Thingol was one of the three chieftains of the Elves who depart from Cuivienen with Orome as ambassadors of Valinor and later become Kings. Upon his return, he persuades many of his kindred, the Nelyar, to follow him back to that country. This host becomes known as the Teleri. On the Great Journey to the West the Teleri lag behind, loving Middle-earth and having mixed feelings about leaving it for Valinor, and do not arrive at the coast until after the departure of the moving island of Tol Eressa. Thus, they stay in Beleriand for many years, until Tol Eressa is brought again to fetch them. During this Thingol encounters Melian the Maia in the woods of Nan Elmoth and, enchanted by her, he falls in love with her. They remain entranced together for some 200 years. Many of the Teleri searched for him and would not leave without him. After Thingol awoke from the trance, many of the Teleri had grown to like Beleriand and decided to stay there. Thingol and Melian become king and queen of the Sindar, the Teleri who stay in Beleriand. Thingol visited Valinor as an ambassador and is, uniquely, both of the Sindar and of the Calaquendi. His and Melian's daughter, Luthien, is said to be the fairest of the Children of Iluvatar ever to live. Thingol's heir is Dior, son of Beren and Luthien. Other kin of Thingol, are Cirdan, Daeron, Celeborn, Celebrimbor, Eol. He is the ancestor of many prominent characters, Elves and Men, including Elros, Elrond, Aragorn and Arwen. He is also family to Galadriel, as she is the child of his niece, Earwen. Thingol's name comes from sindacollo - grey cloak, possibly derived from his family trait of long silver hair. Eol gave the sword, Gurthang to Thingol in return for leave to dwell in his forest of Nan Elmoth, though Eol did not relish giving it away. The other, Anguirel, he kept for himself. Thingol later gave the sword to his captain, Beleg, although Thingol's wife, Melian, prophesied the following to Beleg: "There is malice in this sword. The dark heart of the smith still dwells in it. It will not love the hand it serves, neither will it abide with you long." The sword is said to have sung with gladness when Beleg unsheathed it to kill orcs and other servants of Morgoth. Its edges shone with a pale fire. It was prophesied by Mandos that in the Final Battle for Middle Earth at the end of time, Gurthang would again be taken up by Turin and would deliver the final blow against Morgoth, defeating evil forever.