Nimrodel
Nimrodel was a beautiful Elf-maiden of Lothlorien who was loved by King Amroth. She was very beautiful, with bright golden hair that glistened like the leaves of mallorn trees. Nimrodel was a Silvan Elf who spoke only the Silvan language of the Wood-elves, even after the Sindar came to dominate Lothlorien.
Nimrodel loved Amroth, but she said that she would not marry him. Amroth was a Sindarin Elf and Nimrodel was a Silvan Elf, and she thought it best each culture went about their own separate ways. Nimrodel went to live in the woods by a river later named Nimrodel in her honor.
In 1980 of the Third Age, a Balrog awoke in Khazad-dum and it wreaked havoc for the Dwarves living there. Many Elves fled from Lothlorien because of its close geographical proximity to Khazad-dum. In 1981, Nimrodel fled into the eaves of Fangorn Forest, but she was pursued by Amroth. When Amroth caught up to her, Nimrodel finally admitted that she loved Amroth, but would still not marry him unless he agreed to go to the Undying Lands in the West with her. Amroth agreed and they set out for Edhellond, the port from which the Elves departed Middle-Earth forever.
Amroth and Nimrodel were somehow separated in the White Mountains. Amroth promised to wait for Nimrodel when he reached the Sea. However, one night he was sleeping on his ship when a storm came and swept his ship out to Sea. Amroth dove off of his ship to try to swim back the Middle-Earth to find Nimrodel, but he drowned. Nimrodel, meanwhile, became lost in the White Mountains. She found a river called Gilrain where she settled for a time because it reminded her of her own river in Lothlorien. Nimrodel was enchanted by the river and the way that the stars reflected in it. She fell asleep for a long time, and when she awoke she finally found her way to the Sea. She was disheartened to find no signs of Amroth or his ship. It is not known what became of Nimrodel. It is possible that she passed over the Sea at a later date, or she may had returned to Lothlorien.
It was rumored amongst the Elves of Lothlorien that Nimrodel's song could be heard each spring on the Nimrodel stream.
Nimrodel loved Amroth, but she said that she would not marry him. Amroth was a Sindarin Elf and Nimrodel was a Silvan Elf, and she thought it best each culture went about their own separate ways. Nimrodel went to live in the woods by a river later named Nimrodel in her honor.
In 1980 of the Third Age, a Balrog awoke in Khazad-dum and it wreaked havoc for the Dwarves living there. Many Elves fled from Lothlorien because of its close geographical proximity to Khazad-dum. In 1981, Nimrodel fled into the eaves of Fangorn Forest, but she was pursued by Amroth. When Amroth caught up to her, Nimrodel finally admitted that she loved Amroth, but would still not marry him unless he agreed to go to the Undying Lands in the West with her. Amroth agreed and they set out for Edhellond, the port from which the Elves departed Middle-Earth forever.
Amroth and Nimrodel were somehow separated in the White Mountains. Amroth promised to wait for Nimrodel when he reached the Sea. However, one night he was sleeping on his ship when a storm came and swept his ship out to Sea. Amroth dove off of his ship to try to swim back the Middle-Earth to find Nimrodel, but he drowned. Nimrodel, meanwhile, became lost in the White Mountains. She found a river called Gilrain where she settled for a time because it reminded her of her own river in Lothlorien. Nimrodel was enchanted by the river and the way that the stars reflected in it. She fell asleep for a long time, and when she awoke she finally found her way to the Sea. She was disheartened to find no signs of Amroth or his ship. It is not known what became of Nimrodel. It is possible that she passed over the Sea at a later date, or she may had returned to Lothlorien.
It was rumored amongst the Elves of Lothlorien that Nimrodel's song could be heard each spring on the Nimrodel stream.
Names & Meanings
Nimrodel is Silvan for "Lady of the White Grotto." This references Nimrodel's dwelling near the Nimrodel River. The name was later adopted into Sindarin, and nim means "white" and rod means "grotto."
References
The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring: "Lothlorien," pages 353-355
The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King: "The Siege of Gondor," page 98; "The Last Debate," page 148
The Lord of the Rings, Appendix F: "The Languages and Peoples of the Third Age," page 405
The Unfinished Tales: "The History of Galadriel and Celeborn - Amroth and Nimrodel," passim; "Cirion and Eorl," page 316; definition and translation of Nimrodel
The History of Middle-earth, Volume V, The Lost Road and Other Writings: "The Etymologies"
The History of Middle-earth, Volume XII, The Peoples of Middle-earth: "The Heirs of Elendil," pages 221-223
The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King: "The Siege of Gondor," page 98; "The Last Debate," page 148
The Lord of the Rings, Appendix F: "The Languages and Peoples of the Third Age," page 405
The Unfinished Tales: "The History of Galadriel and Celeborn - Amroth and Nimrodel," passim; "Cirion and Eorl," page 316; definition and translation of Nimrodel
The History of Middle-earth, Volume V, The Lost Road and Other Writings: "The Etymologies"
The History of Middle-earth, Volume XII, The Peoples of Middle-earth: "The Heirs of Elendil," pages 221-223
All Pages Copyright © 2010, The Middle-Earth Encyclopedia