Mîrioniel of Lothlorien

Character Name: Mîrioniel

Name Meaning: Daughter of a precious jewel.
mîr - “jewel, precious thing” + on (augmentative suffix) iell - “daughter”

Age: 2,637

Date of Birth: T.A. 373

Race: Sindarin Elf

Residence: Lothlórien

Profession: Scribe and bard: She has taken in upon herself to chronicle the history of those that dwell in Lorien, as well as penning stories, poems and songs about her people.

Appearance: Along with the rest of her people, she is tall, slim and lithe. She has long, straight hair that touches her hips, and golden in colour, that it shines like a spark of gold in the sun's rays. Despite her extensive years, she has a young appearance, with a heart shaped face, button nose, rounded chin, full cupid-bow shaped lips, and high cheek bones. Her eyes are crystal blue, with long silver eye lashes.

Sharing another characteristic of her people, she is pale skinned, with an ethereal beauty. Her hands are soft and finely boned. She carries herself with elegance, and when wearing her white and gold mantle, one would think she was floating instead of walking.

Personality: Mîrioniel is a calm elf, who avoids confrontation at all costs. Though she inherited her mother's pride, she became more humble, as well as melancholic, after Amroth and Nimrodel's departure from Lorien. Mîrioniel is a sensitive soul, affected by the emotions of those she surrounds herself with. For her part, she is far more reserved, still grieving the loss of her parents.

In stark contrast to her mother, her father being King of Lorien, taught his daughter to be open minded. Whereas her mother spoke only her native tongue, she was taught the common Sindarin language used by most elves, as well as Westron. Her regal upbringing also taught her to be gracious, though she was strong willed from birth.



Parents: Amroth, King of Lothlorien, and Nimrodel.

Sibling(s): None

Spouse: None

Children: None

History: Mîrioniel's upbringing was filled with joy, her parents indulged her creativity, not merely singing, but with the written word too. Though her mother would have her create poems and songs in her native tongue only, it was her father that broadened her horizons with languages. As with all elves, she developed a love of nature, especially the water, from her mother, who spent many a day by the stream that bore her name. Listening to the flowing waters aided in blossoming a love of words. Mother and child would sit by and try to decipher what the stream was whispering to them, and Mîrioniel would write it down, to later put into verse. The time spent with her father was in how to defend herself, should the need arise, both in archery and with twin daggers.

However, this lush pasture of time was short lived, Nimrodel became displeased with the admittance of foreign elves into Lothlórien, believing they would shatter the peace of her kingdom. Amroth and Mîrioniel were not so reticent to meet the newcomers, and the daughter took great delight in learning of their cultures and ways, especially if she were to be their princess, if they chose to settle. Unlike her mother, Mîrioniel was more strong willed, and not easily spooked by what was happening beyond the boundaries of their realm. She took pride that her grandfather, Amdír, had been a warrior king, who took sovereignty of Lorien from the Silvan elves who had no lords before. Not only that, but he had fought in the Last Alliance of Elves and Men, where he was slain at the Battle of Dagorlad. Coming from such a rich heritage, she could not allow herself to be scared off by what was occurring in the wider world.

Nimrodel's mood continued to decline, and when the Balrog awoke in Khazad-dûm, she grew uneasy in Lorien, until she fled the woodland realm. Amroth quickly pursued her to Fangorn Forest, leaving Mîrioniel as protector of Lorien. She never envisaged that her parents would not return. When news reached her that her father had drowned, and no one knew the fate of her mother, Mîrioniel fell into a deep melancholy, some feared for her life, believing her woe would kill her too. It was the duty to her people that kept her tied to Middle Earth. Instead of claiming her place as Queen of Lothlórien, she instead reached out to Galadriel and Celeborn, beseeching them to come to her realm, which they did, becoming Guardians of the Golden Wood.

Once she was secure in the knowledge Lothlórien would have a stable leadership, Mîrioniel left to wander the woodland realm. Whilst she was not ashamed of what her parents did, their actions borne out of love and devotion for each other, she felt the heavy eye and judgement of her people upon her. Amroth had left Lorien at a time when their people needed them. Nimrodel had gotten scared and fled, like a coward. Rightly or wrongly, in their absence, Mîrioniel considered the elves of Lorien would place the blame on her, and harmony in her homeland would never be attainable. So the rule of the Sindar in Lorien came to a tragic end.

In the following years, there were reported sightings of Mîrioniel, near Fangorn Forest, and along the trail her mother had supposedly taken to the Bay of Balfalas, leading to speculation that she was looking for Nimrodel. During this time, the Song of Nimrodel started to travel from Lorien to Rivendell.One myth cites Mîrioniel as the author of the Song of Nimrodel, something the elf has neither confirmed or denied.

The elf remained elusive until the Third Age 2063, when the Watchful Peace began. She returned to Lorien refusing to take up her title, wishing to remain a mere woodland elf. Mîrioniel proceeded to become a scribe, writing the history of the elves, predominantly of Lorien, but also writing down stories, and histories from the Awakening of the Elves. She also continued to create songs and poems, whilst staying out of the politics of men, dwarves, wizards and such like. Anything that hinted toward confrontation was avoided by her, she did not flee like her mother, but merely refused to become embroiled.