Giliath awoke beneath the stars at Lake Cuivenen, and named himself after them. He began the westward journey to the sea, but halted when Thingol was missing and never crossed to Valinor. Dwelling near the sea, he allied himself to Turgon when the Noldor returned to Middle Earth, and followed him to Gondolin where he lived as a vintner for many years in peace. He was not part of the armies that Turgon sent out from Gondolin to aid his kin, but when the city was invaded, he took up a sword to fight on its behalf. Greatly wounded in the fighting, he none-the-less escaped safely and went and dwelt with Earendil and Elwing's people at the mouth of the Sirion.
Some now, he turned to sailing and the building of such craft, yet ever his heart remained with the vines and the small vineyard he cultivated and the wines he made were when his heart was closest to knowing joy. Until again he was thrown unwilling into battle; for the sons of Faenor came upon them unawares and slaughtered nearly all who lived there. So again, Giliath lost the greater part of his friends and kindred, and it was with sorrow of heart that he followed Gil-galad north with the remnants that yet survived. And he came to both love and hate the sea; for it seemed to him that it had stolen first Tuor and Idril, and then Earendil and Elwing, and beyond that, it was from across the sea that the Noldor had come to slay his people. This he thought in his grief and pain, although he knew of the honor and valour of many others of that kindred. And the tale first heard of the wonders of Valinor were also dimmed by grief.
At last, unable to find peace, he joined himself to others who crossed the mountains into the inner lands and found his way to Ost-in-Edhel, where once again elves of many kindreds dwelt in peace. Here he learned a little of the lore of the smiths, but as before, it was in the growing of grapes and vinting of wine that he began to regain a fragile peace and his long grief began to ease. But at last, Sauron encircled the city, and with the despair of the hopeless, Giliath took up sword once more and fought until a building falling crushed his spirit from his body and he fled to the long dark rest of Mandos' Halls.
All that long age and much of the next passed before one day, a babe gave his first cry beneath the golden leaves of Lorien. And it happened thus:
Taenor, Lothdaimoth's father, was born in Doriath. He was only a child when the Naugrim appeared in the Thousand Caves seeking redress. In the ensuing slaughter, Taenor's family, all save his mother, were slain. Taenor's mother, barely more than a child herself fled with the boy; first going to the Eglarest by the sea. Although Taenor remembered very little of his life in Doriath, his mother was very bitter at the loss of her family and taught him to hate their slayers. The years brought no ease to the young woman; instead she grew more and more angry and resentful, often falling into melancholy. The times of cheerfulness grew fewer and fewer; and soon it seemed her moods passed from dark depression to vitriolic tirades against the Naugrim. When her son was of an age to care for himself, she sailed into the West. Taenor missed her, but his grief was tempered by relief, and seeing the terrible emotional wounds caused his mother; he swore two things to himself. One was that he would never forgive the dwarves; and the other, that he would never allow himself to love.
When a few more years had gone by, Taenor found himself growing restless and began to travel. After many years of wandering, he made his way to Lorien and stayed there. There, he found that one of his father's brothers had preceded him and dwelt in Daernoss Raavindonserke. Taenor found the house's philosophies suited him and he joined his uncle's family there. At first it was only to be for a few years, but those few years stretched into many. Throughout the years, many sought to win the admiration and love of the tall silver-haired historian, but remembering his vow, Taenor remained aloof. As time passed, however, he began to find himself attracted to a young Silvan elf.
Lothelei's experience of life was very different from Taenor's. Her ancestors turned aside from the westward march of the Eldar to follow Lenwe down the Anduin. Far from the turmoil and wars of the western lands, they lived quiet, peaceful lives; never leaving their woodland home. Lothelei was born in 402 of the 3rd age, She was still young by the counting of the eldar, when evil began to multiply and Lorien became a guarded land. The attacks from Moria, the loss of Amroth and Nimrodel, the terrible years of fighting before Galadriel and Celeborn became Lord and Lady of the Wood; all confirmed her in her belief that anything from outside Lorien was a danger and the only way to survive was in hiding. A distant cousin, Cuguwen was born in the same year as Lothelei, and the two girls became close friends; this friendship would last all of their lives. As Lothelei grew, her eyes fell on a tall Sindarin edhel and she came to love him. He resisted for many years, but finally her beauty and her love for him softened his heart and they were wed. Some time later, their first child, Tiinwaia was born. The girl took her first breath just as Gil-Estel rose above the trees and Taenor named his daughter after this star. 117 years later, in the year 2159, their son, Lothdaimoth, was brought into the world. In the years that followed, Taenor settled into his current profession as a historian and his wife perfected her craft as a silversmith.
