#rían daughter of barahir

[anghraine]

Most of us in Tolkien fandom (at least in these parts) have a profound affection for some passingly mentioned female character we know almost nothing about.

Today's for me: Rían of Gondor, daughter of the Steward Barahir, sister of the Steward Dior, and mother of the Steward Denethor I (not to be confused with Boromir and Faramir's father, Denethor II).

She's one of the few named Gondorian women, but we know even less about her than most. We don't know who her husband was. We don't know what she thought or felt or did with regard to anything. All we know is that, while not the Steward herself, she was the first woman the rule of Gondor had ever passed through.

The Stewards committed their rule like a kingship, father to eldest son, and it was the established position of Gondor that its rule couldn't pass through women (see Princess Fíriel!). Perhaps the Stewards or the Council of the time justified changing their policy through the absence of a technical king, but the Stewards received the powers of absent kings from day 1 and were described by Gandalf as more powerful than actual kings like Théoden. The Ruling Stewards passed the Stewardship in exactly the same way as the kings had passed the crown—until Rían and Denethor.

If their excuse was that they weren't really kings, it would be pretty transparently an excuse to let the rule of Gondor pass through a woman's lineage for the first time.

What part did Rían play in this? Did she have to fight to get the White Rod in Denethor's hands? Was she a voluntary participant in the whole thing at all? What was her relationship like with her brother Dior, who passed the Stewardship to her son? Her relationship with Denethor himself? What about the unnamed but presumably existent husband (a kind of fun reversal of the usual "implied but unnamed women," lol)?

I want to knowwww.

[thelordofgifs]

Obscure Tolkien Blorbo: Round 1 Bracket!

here we gooo! Hopefully the image quality isn't too awful - I can read it alright if I zoom in, at any rate. For round 1 there will be 4 polls a day for 16 days, posted at 4pm UTC starting tomorrow, 18th May. Poll durations will all be one day. I'll post links to all the round 1 polls on this masterpost as they go live below the cut; each day there'll be 1 poll from each "corner" of the bracket.

Feel free to drop any propaganda in my ask box, either before or during the polls! I hope everyone has fun campaigning for their little-known blorbos :)

Frequently Asked Questions

POLLS

18/05:

Bofur vs Tauriel

Barliman Butterbur vs Ancalagon

Berúthiel vs. Mithrellas

The chief dancing bear of Númenor vs. Erutáro

19/05:

Dís vs Beorn

Gamling vs Bill the pony

Pearl Took vs Faniel

Ulbandi vs Miaulë

20/05:

Nerdanel vs Círdan

Nessa vs Caranthir’s wife

Urwen vs Elmo

Random orc of Morgoth vs Narthseg

21/05:

Elros vs Oropher

Erendis vs Tilion

Eärnur vs Mahtan's wife

Bëor's wife vs Múta

22/05:

Lobelia Sackville-Baggins vs Finarfin

Tevildo vs Amlach

Gelmir Guilinion vs Legolas of Gondolin

One (1) Rivendell elf who sings tra-la-la-lally vs Bingo Baggins

23/05:

Amrod vs Idril

Ilmarë vs Tar-Ancalimë

Andróg vs Fíriel of Gondor

Hiril (daughter of Barahir) vs Youngest of Finrod’s Ten

24/05:

Ecthelion vs Huan

Ingwë vs Salgant

Silmariën vs Tata

Viznak vs Ælfwine

25/05:

Olwë vs Edrahil

Eorl vs Meássë

Larnach’s daughter vs Jajax

26/05:

Lightning Disqualification (1)

Pengolodh vs Ioreth

Lothrandir vs Nob

Golfimbul vs Ainairos

27/05:

Lightning Disqualification (2)

Arien vs Egalmoth

Golodir vs Vidumavi

Ornendil vs Meril

28/05:

Haleth vs Beleg

Tom Bombadil vs Beregond

Inzilbêth vs A fox passing through the woods on business of his own

Makar vs Andvír

29/05:

Mablung vs Tuor

Nellas vs Curufin’s wife

Imin vs Tinfang Warble

Beleth vs Findegil

30/05:

Nimloth vs Anairë

Elurín vs Rog

Corunir vs Elulindo

Nuin vs Faramir (son of Ondoher)

