Changes: Aredhel

Revision as of 13:13, 22 July 2015

Aredhel, also known as Aredhel Ar-Feiniel,^[2] the White Lady of the Ñoldor, was the daughter of Fingolfin and Anairë, sister of Fingon, Turgon and Argon, and mother of Maeglin.

Biography

Nan Elmoth by Filat — Aredhel Ar-Feiniel dressed in white and silver in the forest of Nan Elmoth, by Filat

Aredhel was born in YT 1362, the same year as her cousin Galadriel,^[1] and lived in Tirion. She followed her father and brothers through Helcaraxë and dwelt in Nevrast with her brother Turgon until Gondolin was complete, and when it was she went with him to the hidden city. But after two hundred years, the longing for the forests and wide lands overcame her, and she asked leave to depart. Turgon was unwilling, fearing the exposure of the Hidden Kingdom, but eventually relented and allowed her to leave.

Riding with companions Glorfindel, Ecthelion, and Egalmoth,^[3] they were denied entrance to Doriath, it being closed to the Ñoldor. But they did tell her of the best way to find the Sons of Fëanor, and so they went around to the north, where she was separated in the dangerous region of Nan Dungortheb and reported lost. However, she reached Himlad safely, and waited there to meet Celegorm who was abroad, but eventually she wandered out of boredom and became lost in the forest of Nan Elmoth.

TN-Eol Welcomes Aredhel — Eöl welcomes Aredhel by Ted Nasmith

Eöl the Dark Elf ruled those woods; seeing Aredhel and noticing her beauty, he set enchantments about her so that she could not escape the forest. Eventually, she wandered to Eöl's dwelling in the woods, where he finally revealed himself to her. After marrying him, she stayed with him many years. They had a son named Maeglin, and telling him of her former life and home, she desired to see them again, and left Nan Elmoth with Maeglin while Eöl was away. They reached Gondolin (not realizing that Eöl was following them all the while), and were received with rejoicing. Eöl was also discovered and brought before Turgon, but rather than accept Turgon's judgment to remain, he attempted to kill his son for disobeying him with a poisoned javelin concealed in his cloak. Aredhel stepped in front of it and was hit by it and because of its poison, she died that night from the wound.

Eöl was cast down from the city walls and died, while Maeglin became mighty in Gondolin but later betrayed it to Morgoth.^[4]^[5]

Etymology

Her name in Quenya was Irissë.^[6] The names Aredhel ("noble elf")^[7] and Ar-Feiniel ("noble white lady") were both originally intended to stand alone, and be used as the main name of Irissë.

While preparing The Silmarillion for publication Christopher Tolkien could not discover which name was intended to be used as her final name, and he therefore chose to use both names: a decision he later stated in The History of Middle-earth series was possibly mistaken.

Character

Aredhel was tall and strong, fond of hunting and riding in the forests. Her skin was pale and her hair dark; she always wore silver and white. Though fond of the Sons of Fëanor, she never fell in love with any of them.^[2]

House of Fingolfin

Finwë

Indis

Findis

Fingolfin

Anairë

Irimë

Finarfin

Fingon

Turgon

Elenwë

Aredhel

Eöl

Argon

Idril

Tuor

Maeglin

Eärendil

Elwing

Elrond

Elros

Gallery

The Children of Fingolfin, by Brave Heart

References

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 The History of Middle-earth, Vol. 10: Morgoth's Ring, The Annals of Aman, "Commentary on the fourth section of the Annals of Aman"
↑ ^2.0 ^2.1 The Silmarillion, Quenta Silmarillion, Chapter V: "Of Eldamar and the Princes of the Eldalië"
↑ The History of Middle-earth, Vol. 2: The Book of Lost Tales Part Two, III: "The Fall of Gondolin"
↑ The Silmarillion, Quenta Silmarillion, Chapter V: "Of Eldamar and the Princes of the Eldalië"
↑ The Silmarillion, Quenta Silmarillion, Chapter XVI: "Of Maeglin"
↑ The History of Middle-earth, Vol. 12: The Peoples of Middle-earth, XI: "The Shibboleth of Fëanor"
↑ The Silmarillion, Index of Names

External link

Aredhel at Tolkien Gateway

[annals-1] 1.0 ^1.1 The History of Middle-earth, Vol. 10: Morgoth's Ring, The Annals of Aman, "Commentary on the fourth section of the Annals of Aman"

[eldamar-2] 2.0 ^2.1 The Silmarillion, Quenta Silmarillion, Chapter V: "Of Eldamar and the Princes of the Eldalië"

[3] The History of Middle-earth, Vol. 2: The Book of Lost Tales Part Two, III: "The Fall of Gondolin"

[4] The Silmarillion, Quenta Silmarillion, Chapter V: "Of Eldamar and the Princes of the Eldalië"

[5] The Silmarillion, Quenta Silmarillion, Chapter XVI: "Of Maeglin"

[6] The History of Middle-earth, Vol. 12: The Peoples of Middle-earth, XI: "The Shibboleth of Fëanor"

[7] The Silmarillion, Index of Names

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@@ Line 37: / Line 37: @@
 Eöl was cast down from the city walls and died, while Maeglin became mighty in Gondolin but later betrayed it to [[Morgoth]].<ref>''[[The Silmarillion]], [[Quenta Silmarillion]],'' Chapter V: "[[Of Eldamar and the Princes of the Eldalië]]"</ref><ref>''[[The Silmarillion]], [[Quenta Silmarillion]],'' Chapter XVI: "[[Of Maeglin]]"</ref>
+<br clear=right>
 ==Etymology==
-Her name in [[Quenya]] was '''Irissë'''.<ref>''The History of Middle-earth'', Vol. 12: ''[[The Peoples of Middle-earth]]'', XI: "The Shibboleth of Fëanor"</ref> The names '''Aredhel''' ("noble elf")<ref>''The Silmarillion'', Index of Names</ref> and '''Ar-Feiniel''' ("noble white lady") were both originally intended to stand alone, and be used as the main name of Irissë.
+Her name in [[Quenya]] was '''Irissë'''.<ref>''[[The History of Middle-earth]]'', Vol. 12: ''[[The Peoples of Middle-earth]]'', XI: "The Shibboleth of Fëanor"</ref> The names '''Aredhel''' ("noble elf")<ref>''[[The Silmarillion]]'', Index of Names</ref> and '''Ar-Feiniel''' ("noble white lady") were both originally intended to stand alone, and be used as the main name of Irissë.
 While preparing ''[[The Silmarillion]]'' for publication [[Christopher Tolkien]] could not discover which name was intended to be used as her final name, and he therefore chose to use both names: a decision he later stated in ''[[The History of Middle-earth]]'' series was possibly mistaken.
@@ Line 48: / Line 48: @@
 {{House of Fingolfin}}
+==Gallery==
+{{Gallery|width=120|height=160|captionalign=center|position=center
+|Brave Heart - Children of Fingolfin.png|The Children of Fingolfin, by [http://kennabeth.tumblr.com/post/85661234735/niyochara-children-of-fingolfin-v-including Brave Heart]
+}}
 ==References==
@@ Line 61: / Line 66: @@
 [[pl:Aredhela]]
 [[ru:Аредэль]]
 [[Category:Sindarin words]]
 [[Category:High Elves]]