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Indis the Fair
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Gender
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Female
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Parents
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Vanwë (N); Ingyë (N)
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Palurien (N)
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Indis (PQ."Bride", Vn."Valiant Woman") was a High Elf of the Vanyar, renowned for her beauty, and wisdom. She was the second wife of Finwë, High King of the Noldor, and the mother of Findis, Fingolfin, Irimë, and Finarfin. Her marriage to Finwë, following the death of his first wife, Míriel Serindë, was a source of both joy and discord among the Noldor, particularly with Finwë’s firstborn, Fëanor. Indis, golden-haired and noble, was a close kin of Ingwë, King of the Vanyar, and ultimately withdrew from Noldorin affairs following the exile of her children and the Doom of the Noldor. She is believed to have lived out the rest of her days among her own people in Valinor, mourning the fall of her husband's house.
Lore[]
Early Life[]
Indis was born in the Years of the Trees in Cuiviénen, the primordial homeland of the Elves, before the Great March to Aman. She was of noble Vanyarin lineage and was closely related to Ingwë, either as his sister, daughter, or niece, depending on varying accounts in Elvish lore. Following the arrival of the Eldar in Aman, Indis dwelt among the Vanyar on the slopes of Taniquetil, where she became known for her solitary walks and her songs, which were said to echo with the beauty of the Blessed Realm.
Marriage to Finwë[]
Indis' fate became intertwined with that of the Noldorin king, Finwë. After the birth of Fëanor, Finwë’s first wife, Míriel, was overcome with weariness and chose to depart from life, dwelling in the Halls of Mandos. Left in grief, Finwë eventually found solace in Indis. It was said that their love was kindled when they met on the slopes of Taniquetil, where Indis' song of joy reached Finwë’s ears, filling his heart with unexpected hope. The marriage of Indis and Finwë was met with controversy. Though the Valar, particularly Manwë, permitted it through the Statute of Finwë and Míriel, many among the Noldor, including Fëanor himself, resented the union. Indis bore Finwë four children: Findis, Fingolfin, Irimë, and Finarfin. While her children inherited her noble and temperate spirit, they also became embroiled in the mounting tensions with their elder half-brother, Fëanor.
Unrest of the Noldor[]
Fëanor never forgave his father for remarrying, nor did he accept Indis as his stepmother. He perceived her children as rivals, particularly Fingolfin, who grew into a powerful and respected leader among the Noldor. Even seemingly minor cultural shifts, such as Indis' adoption of the Noldorin dialect of Quenya over her native Vanyarin, were viewed by Fëanor as signs of her rejection of his mother, fueling his resentment. Tensions between Indis' children and Fëanor reached a boiling point when Fëanor, in his growing paranoia and pride, threatened Fingolfin with a drawn sword. As a result, the Valar banished him to Formenos, where Finwë chose to accompany him. This deeply saddened Indis, as she was left behind in Tirion with her other children and was powerless to mend the rift within her family.
The Darkening of Valinor[]
In Y.T. 1495, when Melkor, later known as Morgoth, slew Finwë in Formenos while stealing the Silmarils. With her husband dead, Indis was left widowed and bereft. In the Halls of Mandos, Finwë encountered Míriel once more, and at her request, he renounced his right to be reborn, allowing her to return to life instead. This decision left Indis permanently separated from her husband, a fate she bore with great sorrow.
Withdrawal to the Vanyar[]
With Finwë gone and her children embroiled in the Doom of the Noldor, Indis had no place left among the Noldor. She and her daughter Findis returned to the Vanyar in Valinor, where she lived in seclusion, mourning the fate of her family. It is said that she dwelled in the halls of Ingwë, taking solace in the undying light of Aman, and never again took part in the affairs of Middle-earth.
Some accounts suggest that Indis, in her grief, may have sought counsel from the Valar, particularly Vairë, the weaver of time, to understand the tragic destiny of her house. Others claim that she awaited the day of the Dagor Dagorath, the prophesied end of the world, when her children might be restored to her.
Appearance[]
- -golden-haired
- -tall
Note[]
The division in Finwë's house was mirrored by a linguistic schism within the Noldor. The transition of the Quenya language from the use of the letter "þ" to "s" became a point of contention, with Fëanor staunchly preserving the older form in honor of his mother, while Indis, out of deference to Finwë and the Noldor, adopted the new usage. This seemingly minor issue became a symbol of the broader divide between Fëanor and the children of Indis.