31/05:

Rían vs Míriel

Argon vs Eluréd

Hareth vs Belen

Narmeleth vs Horn

01/06:

Daeron vs Andreth

Finduilas of Dol Amroth vs Findis

Eldacar of Gondor vs Gwindeth

Gelmir (messenger of Círdan) vs Bór

02/06:

Tar-Míriel vs Eöl

Thuringwethil vs Mahtan

Ilwen vs Eilinel

Enel vs Hirgon

03/06:

Belladonna Took vs Bain

Finduilas Faelivrin vs Halbarad

Azaghâl vs Lalwen

[warrioreowynofrohan]

Favourite Female Tolkien Character Poll - Round 2, Match 4

Hareth

Hareth was from the House of Haleth. In a double marriage that linked the House of Haleth and the House of Hador in alliance, she married Galdor, the eldest son of Hador, and moved to Dor-lómin, while Hador’s eldest daughter Glóredhel married Hareth’s brother Haldir and lived with the Haladin in Brethil.

In the days before the Dagor Bragollach those two houses of the Edain were joined at a great feast, when Galdor and Glóredhel the children of Hador Goldenhead were wedded to Hareth and Haldir the children of Halmir lord of the Haladin.

Hareth was the mother of Húrin and Huor, and Glóredhel was the grandmother of Brandir.

She lived through many momentous events; one that would have been very hard was when Hareth’s sons Húrin and Huor, who were teenagers being fostered by Haldir and Glóredhel, became lost during a battle with the Orcs; they would have been presumed dead for a year while they were in Gondolin, until their mysterious return to Dor-lómin.

Beleth

Beleth was of the House of Bëor. She was a cousin of Beren, the aunt of Morwen and Rían, and the elder sister of Baragund and Belegund.

She was in her late 30s during the Dagor Bragollach. She lost her father in that battle, and both her brothers when Sauron destroyed the last of Barahir’s band of guerillas in Dorthonion. She may have escaped from Dorthonion to Brethil along with other women of the House of Bëor, and might have continued to Dor-lómin with Morwen and Rían.

(Literally all we have about her is her name on a family tree; I’m contextualizing with canon events and speculating a bit.)

[istar-ingolmo]

Silmarillion Primer: The Edain

The Edain (Ee-day-in) are men who came west over the Ered Luin (Blue Mountains) and fought with the elves against Morgoth. Although the name Edain is a Sindarin word that simply means Men, it is usually only used in reference to the noble people of the House of Bëor, the House of Haleth and the House of Hador and their descendants.

Art by Heget

The House of Bëor

The first group of Men to come west over the mountains of Ered Luin, were of the House of Bëor. Bëor, known as Balan to his people, came west in search of the High Elves or the Valar, for his people had heard rumors of them in the east. Finrod Felagund was the first elf to encounter them as they camped in the region of Ossiriand just west of the Ered Luin. There was a language barrier between the two, but they could eventually understand one another since their language was based on the old elvish of the elves in the east. 

Finrod moves The House of Bëor out of Ossiriand and into the land of Estolad in the realm of Amrod and Amras of the Sons of Fëanor. Bëor became a vassal of Finrod and went to live with him in Nargothrond. The descendants of Bëor would ever be friends with the House of Finarfin, Finrod’s father. 

Bëor’s fourth great grandson, Barahir, would save Finrod at the Dagor Bragollach. For which, Finrod gave him what would be known as the Ring of Barahir, a token of their eternal friendship. That ring would be passed down to his son Beren Erchamion,and then through the generations from father to son until the end of the Third Age. When it would come to King Aragorn II Elessar of the Reunited Kingdoms of Arnor and Gondor. 

Notable Members of The House of Bëor:

Beren Erchamion- The Son of Barahir, he would travel into the Guarded Realm of Doriath and fall in love with Luthien, the daughter of Thingol and Melian, its rulers. He would brave the dungeons of Angband with Luthien to claim a Silmaril. His son would become the Ruler of Doriath, and the Father of Elwing, Eäredil’s wife and the grandfather of Elrond and Elros.

Morwen- 1st Cousin Once Removed of Beren (His Cousin’s Child), she married Hurín of the House of Hador. Bore him three children: Turín Turambar, Lalaith, and Niënor.

