Lalaith
Sister of Turin and daughter of Hurin. Lalaith was born in year 466 of the First Age. Her father was Hurin, Lord of the House of Hador in Dor-lomin, and her mother was Morwen of the House of Beor. Lalaith was born with the name Urwen. Lalaith had an older brother named Turin. She was a beautiful child with golden hair resembling that of Elves.
Turin renamed his sister Lalaith, the Sindarin word for laughter, because her laugh was as beautiful as the sounds of a stream nearby called the Nen Lalaith. Turin adored Lalaith and he spied on her as she played. He loved listening to her beautiful laughter and song.
In 469, when Lalaith was only three years old, Morgoth sent a deadly wind known as the Evil Breath to Dor-lomin. Both Lalaith and Turin grew ill, but while Truin eventually recovered, Lalaith died. Her mother was grieved by her daughter's death until she had another daughter named Nienor in 472.
Turin searched for women who resembled Lalaith in appearance. He found none other than Nienor herself, who he met in the Forest of Brethil many years later. However, having never met Nienor, he did not know it was her and he married her, eventually killing himself when he realized who she was.
Turin renamed his sister Lalaith, the Sindarin word for laughter, because her laugh was as beautiful as the sounds of a stream nearby called the Nen Lalaith. Turin adored Lalaith and he spied on her as she played. He loved listening to her beautiful laughter and song.
In 469, when Lalaith was only three years old, Morgoth sent a deadly wind known as the Evil Breath to Dor-lomin. Both Lalaith and Turin grew ill, but while Truin eventually recovered, Lalaith died. Her mother was grieved by her daughter's death until she had another daughter named Nienor in 472.
Turin searched for women who resembled Lalaith in appearance. He found none other than Nienor herself, who he met in the Forest of Brethil many years later. However, having never met Nienor, he did not know it was her and he married her, eventually killing himself when he realized who she was.
Names & Meanings
The name Lalaith means "laughter" in Sindarin. It was also part of the name of a stream called the Nen Lalaith. Her name at birth, Urwen, means "Sun maiden." It can be derived from ur meaning "fire" and wen meaning "maiden."
References
The Unfinished Tales: "Narn I Hin Hurin," pages 57-61, 157
The Silmarillion: "Of Turin Turambar," page 198
The Children of Hurin: "The Childhood of Turin," pages 34, 38-40, 42-43; "Turin in Nargothrond," pages 164-165
The History of Middle-earth, Volume I, The Book of Lost Tales, Part One: "Appendix - Names in The Lost Tales, Part One," page 271
The History of Middle-earth, Volume V, The Lost Road and Other Writings: "The Etymologies"
The History of Middle-earth, Volume X, Morgoth's Ring: "Myths Transformed," page 374
The History of Middle-earth, Volume XI, The War of the Jewels: "The Later Quenta Silmarillion," page 234
The Silmarillion: "Of Turin Turambar," page 198
The Children of Hurin: "The Childhood of Turin," pages 34, 38-40, 42-43; "Turin in Nargothrond," pages 164-165
The History of Middle-earth, Volume I, The Book of Lost Tales, Part One: "Appendix - Names in The Lost Tales, Part One," page 271
The History of Middle-earth, Volume V, The Lost Road and Other Writings: "The Etymologies"
The History of Middle-earth, Volume X, Morgoth's Ring: "Myths Transformed," page 374
The History of Middle-earth, Volume XI, The War of the Jewels: "The Later Quenta Silmarillion," page 234
All Pages Copyright © 2010, The Middle-Earth Encyclopedia