Eöl

[Lalwendë]

This story troubles me too. I often wonder why he deserved to be put to death in such a manner, it seems wholly inappropriate to me. Why was he called a 'dark elf'? Does it simply refer to his status as one who did not see the light of the Valar, or does it imply more?

The story is very mysterious. Did he 'bewitch' his wife into staying with him, or did she stay because she wished to? I get the feeling that it was the latter, and that she later changed her mind in some way. She must have known that to return to her home with her son would mean that her son would have to remain there, and possibly Eol knew this too. To me, he was possibly an Elf who had no alliances apart from those to his loved ones, and he was driven half-mad when his son and wife left. It's one of those 'grey' areas...

[A_Brandybuck]

Originally Posted by Lalwendë

Did he 'bewitch' his wife into staying with him, or did she stay because she wished to? I get the feeling that it was the latter, and that she later changed her mind in some way.

Fact is, that he bewitched her (or the trees), while she was in "his" wood, so she couldn't find out again. It is proximate, that he could Aredhel hinder to leave the wood. I think that this is the reason why she stayed there. The fact, that she could escape in a very easy way, make me thinking, that (granted that my suggestion above is right) she must have conviced him, that she really has loved him, that he put the spell away.
Or it is just as Lalwendë said, she has loved him and after some time, her feelings went in the other direction.
His friendship with the Dwarves are IMHO not a cause, why he was called "Dark Elf". The enemyship has begun while the sacking of Doriath by the Dwarves.
IMHO it was not normal that an Elf loves the dark woods and avoids the sun, so the other Elves put the "title" "Dark Elf" on him.

[Eomer of the Rohirrim]

A loner and a sad story. Not too sure about his attitudes toward women though. (She-elfs, whatever...)

He wasn't bad, but not especially likeable either. And don't use the 'loner' image as an excuse. Remember Tom Bombadil. (Actually, we should always remember Tom Bombadil, it just so happens that he can be contrasted here.)