When Tiina and Loth were still young, their cousins Narthelion and Silgelir came to live with them while their parents sought to find word of their kin. Upon the death of Lalindiel and Thenin in an attack by yrch on their homeward journey, Narthelion requested that his brother might remain with Taenor's family; but he lost himself in what peace could be found in the woods of Lothlorien far from people. From the time he joined them, Lothdaimoth and Silgelir were inseperable. Sil's golden happiness and charm contrasted with his cousin's quieter reserve, as well as his black hair; but these differences only seemed to draw them closer. As a young child, Tiina showed great musical talent and she joined the Glirdain very early. Her voice quickly matured even beyond her years, and all who heard her said how lovely she sounded, even when only speaking. Lothdaimoth, being somewhat unsure of his own talents, compared himself to his sister and soon refused to sing at all, although Tiina convinced him to learn to play the flute. Taenor was delighted by his daughter's ability and rather irritated by his son's intransigence. His hope was that the boy would acknowledge his own abilities, which were very respectable even if lesser than his sister's, and also follow his father into the glirdain. With this motive, he taught Lothdaimoth as much of lore and tongues as the lad would learn. When Silgelir and Lothdaimoth decided instead to join the Order, Taenor was furious. His memories of the wars of the past, as well as his fear of losing those he loved and suffering the same fate as his own mother combined. And under the impetus of his emotions, he turned his back on his son for many years. Despite all that Lothelei and Tiinwaia could do, there was no reconciliation between the two until just a few years ago.
Lothdaimoth sought solace in the companionship of Silgelir as well as another cousin in the Order, Lanthir; and hid the pain of his father's rejection beneath an increasingly boisterous facade. Lanthir's death seemed to have very little effect on Lothdaimoth, for he hid his grief at this new loss also. And partly out of a determination not to let his feelings be known, and partly from pity for his small cousin, Caelwen, he struck up a friendship with the girl whose own family seemed to have no desire for her company.
Time passed and Silgelir fell in love and married. Lothdaimoth also loved the same lady, but seeing his cousin was preferred, he added this new burden to his hidden allotment and said naught. It was not long after this event that Silgelir was struck down by yrch on a routine patrol. In her grief, his wife sought the Havens; and this double blow finally cracked Lothdaimoth's insouciant veneer. Resigning from the Order, he first thought to become a healer, thinking to aid others and perhaps prevent more sorrow; but he found himself unable. The sight of injuries like those that killed two of his kinsmen only made his grief the greater, and he ceased trying to assist the healers in their work. It was at this time that Lothdaimoth and his father were reconciled; and Taenor spoke to a friend of his in the Royal Court. As a result of this conversation, Loth entered the Arnpand as a courier and began a new segment of his life.
However, it had not been very long at all - barely 2 years after Silgelir's death before new griefs came to Lothdaimoth. Goerhim and Caelwen were both attacked by wolves; Goerhim to be permanently maimed, Caelwen more luckily had only temporary injuries. At the same time, it began to seem to him as if the world outside the border of Lorien was becoming more and more chaotic, and there was less and less he could do. Falling deeper into melancholy and confusion, old sorrows became stronger instead of fading as is natural. It was at this time that, desperate to find some peace, he wandered one day to the vineyards where an uncle, Iaurhanc, was working. He was struck by a sense of instant recognition, but did not understand it; only that he felt drawn to the vines and that there he found a sense of ease that had been lost. Impelled by a growing inner distress, he didn't take much time to consider his new path; but as soon as he was able, requested meetings with both the Lady's Herald and the Craftmaster - and with their blessing began a second career, that of vintner, in addition to his first. Almost at once, he felt a regained balance, a renewed peace - and to his own astonishment discovered that while he had come to the grapes seeking to receive, he now finds himself giving instead, and finding a greater joy in that than he had thought possible.
A journey to Imladhris brought further, unsought joys into his life. For his distant cousin Caelwen, looking into her heart, saw an old familiar love in a new light and on their return told him of this. Astonished and confused (for he had thought Melae would have his heart forever, but now found Caelwen there already), Lothdaimoth distanced himself from her to think. A fortuitous journey to Amon Thranduil bearing invites to the Bardic Congress gave him the time and space he needed and upon returning to Lothlorien, he sought out the young potter.
Shortly before they were wed, the minister was inspecting the weaknesses noticed by the master miners, with an eye to telling Lord and Lady of their extent; when the rock gave way and fell upon him. The injury was the catalyst to his remembering himself; for he first had died in just such a way. And when his memories came more clearly, he named himself again Giliath as had been before; adding the names given by his father and mother as well.
Currently, Giliath Lothdaimoth Darthalion is the Raavindonserke House Messenger, Minister of the Arnpand, and a journeyman vintner.