Rían- 1st Cousin Once Removed of Beren and Cousin to Morwen. She married Huor of the House of Hador, the brother of Hurín. They had one child: Tuor.

Through the marriage of Elwing to Eärendil, the two Houses of Bëor and Hador would produce the Kings and Queens of Númenor. The Númenoreans known as The Faithful would be primarily descended from the House of Bëor, and by extension the Dunédain of the North. 

Art by Heget

The House of Hador

The third house of the Edain to migrate west of Ered Luin. They were initially called the House of Marach, after their patriarch. When they were given the lands of Dor-lomín as a fief under Hador Lórindel, the name of the House became The House of Hador. They were the largest of the three Houses of the Edain. They would intermarry with the House of Bëor and together these two house would make up the majority of the Men of Númenor.  

Notable Members of the House of Hador:

Hurín Thalion- He was a great hero of men and a great friend to Turgon, High King of the Noldor and ruler of Gondolin. He and his brother, Huor, were brought to the city by the eagles of Manwë, which began that friendship. He would marry Morwen of the House of Bëor and have three children. One of which was Turín Turambar, who would also be a great hero of men. However, Hurín was captured at the Nirnaeth Arnoediad (Battle of Unnumbered Tears) and refused to tell Morgoth where Gondolin could be found. He was cursed by Morgoth to watch all the evil that befell his children. When he was finally released, he unknowingly led Morgoth to the general direction of Gondolin. Thus, preparing the way for Gondolin’s ultimate destruction.

Huor- brother of Hurín and of the House of Hador. He married Rían of the House of Bëor. They had one child, Tuor. He was friends with Turgon of Gondolin. At the Nirnaeth Arnoediad he and his brother bought Turgon’s army time to flee by holding the Fen of Serech. He would fall in that battle. He never met his son. 

Turín Turambar- The only son of Hurín and the heir to the Lordship of Dor-Lomín of the House of Hador. He would go on to do great deeds, but the wrath of Morgoth followed him always, causing all he did to go astray. He would eventually kill Glaurung the dragon, but he would take his own life shortly afterward when he learned that last bit of evil the dragon had done to him.

Tuor- The only son of Huor. He grew up with Sindar elves in Mithrim before being driven by fate to seek for the hidden city of Gondolin that his father and uncle once visited. His errand was to advise the High King of the Noldor, Turgon, to abandon the city while there was still time. Turgon heeded it not, but he did give Tuor the hand of his daughter, Idril, in marriage. They became the second union of Elf Maid to Mortal Man. He had one child, Eärendil. 

Eärendil- The Great Mariner. His family managed to escape the destruction of Gondolin and make it to the sea near the Mouths of the Sirion. There he married Elwing, who was a refugee of the destruction of Doriath at the hands of the Sons of Fëanor. They had twin sons, Elros and Elrond. He took the Silmaril that Elwing had inherited from her great grandfather, Thingol, and asked the Valar to save Elves and Men from the forces of Morgoth. He then became The Evening Star, wearing the Silmaril on his brow as his ship sailed the skies.

Art by Heget

The House of Haleth

The reclusive house of the daughter of Halad. There is not much to tell of them. When they came west of the Ered Luin, they refused to live in Estolad with the Houses of Bëor and Hador. They lived apart from them in the further north. 

However, they were surprised by orcs and much of their people were destroyed. They removed to the forests of Brethil in the realm of Doriath and did not participate much in the wars of The First Age. They were, however, not friends of Morgoth.

Hurín would, in his grief over the loss of his family, cause the destruction of the House of Haleth, for blamed them in part for the ruin of his son. He would lead the remnants of the House of Haleth to the ruins of Nargothrond, where he would abandon them. Few members of the House of Haleth survived the end of the First Age to become a part of the Númenoreans. 

The most relevant member of The House of Haleth, was the Daughter of Halmir, Hareth. She married Galdor of the House of Hador, and was the mother of Hurín and Huor. 

[outofangband]

Could you do "Alone" with Beren? i love your writing very much!!

from this horror prompt list I made!

thank you so much! The writing you did about Gorlim for the list was spectacular!

