Descendents of Finwë Part 13: Finarfin

[fanged-geranium.livejournal.com]

Today's Finwian is Finarfin, the sensible one.


Finarfin

Potted History
*Also known as Arafinwë (HoME Vol. 12)
*Became the Valar-appointed ruler of the Noldor
*The name Finarfin was applied to him by Finrod after Fingolfin's death (HoME Vol. 12)

In Valinor
Finarfin was the fairest, and the most wise of heart; and afterwards he was a friend of the sons of Olwë, lord of the Teleri, and had to wife Eärwen, the swan-maiden of Alqualondë, Olwë's daughter.

The sons of Finarfin were Finrod the faithful (who was afterwards named Felagund, Lord of Caves), Orodreth, Angrod, and Aegnor; these four were as close in friendship with the sons of Fingolfin as though they were all brothers. A sister they had, Galadriel, most beautiful of all the house of Finwë; her hair was lit with gold as though it had caught in a mesh the radiance of Laurelin.

to Fingolfin and Finarfin it was said: 'Beware! Small love has the proud son of Míriel ever had for the children of Indis. Now he has become great, and he has his father in his hand. It will not be long before he drives you forth from Túna!'

Finarfin spoke softly, as was his wont, and sought to calm the Noldor, persuading them to pause and ponder ere deeds were done that could not be undone

when Finarfin spoke yet again for heed and delay, a great shout went up: 'Nay, let us be gone!'

With Fingolfin went Finarfin also and for like reasons; but most loath was he to depart.

at the rear went Finarfin and Finrod, and many of the noblest and wisest of the Noldor; and often they looked behind them to see their fair city, until the lamp of the Mindon Eldaliéva was lost in the night. More than any others of the Exiles they carried thence memories of the bliss they had forsaken, and some even of the things that they had made there they took with them: a solace and a burden on the road.

Finarfin forsook the march, and turned back, being filled with grief, and with bitterness against the House of Fëanor, because of his kinship with Olwë of Alqualondë; and many of his people went with him, retracing their steps in sorrow, until they beheld once more the far beam of the Mindon upon Túna still shining in the night, and so came at last to Valinor. There they received the pardon of the Valar, and Finarfin was set to rule the remnant of the Noldor in the Blessed Realm.

Ring of Barahir
twin serpents, whose eyes were emeralds, and their heads met beneath a crown of golden flowers, that the one upheld and the other devoured; that was the badge of Finarfin and his house

Finrod's re-embodiment
Finrod walks with Finarfin his father beneath the trees in Eldamar.

War in Middle-earth
the host of the Valar prepared for battle; and beneath their white banners marched the Vanyar, the people of Ingwë, and those also of the Noldor who never departed from Valinor, whose leader was Finarfin the son of Finwë.

Comments

[dawn_felagund]

Wow, the Sil doesn't say much about him, does it? I'd never really realized this before.

Of course, that might be because I've been seized by a Finarfin!nuzgul too large to be a mere bunny....

*off to work on said Finarfin story*

[fanged-geranium.livejournal.com]

It might be why he is so under-appreciated.

[dawn_felagund]

*waves little flags on behalf of Finarfin*

Everyone does Feanorians. (And me, most of all!) Who is underappreciated in fics? I'd definitely go with Finarfin and probably the lords of Gondolin too.

I think it was ithilwen who said that Feanorians are a gateway drug ;-P

[fanged-geranium.livejournal.com]

There aren't many fics about Turgon, although he gets mentioned a lot. When I tried to think of something to say about him for my post on Saturday I just couldn't, so I don't think I'll be joining the Turgon Appreciation Society.

There is also very little about Angrod and Aegor, both in fic and the Silm.

I reckon the Feanorians are popular with writers because they are significant players throughout the first age, and they lend themselves so well to angst, action/adventure and humour.

[dawn_felagund]

Turgon is just...bleh.

Maybe because of his bad attitude towards the Feanorians and his whole little "I'm going to hide in a hole in the mountain" philosophy (like I have a lot of room to talk, as a rabid Finrod fangurl), but Turgon has never seemed sympathetic to me.

Angrod and Aegnor, I find intriguing. Was it Angrod who fell in love with a mortal woman in some versions of Tolkien's story? That bunny has been nibbling me for some time now.

[fanged-geranium.livejournal.com]

That seems like a good reason to be indifferent to Turgon. I might have to borrow it.

It was Aegnor who fell in love with Andreth but didn't do anything about it, according to Finrod. Angrod was the one who became Orodreth's father in Tolkien's later versions - his wife was called Eldalote (or Edhellos in Sindarin), IIRC. I'll find the exact quotes for their sections (Wednesday and Thursday, I think).

[dawn_felagund]

I always get Angrod and Aegnor mixed up....

I really need to read "Anthrabeth." That would help. And I remember Edhellos from "The Shibboleth," which I was reading as I needed the Quenya names for Finarfin's boys for the story I'm working on.

When the time comes, would you mind if the character research is posted on our website? With full credit, of course :)

[fanged-geranium.livejournal.com]

I always get Angrod and Aegnor mixed up....

I think they're mostly interchangeable.

I really need to read "Anthrabeth." That would help.

It's supposed to fit in with the 'Myths Transformed' section, so it isn't particularly relevant to LaCE Elves and the Two Trees version. The bits on Men definitely assume longer than 450 years since the first Men awoke.

I remember Edhellos from "The Shibboleth,"

I hoped she wasn't a character from a fic! I really need to re-read the Shibboleth.

When the time comes, would you mind if the character research is posted on our website? With full credit, of course :)

Of course I don't mind! Do you think it would be worthwhile for me to post sections on other Elves, and even Mortals on Silwritersguild? I have most of them done, but I'm not sure if people would be interested in non-Finwians.

[dawn_felagund]

I think that any character research you want to post would be wonderful! I think that the Finwian lot is the loudest, most raucous bunch around here (go figure), but there might be interest among people who don't post as much in other characters. Also, Uli and I were talking (a long while back) about trying to drum up interest for new characters and having handy factsheets for them, I think, is a good way to start the process :)