“The women, who did not need to run down prey, had brains that spotted landmarks and made paths between them left at the thorn bush and across the scree and look down in the bole of the half-fallen tree, because sometimes there are mushrooms. “
Neil Gaiman, The Mushroom Hunters.
There was a time without fortresses, jewels or kings.
women of arda [4/?] → MÍRIEL ÞERINDË, QUEEN OF THE NOLDOR
Míriel was also called Serindë, because of her surpassing skill in weaving and needlework; for her hands were more skilled to fineness than any hands even among the Noldor. […] But in the bearing of her son Míriel was consumed in spirit and body, and after his birth she yearned for release from the labour of living.
[…] She went then to the gardens of Lórien and lay down to sleep… [and] her spirit passed in silence to the halls of Mandos. The maidens of Estë tended the body of Míriel, and it remained unwithered; but she did not return.
—J. R. R. Tolkien, The Silmarillion, “Of Fëanor and the Unchaining of Melkor”
“[Fëanor] was the eldest of Finwe’s sons and the only child of his first wife Miriel. She was a Noldorin Elda of slender and graceful form, and of gentle disposition, though as was later discovered in matters far more grave, she could show an ultimate obstinacy that counsel or command would only make more obdurate. She had a beautiful voice and a delicate and clear enunciation, though she spoke swiftly and took pride in this skill. Her chief talent, however, was a marvellous dexterity of hand. This she employed in embroidery, which though achieved in what even the Eldar thought a speed of haste was finer and more intricate than any that had before been seen. She was therefore called Perinde (Needlewoman) - a name which she had indeed already been given as a ‘mother-name’.”
“Miriel was the name of his mother. Her hair was like silver; and she was slender as a white flower in the grass. Soft and sweet was her voice, and she sang as she worked, like rippling water, in music without words.”
Silver-haired Miriel has been slowly growing on me. It’s definitely not how I first imagined her, but I really, really like the idea that the hair colors thing was a little simplified and that there was a lot of intermarriage between the second and third hosts.
(Also I apparently cannot read anything about anyone ever singing without random Maglor feels. Of course Feanor would have encouraged his son’s talent - maybe he remembers, or likes to think he remembers, the sound of her voice…)
Noldorin Portraits pt1: Finwë, Míriel, Mahtan, and Rúmil.
Alrighty, here come the Noldor! I have twelve portraits up and ready to go (including this batch), and I haven’t even started working on Finwë’s grandkids yet loll In the meantime, I hope y’all enjoy these colourful portraits!
![dwimmerlaiks:Míriel Þerindë for Legendarium Ladies April | Silmedit Series“[Fëanor] was the eldest](https://64.media.tumblr.com/4764f60b787f5e016a6614b0a9804af6/tumblr_n41jc4MKtC1s42orjo3_500.jpg "dwimmerlaiks:Míriel Þerindë for Legendarium Ladies April | Silmedit Series“[Fëanor] was the eldest")