CW: the aftermath of the massacre of Barahir’s men, mentions of Beren’s suicidal ideation, brief mentions of canonical amputation and some non canonical ones too! 

The orcs had stripped the men of their supplies, their armor, and any valuables they possessed. Most of these had little value to others, small trinkets and memories of children, parents, lovers. Belegund had kept a little bird his daughter had shaped clumsily from clay brought back from the riverbank. In truth it was a bird only because Rían had insisted it was a bird. Some of the men, namely those who were not themselves fathers, had made jokes at the expense of Belegund and his little clay bird. The teasing of the others had of course stopped when the child had vanished with her cousin in the sudden flame.

The bird was gone from the man’s pocket. Beren actually spent time vulnerable in the open heathlands searching for it but found no trace. Surely it had fallen in the struggle for none could know its purpose or meaning with enough clarity to take it but in the end it was the same loss.

Gone too was the hand of his father, the one that had born the ring. In the darkness, Beren could decide not to look more closely for the pool of blood beneath him, could not know if he had been alive. 

And Barahir was not the only one mutilated. Feet, hands, fingers were hewn off, seemingly at random for Beren knew not all these men held items of value upon their persons. 

Among the bodies of his kin were scattered a few enemy corpses. The men of Barahir had fought. That much was certain. He could not have guessed at the size of the group that had attacked. Perhaps his men were taken down by sheer numbers, despite the eerie quiet of the lands. Perhaps they had simply been taken at unawares. The weapons of their attackers, and their own had all been taken. 

Beren knew it was unwise to linger. The attackers were gone but their ilk had surely not left Dorthonion. 

He could lay here among the bodies. The cold might take him if he cast aside his cloaks. There was a temptation in this end. No one must know he had not perished bravely with his father and the final remnants of the House of Bëor in Dorthonion. Indeed, the deception of this twisted at him far more than the wish itself.

The trees around him creaked in the evening winds. The fires had not spread with the same ferocity this far South of Ladros but he still saw the evidence of their scourge in the unnatural quiet, in the color of the water that had still not healed and in the scorch marks along the base of the pines and beeches.

The cold air meant that the smell of death was for now, a bitter, metallic one near indistinguishable from the blood he tasted in the back of his throat. 

Beren pulls his cloak more securely against the growing chill and curls a distance from the sight of the massacre, beside his family and utterly alone. 

Author’s note: I hope this is ok! It’s more quiet than horror usually is and I haven’t written Beren outside the Finrod piece and some very unpublished darker looks at his character

I headcanon that Emeldir’s plan to get the children and other vulnerable people out of Ladros was known to Barahir and co but during the invasion, most families were separated so the fate of Emeldir, Morwen and Rían are unknown and presumed to be bad.

[arofili]

three houses of the edain ✾ house of bëor ✾ headcanon disclaimer

          Baragund and Belegund were the sons of Bregolas of Ladros. When their father fell in the Dagor Bragollach, they remained in Dorthonion to fight the Enemy alongside their uncle Barahir, though they sent away their own young families to safer lands. Their elder sister, Beleth, guarded over their children along the perilous journey, as both Baragund’s wife and Belegund’s husband perished in battle before they could escape.           In happier times, Baragund had wed Reniel, the youngest daughter of a large family who secretly resisted the role of “gentle maiden” that was expected of her. Baragund discovered the fierceness that lay within her and encouraged her to learn the sword, coaching her into becoming a fearsome warrior. Reniel took the name Angren, the Grinning Maw, for she rushed into battle against orcs with wild laughter and delight in the freedom she had achieved for herself. Angren passed her stubborn independence and firm will onto her only child, Morwen. Angren fought valiantly to her death, refusing to abandon her husband and homeland, and was slain in a burst of dragonfire.           Belegund was similar to his brother in many ways, but he chose a very different partner for his life. He married Redoron, a kind and practical fisherman who bore him two children, Rían and Orlin. Rían adored her elder cousin Morwen, who enjoyed having someone to order around, and as they grew they became fast friends just like their fathers. Little Orlin was only a year old when the Sudden Flame descended upon the place of his birth, and was raised mostly by Rían and his aunt Beleth, never truly knowing his fathers. Redoron was no warrior, but he held the rearguard of his fleeing people, and was killed by an orc just before they crossed the Mountains of Shadow into the relative safety of Hithlum.           Even as Baragund and Belegund joined Barahir’s band of outlaws, their children settled into a new home in Dor-lómin, welcomed and sheltered by the House of Hador. Indeed, both their daughters would wed lords of that House, bearing sons whose great deeds would shape the fate of Arda. But Orlin, the son of Belegund, grew into a shy young man who never claimed the leadership that could have passed to him after the destruction of the rest of his family; only when he saw his home conquered a second time in the aftermath of the Nírnaeth did he harden his resolve and nurse a secret anger against the Incomers who ruled over him in cruelty. Upon the return of Morwen’s son Túrin to Dor-lómin, threatening violence against any who would stand in his way, Orlin stepped forth to confront his cousin’s child, but Túrin struck him down in blind rage without any regard for their long-forgotten kinship.

