Finduilas

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This article is about the Elf of the First Age. For the wife of Denethor, see Finduilas (wife of Denethor).
Finduilas
Noldo
Līga Kļaviņa - Princess of Nargothrond.jpg
Biographical Information
Other namesFaelivrin (S, epessë)
LocationNargothrond
LanguageSindarin
BirthUnknown
DeathF.A. 495
Crossings of Teiglin
Family
HouseHouse of Finarfin
ParentageOrodreth
SiblingsGil-galad
SpouseBetrothed to Gwindor; never married
Physical Description
GenderFemale
Hair colorGolden
GalleryImages of Finduilas

Finduilas was an Elf of the First Age, the daughter of Orodreth, ruler of Nargothrond, and sister of Gil-galad.

History

Finduilas lived in Nargothrond with her father and brother under the rule of Finrod Felagund. She was betrothed to Gwindor, who named her Faelivrin, which meant "Gleam of the Sun on the Pools of Ivrin".[1] She was very beautiful, a high princess of the Noldor and niece of Galadriel, Finrod, and Aegnor. She was descendant of the Teleri, Noldor and Vanyar. Noldor from Finwe, Teleri from Earwen and Vanyarin from Indis.

Her betrothed was captured in F.A. 472 during the Battle of Unnumbered Tears by Morgoth,[2] but he returned in 490 with a companion[3] who called himself Agarwaen, son of Umarth ("Bloodstained, son of the Cursed"). Unknown to Finduilas this was actually Túrin son of Húrin.

Despite her old feelings for Gwindor, Finduilas fell in love with Túrin. Túrin failed to notice her feelings, she reminding him of Lalaith, the sister he lost in childhood. Gwindor realized that Finduilas had fallen in love with Turin, and revealed his name to her in an attempt to discourage her pursuit.[1]

At the sack of Nargothrond by Glaurung, Gwindor was slain and Túrin was entranced by the dragon. Because of the enchantment, he could not hear Finduilas' cries as she was being dragged past him by the Orcs as a captive for Angband.[4]

Due to Glaurung's deceit Túrin abandoned Finduilas and instead went to Hithlum in search for his kin, and by the time he regained his senses she had been killed. When the Orcs were waylaid by the Haladin of Brethil at the Crossings of Teiglin they killed all their captives, pinning Finduilas to a tree with a spear. The Haladin buried her in a mound they called Haudh-en-Elleth ("Mound of the Elf-maiden").[5]

Genealogy

 
 
 
 
 
 
Finarfin
 
Eärwen
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Finrod
 
Angrod
 
Eldalótë
 
Aegnor
 
Galadriel
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Orodreth
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Gil-galad
 
 
 
FINDUILAS
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

See Also

References