Elves and Dwarves: An Overview

The history of the relationship between the elves and the dwarves is a complicated one (and by that I mean it’s lasted thousands of years, hasn’t always been bad, and hasn’t always involved the same groups of elves and dwarves.) I tried answering this question for real, but literally ended up with over five pages of information, and that’s just ridiculous. So here I’ll give you a very brief overview of the relationship. But if anybody finds any particular part to be interesting, please ask me for more details, because I’ve already got it typed up! :)

Philosophical Predisposition: It’s said that the elves and the dwarves are predisposed to dislike each other because of a conflict in their origins. The elves were always meant to be the Firstborn, but the dwarves were (kind of) created first. If anything this would be a subconscious/unrecognized factor in their relations.

The First Age: When elves first arrived in Beleriand they would hunt down exiled dwarves like animals for fun. But the two main dwarf cities, Nogrod and Belegost, had good relations with the elves. They built Thingol’s city of Menegroth and Finrod’s city of Norgothrond and made the Nauglamir for him (they even gave him the name Felagund.) They fought alongside the elves in the Nirnaeth Arnoenidad. Then things fell apart when Thingol and the dwarves of Nogrod got into a conflict over the Nauglamir. By the end Thingol was dead (as well as many other elves from Doriath), and most of the dwarves of Nogrod had been killed as well (Belegost stayed out of the whole thing.)

The Second Age: The dwarves of Moria had a very good relationship with the elves of Eregion. Celebrimbor especially got along with the dwarves. When Sauron attacked Eregion the dwarves helped ensure the elves retreat, but then shut their doors and avoided the rest of the war.

The Third Age: Many of the elves of Lothlorien flee when the balrog is awakened in Moria. The dwarves’ greed is blamed. The dwarves of Erebor resent the elves of Mirkwood for their lack of aid when Smaug attacked, as well as Thranduil’s actions during the events of The Hobbit. The elves of Rivendell remain friendly, though. Legolas and Gimli forge a famous and very strong relationship during the War of the Ring.

Again, this is the cliffnotes version of the story. I’ve got lots more where that came from if you want more details.

SOURCES: The Silmarillion, LOTR, The Hobbit, LOTR Appendices, The Unfinished Tales

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