[catsinparis]

Women of House Bëor

Adanel was a Wise-woman who helped preserve the tale of Man’s original sin, when, soon after awakening, some Men chose to worship Melkor instead of Eru. She passed this story along to her niece, Andreth, who became known for her wisdom, as well. Adanel married Belemir and bore Beren, the great-grandfather of Beren Erchamion.

Andreth was the eldest daughter of Boromir, Lord of Ladros. She was raised by her aunt, Adanel, and surpassed her aunt in wisdom. After falling in love with the elven prince, Aegnor, Andreth vowed to never marry as she could not marry the person she truly loved. She was a close friend of Finrod Felagund and often discussed with him the lore of Elves and Men.

Emeldir the Man-hearted was a matriarch of House Bëor who led the women and children of her family to safety during the aftermath of the Dagor Balloch. Due to her bravery, she was given the nickname of “Man-hearted.” She married Barahir and bore the famous Beren Erchamion.

Beldis was a woman of House Bëor. She married Handir, the Lord of the Haladin, and bore a son, Brandir, who was permanently lame. She nurtured her son’s interest in nature instead of combat. She cautioned her son against aligning with Túrin Turambar, but her son fell under the curse of Turín and died by his sword. Her son was the last Chieftain of the Haladin.

Morwen Eledhwen was the Lady of Dor-Lómin and married Húrin of House Hador. She bore three children: Túrin Turambar, Lalaïth, and Nienor. She was described as being elven-like in beauty and possessed a stern, stoic manner. She was separated from her husband and remaining children during an Easterling attack on her land. She lived under elven protection until she was eventually reunited with her husband.

Rían was the cousin of Morwen Eledhwen. She was described as being gentle of heart, a lover of trees and wild flowers, and was known to compose and sing songs. She followed Emeldir to safety during the Dagor Balloch where she wed Huor whose brother, Húrin, married Morwen. When her husband unexpectedly died in battle, Rían gave birth to a son, Tuor, leaving him in elven care before dying of grief.

[tolkiendecameron]

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: The Silmarillion and other histories of Middle-Earth - J. R. R. Tolkien Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: Major Character Death, No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Húrin Thalion/Morwen Eledhwen, Beren Erchamion/Lúthien Tinúviel (background) Characters: Morwen Eledhwen, Huor (Tolkien), Rían of the House of Bëor, Urwen Lalaith, Túrin Turambar, Húrin Thalion Additional Tags: stories, Rumors, Canonical Character Death, Morwen's Horrible But Justified Attitude, Everyone With Popcorn Hanging Onto The Latest Stories of Love and Death and Jewel Theft, Canon Typical Plague (In Hindsight A Terrible Time To Be Writing About It) Summary:

"The only concrete information the old woman has, from an elven friend of the woods, is that Thingol’s daughter has taken up with a man of Bëor‘s line. Beren, son of Barahir, a lost child of Dorthonion found in Doriath’s winding embrace."

Morwen and Húrin must deal with the rumor mill in a professional capacity. Unfortunately this latest tale comes with familial entanglements.

