"It chanced on a time that Elwë came alone to the starlit wood of Nan Elmoth, and there suddenly he heard the song of nightingales. Then an enchantment fell on him, and he stood still; and afar off beyond the voices of the lómelindi he heard the voice of Melian, and it filled all his heart with wonder and desire. He forgot then utterly all his people and all the purposes of his mind, and following the birds under the shadow of the trees he passed deep into Nan Elmoth and was lost. But he came at last to a glade open to the stars, and there Melian stood; and out of the darkness he looked at her, and the light of Aman was in her face.
She spoke no word; but being filled with love Elwë came to her and took her hand, and straightway a spell was laid on him, so that they stood thus while long years were measured by the wheeling stars above them; and the trees of Nan Elmoth grew tall and dark before they spoke any word."

J.R.R. Tolkien, writing in Quenta Silmarillion This passage describes Elwë falling in love with Melian.

In Tolkien’s work, there are many more instances of two characters falling in love, and they all follow this type. There is a beautiful woman singing and/or dancing in the woods. Then, a man happens to stumble upon her and is cast into a spell, enchantment, swoon, etc., and then they stand around looking at each other for a very long time.

This type of falling in love is seen with Beren and Lúthien as well as Aragorn and Arwen. It is also exactly the way in which Tolkien describes himself falling in love with his wife Edith.

(via jssjrdm)