The Silmarils and the Arkenstone

[artaxastra]

I've seen a couple of people speculating that the Arkenstone is a Silmaril. My first reaction was, "Bzuh? How could that be? The Silmarils were destroyed at the end of the First Age, except for the one that's become Earendil's star. No way one could be the Arkenstone

Comments

[rymenhild]

Granted, I've been avoiding the Hobbit films, so I don't know what they're doing to the narrative, or even how far into the narrative they got by the second film. (I'd be glad to hear more about why it looks like the films are picking up Arkenstone-as-Silmaril

[artaxastra]

I can certainly see that if Gandalf suspected that the Arkenstone was a Silmaril the last people he would tell would be the Lords of the Noldor! Or even Celeborn, as he's Sindarin but when the dwarves of Nogrod killed his uncle Thingol for the Silmaril he was one of those who had to make war on the dwarves and avenge him, so Celeborn is also sucked into the story of the Silmaril. I think you're right that the curse definitely lies heaviest on those who are related to Feanor. Gandalf would never breathe a word if he thought it was even a remote possibility.

There's nothing clear in the movies about the Arkenstone being a Silmaril, but watching the way it causes Thorin to change, seeing that played rather than as I suppose the lines in the book, it made me think about the SIlmarils.

[paratti]

That that explains a lot.

[artaxastra]

It makes sense, doesn't it?

[woolymonkey]

Seems very plausible to me. Of course, if we can wonder about this Gandalf would certainly have given it thought. But, as others have said, he has good reason for letting it drop out of sight again whether he knows for sure or only suspects.

I like the way this echoes the role of the Ring in the different stories too.

[artaxastra]

I can see that Gandalf would think of it, and would decide it's best buried. This is definitely not something he wants to bring up to Elrond or Galadriel! Best to let it be. Best to bury the Arkenstone with Thorin, and let this sleeping dog lie.

It really does, doesn't it?

[marici]

I like this theory, and will believe in it until contradicted by canon. I wonder, if the Light were ever lost again, if Gandalf would mount a last desperate quest to the ashes of the Lonely Mountain to retrieve the Simaril and reawaken the sun?

[artaxastra]

Now that is a really interesting plot for a future tale, isn't it? :D