[alicebeckstrom]

The sons of Hador were Galdor and Gundor; and the sons of Galdor were Húrin and Huor; and the son of Húrin was Túrin the Bane of Glaurung; and the son of Huor was Tuor, father of Eärendil the Blessed. The son of Boromir was Bregor, whose sons were Bregolas and Barahir; and the sons of Bregolas were Baragund and Belegund. The daughter of Baragund was Morwen, the mother of Túrin, and the daughter of Belegund was Rían, the mother of Tuor. But the son of Barahir was Beren One-hand, who won the love of Lúthien Thingol's daughter, and returned from the Dead; from them came Elwing the wife of Eärendil, and all the Kings of Númenor after. ~ The Silmarillion, Chapter 17 (The House of Hador) 

[squirrelwrangler]

assorted first draft snippets for Meng Jiangnu of Dorthonion

I swear it’ll be written one of these days.

Baragund once thought his great-aunt the strongest woman he would ever meet, and he still wished to believe so. Yet the flames that died in the wake of the Battle of Sudden Flame were limited not to those purely physical, and to look into his great-aunt Andreth’s eyes was to see a flame extinguished. There was a frailness to his great-aunt that not even her immense age had afflicted upon her. She stood, disdaining still to lean on the cane that their father had gifted her last Midsummer, and argued with Uncle Barahir and Aunt Emeldir over the proper course of action now that the flames had devoured most of Dorthonion. Her voice was as loud and clear as it had been when Baragund had been a boy, but there was a new brittleness to its timbre and a weariness to the set of her shoulders. Uncle Barahir wished to stay and fight, to try to rebuild. Great-Aunt Andreth, a bony arm splayed out to point to the ash-fields that remained of their homes and the oily black clouds that still billowed from the castle to the west, called that hope foolishness. As Wise-woman and eldest kin, Great-aunt Andreth had dispensed advice for the chieftains of Bëor, starting with her father, then brother, and lastly her nephew. In some ways, his people said, it was Andreth who ruled the People of Bëor, and they nodded at the righteousness of that, for she was wise and firm-willed. Uncle Barahir looked pained to be publicly disagreeing with her. When the Great Fever swept through Dorthonion, killing many including Chief Boromir and Baragund’s mother, Great-aunt Andreth had been the one to take in Baragund and his brother while their father recovered from the illness and buried their mother. She had been the one to lead her brother, Bregor, through that terrible summer of his first days as chief, to give him strength and hope. She promised the plague would pass, lives be rebuilt, and that Bregor would carry his people successfully through the harvest and winter. Now, her words speak of defeat. In the ashes of the Dagor Bragollach, there was no hope of surviving the coming winter.

A tree, hallowed out by disease and rot, still upright until a high wind would come to topple it, that was Great-Aunt Andreth.

—

“We should not leave before recovering the bones,” Great-Aunt Andreth said in her new brittle voice. “They should be buried, your father’s bones. And theirs, our lords.” Her breath hitched, and if their had been an emptiness where light once shone in her grey eyes, now there was the gaping darkness that the elves spoke of when describing the great monster Ungoliant. “We cannot leave their bones to be gnawed on by the Enemy’s wolves.”

—

His brother, Belegund, cupped his wife and daughter’s cheeks with both hands, one after another, to kiss their foreheads and promise to return. Rían, almost too heavy to be held in her mother’s arms, reached tearfully for her father. Belegund held her crying cheeks, thumbs rubbing away the tears, and kissed her forehead a second time. Baragund mimicked the gesture with his own daughter. Morwen grimaced and rubbed at her brow after he kissed it, scowling up at him. 

“Worry not for me,” she told him in her most serious voice, desperate to sound like the grown woman she thought she must be. Fourteen years old and stubborn. 

When he first held her in his arms, Baragund had wished with all his heart that his tiny Morwen would grow to become like the woman he most admired. He stared at her and wondered if she too would become hollowed out by grief as Great-aunt Andreth has.

—

The crows and other scavengers had picked the charred flesh off of the bones, and what remained were cracked, fire-darkened armor, charcoal and ash, some bones that still vaguely resembled the outlines of the bodies that had once been, and the smell.

It was impossible to tell which body was his father, or the elven lords. “He was my father,” Baragund cried, “How can I not tell where he lies, which body is his? How will we bury him with honor?”

“You will,” Andreth assured him.

