Morwen
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Morwen Eledhwen | |
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Adan | |
Biographical Information | |
Other names | Eledhwen (S, "Elfsheen") |
Titles | Lady of Dor-lómin |
Location | Ladros; Dor-lómin; Doriath |
Birth | F.A. 443 Ladros |
Death | F.A. 500 (aged 57) Cabed Naeramarth |
Family | |
House | House of Bëor |
Parentage | Baragund |
Spouse | Húrin Thalion |
Children | Túrin Turambar, Lalaith, Nienor |
Physical Description | |
Gender | Female |
Hair color | Dark |
Gallery | Images of Morwen Eledhwen |
Morwen was a daughter of Baragund of the House of Bëor, and she married Húrin of the House of Marach. She was the mother of Túrin Turambar, Nienor and Lalaith. She is described as being tall, slender and fair, having a stern and cold disposition. Her son Túrin, but not her daughters, inherited her tendency to keep her emotions and thougths to herself. [1]
History
After Húrin's departure to fight for Fingon at the Nirnaeth Arnoediad, Morwen remained in her husband's house as the Lady of Dor-Lómin. After Morgoth's victory at the Nirnaeth, hordes of Easterlings invaded Hithlum. Even though they took control of the land, they left Morwen and her household alone for a while, believing her to be a witch with dealings with the Elves. She was indeed in contact with small groups of Elves living in the mountains close to her house, but from them she received only information, and that very scant.
Eventually she thought it best to send her only surviving child, Túrin, to Doriath to seek refuge. Being pregnant, and out of fear of drawing the Easterlings' attention, Morwen herself remained in Dor-Lómin.
Túrin was adopted by King Thingol, who sent messengers back to Hithlum bringing her news about Túrin's well-being, invitations from Thingol and gifts from Melian. But she refused to leave her home, not the least because her daughter Nienor was still a baby. [1]
Morwen eventually came to Doriath, and then set out to Nargothrond in search of Túrin. Mablung was tasked to accompany her. Unknown to both, Nienor daughter of Morwen, had joined them.
The women were left back upon Amon Ethir and Mablung set out with a small company to scout Nargothrond as were his orders by Thingol. Yet Glaurung left Nargothrond and Mablung was unable to prevent them both from getting ensnared in the traps of the Dragon. He hid from Glaurung and then searched the sacked Nargothrond, finding no sign of Túrin. Glaurung when returning mocked Mablung, sparing his life, and informing him that he had now lost also Morwen and Nienor.
Morwen, in an old age, came to the Forest of Brethil and found the graves of her children at Cabed Naeramarth. Húrin was there. She died near him, and he buried her.
Etymology
Morwen means "Dark Maiden" in Sindarin (from môr = "darkness, dark, night" and gwenn = "maiden"). Her epithet, Eledhwen, means "Elf-maiden" (from edhel = "Elf" and gwenn = "maiden"); Tolkien also translates it as "Elfsheen", which is a rendeding of Old English ælf-scīene "bright as fairy, of elfin beauty". Both definitions are in reference to her noble bearing.
Genealogy
Bregolas | Halmir | Hador Lórindol | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Belegund | Baragund | Hareth | Galdor of Dor-lómin | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
MORWEN | Húrin | Huor | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Túrin | Lalaith | Nienor | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
See Also