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Rían

From Tolkien Gateway
"Rian" by ForeverMedhok
Adan
Rían
Biographical Information
Position"a singer and a maker of songs"[1]
LocationLadros
BirthF.A. 450
DeathF.A. 472 (aged 22)
Haudh-en-Ndengin
Family
HouseHouse of Bëor
ParentageBelegund
SpouseHuor
ChildrenTuor
Physical Description
GenderFemale
GalleryImages of Rían

man agorech? sí il chem en i Naugrim en ir Ellath thor den ammen

Rían was the daughter of Belegund of the House of Bëor,[3] the wife of Huor of the House of Hador, and the mother of Tuor.[4] Rían "was a singer and a maker of songs". She had a gentle heart and had no liking for war or hunting because she gave her love to trees and wild flowers.[1]

History

Rían was born in F.A. 450.[5] She was only a young girl when the Dagor Bragollach erupted and was lost by Elves and Men in 455. In the wake of the defeat, her father Belegund became a companion of Barahir, who contested Morgoth's dominion over Dorthonion. But by 456, as Morgoth tightened his grip upon the land, Rían was led to safety with the other women and children by Emeldir, the wife of Barahir.[6] The refugees eventually reached Dor-lómin by way of Brethil.[7]

In F.A. 472, Rían wedded Huor of the House of Marach,[8] whose brother Húrin was married to Rían's cousin Morwen.[3] They had been married for only two months when Huor and Húrin left to fight in the Nirnaeth Arnoediad.[9]

Rumour soon came to Dor-lómin of the Nirnaeth Arnoediad, but Rían heard no news of her lord; at this she became distraught and wondered alone into the wild. There she would have perished if the Elves of Mithrim had not come to her aid, leading her to their dwelling in the mountains west of Lake Mithrim. It was there that she gave birth to her son.[10]

From either the rumours or the Elves, Rían must have learned of the treachery of Men committed during the Nirnaeth Arnoediad; shortly after the birth of her son she lamented to the infant of this treachery.[2]

Rían searches the Hill of Slain by Alan Lee

Rían named her son "Tuor", a name previously chosen by Huor. She begged the Elves to foster him and keep him hidden, foreboding that great good, for both Elves and Men, would come from him; she herself must leave to search for Huor. Annael, the only Elf among his people to return from the Nirnaeth, told her the fate of Huor: of his death and that his body was likely piled into the Hill of the Slain raised by the Orcs in the waste of Anfauglith.[10]

Rían then left the dwelling of the Elves, and eventually reached Haudh-en-Ndengin where she laid down and died.[10]

Etymology

Rían is Sindarin for "Crown-gift", from ("crown, garland") + ann ("gift").[11]

Genealogy

Bregor
359 - 448
Bregil
b. 386
Hirwen
389
Bregolas
393 - 455
Gilwen
b. 397
Barahir
400 - 460
Emeldir
b. 406
Beleth
b. 417
Baragund
420 - 460
Belegund
422 - 460
Beren
432 - 503
Lúthien
Y.T. 1200 - F.A. 503
Húrin
441 - 502
Morwen
441 - 501
RÍAN
450 - 472
Huor
444 - 472
Dior
470 - 506
Nimloth
d. 506
Túrin
464 - 499
Lalaith
466 - 469
Nienor
473 - 499
Tuor
b. 472
Idril
b. Y.T.
Eärendil
b. 503
Elwing
b. F.A. 503
Elros
F.A. 532 - S.A. 442
Elrond
born F.A. 532

Other versions of the legendarium

In an early version of the Grey Annals the wife of Belegund and Rían were in Hithlum when the Dagor Bragollach occurred and thus they did not have to escape from Dorthonion. This was superseded by the story of Emeldir and her escape with the women and children from the highlands.[12]

In the Grey Annals, the year of Rían's marriage to Huor was F.A. 471 in one paragraph,[13] yet in the year 472 it is said that they wedded in the first days of spring and that Huor was summoned to battle two months later.[8] In The Silmarillion the latter version was used.

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Children of Húrin, "The Childhood of Túrin", p. 34
  2. 2.0 2.1 Vinyar Tengwar, Number 50, March 2013
  3. 3.0 3.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Jewels, "Part Two. The Later Quenta Silmarillion: Of the Coming of Men into the West (Chapter 14)", (i) The House of Bëor, p. 231
  4. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Jewels, "Part Two. The Later Quenta Silmarillion: Of the Coming of Men into the West (Chapter 14)", (ii) The House of Hador, p. 234
  5. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Jewels, "Part One. The Grey Annals": §144
  6. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Jewels, "Part One. The Grey Annals": §159
  7. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of the Ruin of Beleriand and the Fall of Fingolfin"
  8. 8.0 8.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Jewels, "Part One. The Grey Annals": §218
  9. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of Túrin Turambar"
  10. 10.0 10.1 10.2 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "Of Tuor and his Coming to Gondolin"
  11. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Lost Road and Other Writings, Part Three: "The Etymologies", entry "RIG"
  12. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Jewels, "Part One. The Grey Annals": Note on §159
  13. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Jewels, "Part One. The Grey Annals": §216