—

“The vows,” Great-Aunt Andreth was whispering to herself, staring forlornly at the bones. “Flesh become one, my heart be yours, your blood be mine. The old wedding vows.” In her grief she had bitten her bottom lip enough to draw blood, and she wiped it with the back of a bony hand. It stood bright red against the pale flesh and gray ash as she sifted through the rubble, gingerly searching for discernible pieces of skeletons. Belegund brought her helmets, searching for one with a familiar crest.

“I was not yours; you were not mine.”

[anghraine]

Damn, I just realized that I made this a full decade ago, back when I was still using MS Paint to express my Dúnedain feelings.

Out of the South: women of the Southern Dúnedain

(aka a fancast for the named Gondorian ladies from LOTR)

Jing Tian as Fíriel, daughter of King Ondoher of Gondor. She was married to Prince Arvedui of Arthedain when their fathers made an alliance; Arvedui later claimed the Gondorian throne through her, but was refused. Her fate after the destruction of Arthedain is unknown.

Liu Yifei as Rían, daughter of the Steward Barahir. She had a son, Denethor, who became Steward after the death of her brother Dior.

Zhang Jingchu as Morwen, daughter of the Steward Belecthor. She had either a son or daughter, whose son Egalmoth followed Morwen’s nephew Ecthelion as Steward.

Yang Mi as Morwen of Lossarnach, a cousin of the Princes of Dol Amroth. She married Thengel of Rohan in Gondor, and later became Queen of Rohan, where she was liked and called Steelsheen for her remarkable grace. She had five children, and her descendants were notable for the height, pride, and occasional dark hair they inherited from her. It is unknown what, if any, direct influence she had on them.

Zhang Ziyi as Finduilas of Dol Amroth, second daughter of Prince Adrahil and older sister of Prince Imrahil. She was a beautiful and gentle woman, married to the Steward Denethor, and like the rest of her family of mixed Dúnadan and Silvan (Elvish) descent. Between the shadow of Mordor in Minas Tirith and her longing for the sea, Finduilas fell into a decline and died young. She had two children, Boromir and Faramir.

Liu Shi Shi as Lothíriel of Dol Amroth, only daughter and youngest child of Prince Imrahil (and thus niece of Finduilas). Like her cousin Faramir, she married into the royal family of Rohan, thanks to the great friendship between her father and their distant cousin Éomer. She had at least one child, Elfwinë. Nothing else is known of her life.

[thelordofgifs]

Obscure Tolkien Blorbo: Character List!

Ok it's a slow work day so I started thinking about how to seed the bracket and have come up with an "obscurity ranking" of every blorbo submitted. The full list of 128 characters, ranked from least to most obscure, is below the cut.

A few quick notes:

I spotted a couple more duplicates after closing the form, and added in a few blorbos that people mentioned they didn't have time to submit in the replies!

obscurity ranking = number of works the character is tagged in on AO3 * number of submissions. A pretty crude measure, but it works imo.

Next steps are to decide how exactly I want to seed the bracket (should the most obscure blorbos face off against the least obscure? Or is that unfair?) and then to try to set that up. Thoughts and opinions on this welcome!

Bofur Tauriel Dís Beorn Nerdanel Círdan Elros Oropher Lobelia Sackville-Baggins Finarfin Amrod Idril Ecthelion of Gondolin Huan Finduilas Faelivrin Halbarad Eärwen Lalwen Belladonna Took Bain Haleth Beleg Mablung Tuor Nimloth Anairë Rían Míriel Daeron Andreth Tar-Míriel Eöl Thuringwethil Mahtan Finduilas of Dol Amroth Findis Argon Eluréd Elurín Rog Nellas Curufin's wife Tom Bombadil Beregond Egalmoth Arien Pengolodh Ioreth Olwë Edrahil Ingwë Salgant Ilmarë Tar-Ancalimë Tevildo Amlach Erendis Tilion Nessa Caranthir's wife Gamling Bill the pony Barliman Butterbur Ancalagon Berúthiel Mithrellas Pearl Took Faniel Urwen Elmo Eärnur Mahtan’s wife Gelmir Guilinion Legolas of Gondolin Andróg Fíriel of Gondor Silmariën Tata Eorl Meássë Lothrandir Nob Golodir Vidumavi Inzilbêth A fox passing through the woods on business of his own Imin Tinfang Warble Corunir Elulindo Hareth Belen Eldacar of Gondor Gwindeth Ilwen Eilinel Enel Hirgon Gelmir (messenger) Bór Narmeleth Horn Nuin Faramir (son of Ondoher) Beleth Findegil Makar Andvír Ornendil Meril Golfimbul Ainairos Larnach’s daughter Jajax Viznak Ælfwine Hiril (daughter of Barahir) Youngest of Finrod's Ten One (1) Rivendell elf who sings tra la la lally Bingo Baggins Bëor's wife Múta Random orc of Morgoth Narthseg Ulbandi Miaulë The chief dancing bear of Númenor Erutáro

