil is born.
17. Úrin gathers a band of fleeing Men and Elves and brings the cursed treasure of the Rodothlim to Tinwelint. Embittered Úrin goes back to Hisilómë and dies. Tinwelint brings in some Dwarves to make the Nauglafring, where the Silmaril is set. They dispute over the jewel, the Dwarves slay Tinwelint, and Queen Gwendeling goes back to Valinor. Most of the fleeing Dwarves are slain, but the survivors inflame their kin, and an army of Dwarves destroys the kingdom of the Ilkorins and sacks the treasure of the Rodothlim and Tinwelint. Eärendil escapes to Beren, and together with an army of scattered Elves they gather, they ambush and annihilate the Dwarven army, and drown the cursed treasure, except the Nauglafring blessed by the Silmaril, which is brought to Tinúviel.
18. After a time, Beren and Tinúviel die, and Eärendil inherits the Nauglafring and becomes the lord of the remaining free folk that gathers at the mouths of Sirion searching for the blessings of the Jewel. The Sons of Fëanor claim the Silmaril; they are denied and attack the folk of Sirion while Eärendil is away. Only Maidros and Maglor survive of the seven, and Maglor fosters Elrond Eärendil's son. Eärendil flies in his ship, and in the high seas is inspired by Ulmo to seek Kôr, a task he takes on as the last messenger from Gondolin.
19. Eärendil reaches Valinor thanks to the light of the Silmaril, and there he prays for Elves and Men. Tulkas and the Elves of Valinor march against Melko and defeat and oust him from the world. The Noldoli are released. Eärendil is set to sail the heavens. Many Elves go to Tol Eressëa. Númenor is raised from the sea as a reward for the faithful Men. Elrond Half-elven rules over the allied Elves and Men remaining in the Great Lands.