Aredhel

Tolkienchar
image_character =Eöl and Aredhel.jpg
image_caption =Eöl and Aredhelillustration by Tom Loback
character_birth = ME-date|YT|?
character_death = ME-date|YS|400
Book(s) = "The Silmarillion", "The History of Middle-earth"
character_name = Aredhel
character_alias = The White Lady of the Noldor
character_title = Lady of Nan Elmoth
character_race = Elves
character_culture = Noldor
character_gender = Female
character_realm = Nan Elmoth
character_sub_realm =
character_lifespan = ME-date|YT|?–ME-date|YS|400
character_weapon =

Aredhel Ar-Feiniel is a fictional character created by J. R. R. Tolkien. She is called "Ar-Feiniel", the White Lady of the Noldor. She is the daughter of Fingolfin and Anairë, sister of Fingon, Turgon and Argon, and mother of Maeglin.

"I am your sister and not your servant, and beyond your bounds I will go as seems good to me." ["The Silmarillion", p.131]

Aredhel is tall and strong, beautiful, extremely wilful and fickle, easily bored and restless, fond of hunting and riding in the forests. Her skin is pale and her hair dark; she always wears silver and white. Though fond of the sons of Fëanor, she never weds any one of them.

After arriving in Middle-earth, Aredhel dwells in Nevrast with Turgon, and goes with him to Gondolin. But after two hundred years she tires of the city and longing for the forests and wide lands overcomes her. Aredhel asks leave to depart. Turgon is unwilling, fearing the exposure of the Hidden Kingdom, but eventually relents.

Riding with companions, they are denied safe passage through Doriath because they seek the sons of Fëanor. And so they travel the East Road along the North March of Doriath.There Aredhel Ar-Feiniel is separated from her escort in the dangerous region of Nan Dungortheb. She reaches Himlad safely, and waits there to meet Celegorm who is abroad. Ever restless, she wanders off and becomes lost in the forest of Nan Elmoth.

Eöl Mornedhel, the Dark Elf is the lord of those woods. By his enchantments, they meet, and he leads her to his dark home near Gladuial. There they wed and she stays for many years and has a son named Maeglin. Telling him of her former life and home, and weary of Nan Elmoth, Aredhel Ar-Feiniel desires to see them again. Without Eöl's leave, or knowledge, she departs Nan Elmoth with Maeglin while Eöl is away. They reached the hidden entrance to Gondolin pursued by Eöl, and are received with rejoicing. Eöl is captured and brought before Turgon. Turgon will not allow Eöl to leave Gondolin, offering him only the choice to stay, or to die. Eöl refuses this judgement, choosing death for himself and his son. He attempts to kill his son with a javelin. Aredhel steps in front of the dart to shield Maeglin. It is poisoned and she dies that night.

Eöl is executed by being cast down from the city walls. Maeglin becomes a mighty prince in Gondolin.

Etymology

The names, "Aredhel" - "noble Elf" and "Ar-Feiniel" - "noble white lady", were both originally intended to stand alone replacing Isfin. ["History of Middle-earth", Vol. XI, pp.317-18, 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 unwarranted.]

Her name, at one point, in Quenya is "Irissë" for Noldorin - "Irith".

The original name from the original "Fall of Gondolin" of 1916 and in most use into the 1950's is "Isfin" meaning "snowlocks" or "exceedingly cunning". ["Parma Eldalamberon" No. 15, Name List to "The Fall of Gondolin", p.28]

References