The Tale of Goldberry and the Fate of Nimrodel

The Tale of Goldberry and the Fate of Nimrodel

Ok, the magic word of the day is "river". Everytime you hear (read) the word "river" take a swig of your favorite Dwarven beverage - Bugman's Brew.
Today on the blog we have a painted mini - Goldberry on her horse. But first a little info about a Wood Elf maiden named Nimrodel... 

Nimrodel lived alone by her favorite river in Lothlorien. She was there long before the High Elves came from beyond the Sea. When they came, she tolerated them and allowed them to build a kingdom in the forest next to her river. The newly crowned King of Lorien was a hoity toity High Elf called Amroth and he fell in love with her. But after the Dwarves woke up a Balrog in nearby Moria, Nimrodel was afraid and left Lothlorien and headed south. King Amroth followed her and the two agreed to meet in Belfalas where they would cross the Sea to Valinor. There in the Undying Lands, Amroth promised Nimrodel that she would be safe from the upcoming wars. But she got lost on the way and was delayed. Amroth could not wait for her and told the ship to sail off, thinking Nimrodel had stood him up. But then he thought he saw her and leapt into the sea to swim back to the shore. Now listen up kids, always wait for the vehicle to come to a full and complete stop. And never jump into the ocean with your armor on, even if it is made of some "light as a feather" fancy-schmancy elven metal. So yeah, King Amroth drowned and they named the area around there after him - Dol Amroth. So where was Nimrodel? On the way to Belfalas, she had come to a river in the White Mountains that reminded her of her lovely river back home in Lorien. She sat by that river, listening to its soothing ASMR murmering and... fell asleep. When Nimrodel finally woke up, she hurried to Belfalas, where some locals told her of Amroth's fate. And Nimrodel was never heard of again. Did she go back to Lothorien? They did name her beloved river after her - Nimrodel River. Or did she stay in Belfalas? Many years later, Legolas remarked that the Prince of Dol Amroth had Elven blood in him. Or did Nimrodel go even further north to forget her sorrows?

She did love rivers. And who else in Middle Earth really loves rivers, lakes, ponds, and watery places of that nature you ask? Goldberry loves rivers! She had a house in the Old Forest by the River Withywindle. Actually it was Tom Bombadil who called her the "River-woman's daughter" because that is where he first saw her - in the river. Probably twirling water lillies and then taking river-naps. And remember, when Frodo and the Hobbits met Tom Bombadil he was picking river lillies for Goldberry. Some say she was a water spirit or a Naiad, or perhaps even one of the Maia like Olorin (Gandalf, for you non Maiar knowing rubes out there).
So did our forgetful Nimrodel finally forget the Amroth tragedy and end up falling in love and marrying Tom Bombadil? I mean Tom is constantly picking water lillies for her (and he doesnt jump off ships). One last thing - there is an isle in the Old Forest near the Withywindle river called Elvet-Isle that is infested with swans. Guess another place that has lots of swans? Dol Amroth! Centuries later the men of Dol Amroth had distinctive swan-wings on their helmets. Oh... one more last thing, between Dol Amroth and the Old Forest is another swan filled area... Swanfleet (Nin-In Eiph) Swans love lakes and rivers. Nimrodel/Goldberry left a trail of swans everywhere she went. Again, here is my thesis - Goldberry/Nimrodel is a "swan polluting" elf and has been raising swans as invasive species all over Middle Earth. Thats my story and Im sticking to it.

Oh Goldberry's horse is named... River.
Of course.

Zoltar: Greetings mysteriously clad lady! We are adventurers looking for a quest. Perchance do you have one at hand?

Goldberry: Funny you should ask. I have several fetch quests. *Adventureres grumble and groan amonngst themselves* Oh and a new one just popped up on my phone... its a town defense quest! It says here... Town of East Bight... payment upon completion... blah blah blah... help defend our town from the invading hordes of chaos and you can shop for supplies here. We also have Laketown Beer on tap.

Zoltar: Well a "Seven Samurai" scenario beats those "Fetch Quests" anyday. Sign us up! And bonus! We are on a fact finding mission. Fact... the beer must flow!