[anghraine]

Now that I’m thinking about the Ruling Stewardship being inherited through female lines a couple of times, by contrast to Gondor’s (and apparently Arnor’s/Arthedain’s) firm position that only male-line male heirs could inherit the crown, I’m wondering a lot about Denethor I.

This Denethor was the son of Steward Dior’s sister Rían, and the first person to inherit the rule of Gondor through a woman. We don’t really have any details of how he inherited the Stewardship—was there any controversy? was it Dior’s decision? the Council’s? was it a perfectly smooth transition? what was Rían’s place in all this?

If there were any shenanigans to enable the continuance of the Ruling Stewardship, it’s interesting that the consequences of Rían’s descendants succeeding to the Stewardship were so directly spectacular. Denethor I’s son was the asskicking Steward Boromir whom even the Witch-king feared, and Boromir’s son was Cirion himself, “a man of little pride and of great courage and generosity of heart, the noblest of the Stewards of Gondor.”

[anghraine]

Completely baseless headcanon: the Steward Dior was a) ace and b) very close to his sister Rían, who was practically co-Steward for both him and her son Denethor I.

[outofangband]

morwen, 🫂 a hug

You probably wanted something nicer than this

Let me know if you wanted something else! I’m willing to write something different

From this prompt list here!

CW: the very beginning of the invasion of Ladros during Dagor Bragollach

“Mother,” Morwen murmurs as the older woman pulls her closer, holding her almost painfully tightly before abruptly letting go and returning to the swelling of chaos and noise around them. There was so much movement, women, men and some of the older children scurrying around throwing parcels wrapped in torn fabric into pockets and satchels, pouring flasks of water from huge wooden buckets, stacking loaves of bread and a hundred other tasks.

Rían, far too young to understand what was happening, raced over to grip her cousin’s hand, swaying anxiously, then letting go again, running back to her mother to try the same tactic. Morwen watched her mutely for a moment. Her aunt was struggling to button the clasps on Rían’s coat, tucking a wrapped package into her pockets.

“My brave girl,” Anoriel murmurs, distracted but solemn as she meets her daughter’s dark eyes, “The sooner you and Rían get out, the safer you will be. The more likely it will be that you will be safe. Your father has already left, traveled North to join Barahir. You will go South. Outrun the flames. And the armies.”

“Are we going to die?” Even earlier in this new chapter of their lives she might have meant it as a fearful plea for a denial but now it is matter of fact, even flat. Anoriel looks at her fleetingly.

“Not if you get out quickly enough.” Hardly a reassuring answer but it still falls flat to Morwen as optimistic.

She looks once more at her mother before turning away. The smell of burning pines had reached them at last and the air crackled with a destructive hunger.

[anghraine]

Are you familiar with the crack theory that Faramir is Gandalfs son? It explains why Denethor doesnt trust him, why Gandalf risks everything to save him, and why Sam thinks that he has an air of Wizards. I dont buy it myself, but I think it is an interesting theory. Love that you love Farawyn btw it is my otp haha!

I... uh, no, haven't run into that particular iteration before. I'm a solid "no" on it myself, I'll admit—Denethor himself has a similar air according to Pippin (before seeing Faramir), so attributing Faramir's directly to Gandalf seems weird and unnecessary to me, and I dislike "Finduilas cheated on Denethor" theories/headcanons on general principle. OTOH I'd be genuinely amused (despite not seeing Gandalf as a sexual being at all and not thinking it at all probable) at the prospect of Gandalf/Rían daughter of Barahir or Gandalf/Morwen daughter of Belecthor.

Thanks about Faramir/Éowyn! It is a truly excellent pairing :)