Andreth
Wise woman of the House of Beor. Andreth was born in year 361 of the First Age. She was the daughter of Boromir. Boromir was the Lord of the House of Beor. Andreth had two siblings: an elder brother named Bregor and a younger sister named Beril.
Andreth fell in love with a young Elf named Aegnor who came from Dorthonion. Since at that time a marriage between an Elf and a man was a thing unheard of, Aegnor decided that he would not marry Andreth because he was immortal and she was not. Andreth and Aegnor parted forever on the shores of Tarn Aeluin. Andreth was left devastated by his decision. In her life, Andreth neither married nor had children.
Andreth later met a man named Belemir and his wife Adanel. Adanel was of the House of Marach, and from her Andreth learned many things. Andreth also began to study the folklore and tradition of the Edain. Because of her excessive knowledge, Andreth became known as a Wise-lady.
When Aegnor's brother Finrod visited the home of Belemir, Andreth and he would share their excessive knowledge. As she conversed with Finrod, Andreth collected more knowledge. In 409, Andreth and Finrod had a long-extended philosophical discussion about what makes men mortal and the hroa and fea, the relationship between the body and soul. Andreth said that she believed that Eru may someday return to the world and help the free peoples fight off the evil caused by Morgoth.
Aegnor was killed during the Battle of Sudden Flame in 455. Andreth was ninety-four years old at the time of her former lover's death. Though Andreth's fate is not known, it is believed that she did not long outlive Aegnor. Finrod once made a prophecy that Andreth would outlive Aegnor, which could have easily been true, though she could not have outlived him by more than a few years because of her mortality.
Andreth fell in love with a young Elf named Aegnor who came from Dorthonion. Since at that time a marriage between an Elf and a man was a thing unheard of, Aegnor decided that he would not marry Andreth because he was immortal and she was not. Andreth and Aegnor parted forever on the shores of Tarn Aeluin. Andreth was left devastated by his decision. In her life, Andreth neither married nor had children.
Andreth later met a man named Belemir and his wife Adanel. Adanel was of the House of Marach, and from her Andreth learned many things. Andreth also began to study the folklore and tradition of the Edain. Because of her excessive knowledge, Andreth became known as a Wise-lady.
When Aegnor's brother Finrod visited the home of Belemir, Andreth and he would share their excessive knowledge. As she conversed with Finrod, Andreth collected more knowledge. In 409, Andreth and Finrod had a long-extended philosophical discussion about what makes men mortal and the hroa and fea, the relationship between the body and soul. Andreth said that she believed that Eru may someday return to the world and help the free peoples fight off the evil caused by Morgoth.
Aegnor was killed during the Battle of Sudden Flame in 455. Andreth was ninety-four years old at the time of her former lover's death. Though Andreth's fate is not known, it is believed that she did not long outlive Aegnor. Finrod once made a prophecy that Andreth would outlive Aegnor, which could have easily been true, though she could not have outlived him by more than a few years because of her mortality.
Names & Meanings
The meaning of the name Andreth is not known, and it is likely in the language of the House of Beor. Elves called Andreth Saelind, which means "Wise-heart" in Sindarin. It can be derived from the elements sael meaning "wise" in Sindarin and ind meaning "heart."
References
The History of Middle-earth, Volume X, Morgoth's Ring: "Athrabeth Finrod Ah Andreth," passim
The History of Middle-earth, Volume XI, The War of the Jewels: "The Later Quenta Silmarillion," pages 230-233
The History of Middle-earth, Volume XII, The Peoples of Middle-earth: "The Problem of Ros," page 374
The History of Middle-earth, Volume XI, The War of the Jewels: "The Later Quenta Silmarillion," pages 230-233
The History of Middle-earth, Volume XII, The Peoples of Middle-earth: "The Problem of Ros," page 374
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