Into the Wardrobe

I found this painting by Ted Nasmith called "On Lake Cuivinen". I know it's something out of The Silmarillion, but I can't quite place it. It's been awhile since I've read Silmarillion, so could anyone remind me who these people are, and where they are, and what they're doing? Thanx.

To see the image larger, click on it.

Hello A#,

Cuiviénen (The Water of Awakening) is where the elves were woken by Ilúvatar in the Elder Days, or, more specificallly, during the years of the two trees. Her location was on the shore of the inland sea of Helcar, somewhere in the east of Middle-earth. The people in Nasmith's picture are, of course, the elves at their wakening, or perhaps, just after, as they are fully clothed.

mjm

Thanks. That's beautiful now that I understand what it is. I remember now. Weren't the dwarves created first by Auwe(or somebody, Aule?), then the elves appeared?

Oh, that's right! Now I remember... the dwarves were left to sleep or be in a coma underground or something, until the elves were created and then they woke up and started tunnelling around. how cute! I can just imagine all those little dwarves snoring away underground. A curious rabbit burrows by and in astonishment gazes at a dwarf. :D

I think the rabbit would have been as curious as the fox at the beginning of Lord of the Rings - stopping to wonder before going on its business and not finding out any more! Of course, the dwarves would not have been snoring as they weren't yet alive.