The Wedding of Tulkas and Nessa
In the published Silmarillion, Nessa is the sister of Oromë and is the last female Vala to be named, indicating that she was seen as the least powerful of the Valier. Her name is a Quenya word that means “young” and her true Valarin name is unknown. She is noted for her beautiful dancing, and for being so fast that she can outrun the deer that follow her.
Tulkas was the last Ainu to descend into Arda, having heard of the other Valar’s struggles against Melkor from far off in the heavens. Melkor might have defeated the other Valar if Tulkas hadn’t arrived, and his laughter and wrath intimidated Melkor enough that he fled, which started the Spring of Arda.
After the Valar raised the Two Lamps Tulkas married Nessa on the island of Almaren, the first dwelling of the Valar. While some of the Valar were already married, Tulkas and Nessa’s wedding was the first marriage to take place within Arda itself. After the wedding feast Tulkas, being wearing from his role in shaping Arda, rested and Melkor used that time to strike. The Spring of Arda was ruined, the Two Lamps and Almaren were destroyed, and the Valar retreated to Aman, where they made their new dwelling.
Together they are associated with celebrations, and early works by Tolkien describe the House of Tulkas as being filled with feasting and warriors engaging in atheltic games while Nessa bring goblets of wine, making it strongly reminiscent of Norse Valhalla. Nessa’s brother Oromë was a hunter and was arguably the second most warlike of the Valar after Tulkas, and together they tried to hunt down Melkor after the theft of the Silmarils. In early stages Tulkas and Nessa had a son named Telimektar, a strong warrior who was placed in the sky (the constellation Orion) to watch against Melkor. Tulkas and Nessa are also notable in that neither has any specifically named Maiar associated with them; there are just vague references to champions practicing in Tulkas’ house and Nessa dancing with her maidens.
While they are both known for their speed and festive personalities, Tulkas and Nessa also have a sort of yin-yang relationship. Tulkas is a warrior who loves battle and physical activities and always eagerly supported proposals of the Valar going to war, thus playing an important role in the ongoing struggle against Melkor-Morgoth. Meanwhile Nessa, who was given elven names that mean “The Lovely” or “The Beloved”, was a supporter of peace, most notably seen when she supported the Hiding of Valinor from the elves following the Flight of the Noldor. Their marriage is similar to relationships between a war god and a love goddess in the mythologies of multiple cultures.
In addition to Melesta (The Lovely/The Beloved) and Helinyetille (Eyes of Heartsease), one of the names given to Nessa by the elves was Dineth, which is a Noldorin translation of the Quenya name Indis, which means bride. This is in reference to the fact that her and Tulkas' wedding was the first to take place within Arda.
