Erendis

Erendis was born in Second Age 771, being the daughter of Beregar, a descendant of the House of Bëor, from which she inherited her dark hair and grey eyes. One day, her father brought her to the feast in which Prince Aldarion was proclaimed the King's Heir. There her eyes were captured by the beauty and splendour of Aldarion. Queen Almarian also noticed her beauty, and later the young lady entered the household of the Queen, where she was held in great esteem. However, Aldarion did not notice her until the day he departed to Middle-earth on one of his many travels there.

Years later, Aldarion was forbidden to depart again, and the ladies of his family were not allowed to give him a bough of oiolairë, a traditional blessing of the Númenóreans. Despite disliking the harbor, Erendis came to Aldarion's ship, bringing the bough. At that moment Aldarion began loving her, and when he returned, he gave her a diamond in gratitude. When their betrothal was announced, Aldarion offered his wife-to-be other jewels but she declared that she only wanted the one jewel. She then set it in a silver fillet and had Aldarion bind it about her forehead. Thus she became known throughout the land as Tar-Elestirnë.

Erendis and Aldarion were betrothed in the spring of Second Age 858, but their engagement was extended by another voyage of Aldarion, so they married twelve years later. Though Erendis resented it, Aldarion insisted on continuing with his voyages to Middle-earth, causing a rift between the two. Erendis took their daughter Ancalimë with her and went to live on her own on her farm. When Aldarion returned, he demanded to have his daughter returned to him, which Erendis did grudgingly, but her pride kept her from returning to the court.

It is unclear how the story of Aldarion and Erendis ended. In her old age, Erendis dwelt in Emerië. When she heard that Tar-Aldarion was returning from his last voyage, she journeyed incognito to the haven of Rómenna; there it is said she "perished in the water".

After Erendis, the wearing of a white jewel upon the brow became a tradition among the kings and queens of Númenor, who wore it instead of a crown. Later, in Middle-earth, this tradition continued in Arnor with the wearing of the Elendilmir, a star-like gem upon the brow.

The meaning of Erendis is unclear, but could be Quenya, being a compound of er ("one, alone") + indis ("wife, bride"), therefore "Lonely Bride", although we cannot know if this was a prophetic name or if it was given to her after her bad relationship with Aldarion.

She was widely known as Tar-Elestirnë ("Lady of the Star-brow"), given to her because of the white jewel in her forehead, that she wore until sorrow came.

In one occasion, Valandil called her Uinéniel ("Daughter of Uinen"), but she rejected such a name, proclaiming Uinen as her foe.

While in her youth she was called the Lady of the Westlands, in her remote dwelling, she was called the White Lady of Emerië.

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