Daughters of Finwë

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Findis and Irimë are fictional characters from J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth legendarium, featured in The Peoples of Middle-earth. They were Elves, daughters of Finwë, king of the Noldor, and Indis; sisters of Fingolfin and Finarfin and half-sisters of Fëanor. Findis was the first child of Finwë and Indis, and Irimë was the third one. Little is known about them except that Findis was "more like her mother" and that she stayed with Indis and Finarfin in Valinor, while Irimë went to Middle-earth with Fingolfin. Findis is a combination of her parents' names. Irimë's mother-name was Lalwendë or in shortened form Lalwen, and by this name she was generally known.

Fans have speculated that Irimë may have been the mother of Aranwë, who was in turn the father of Voronwë. (The latter called himself "of the House of Finwë", though it is unknown whether a blood relationship was implied.) The privileged positions of Glorfindel, Ecthelion of the Fountain and Egalmoth in Gondolin might indicate high birth, but it is sheer speculation to propose their descent from Irimë or Findis.

Findis apparently still dwells in Aman. Irimë's fate is unknown, but she may have been slain or returned to Valinor after the War of Wrath. Neither appears in the published Silmarillion.

Other versions of the legendarium

In earlier versions of the legendarium, Finwë and Indis had three daughters — Findis, Faniel and Finvain. It remains unclear if the third daughter survived in the final conception of Finwë's family tree. Furthermore, in some texts Irimë's name is instead given as Írien.

References

• Tolkien, J. R. R. (1996), Christopher Tolkien, ed., The Peoples of Middle-earth, Boston: Houghton Mifflin, The Shibboleth of Fëanor, ISBN 0-395-82760-4 
• Martinez, Michael (31 August 2001). "It's All in the Family: The Finweans". Suite101.com. pp. 9–10.