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Ｎｉｅｎｎａ
In the Music, she took little part. But listened intently until the end.
All her love is mingled with ᴩɪᴛy.
For she is the mighty who cries for all the unjust and terrible things that happen in the world, but she is also the one that teaches endurance and wisdom through adversity.
Such a hard decision! I love so many of the Valar (Ulmo, who never abandons Middle Earth; Orome, the monster-hunter; Varda, the star-queen.) But, if I have to choose one, it’s going to be Nienna, the Lady of Pity and Mourning.
First of all, I’m a bit fascinated by the fact that Tolkien even created a Vala who’s entire job, basically, is to be sad. Honestly, should have been a huge warning to stop reading the Silmarillion when he introduced her at the beginning… But, since so much of Middle Earth’s beauty comes from the various tragedies that happen there, I guess it’s fitting. And poor Nienna saw those tragedies coming before anyone else did (except maybe Mandos.) In The Silmarillion it’s said that
So great was her sorrow, as the Music unfolded, that her song turned to lamentation long before its end, and the sound of mourning was woven into the themes of the World before it began.
So, basically, Nienna is always sad because of all the sad things that happen to the Children of Iluvatar, and because of the imperfection of Arda. But she doesn’t stop there! Nienna takes her grief, and uses it to teach the importance of pity and endurance through hope. It’s said that she “brings strength to the spirit and turns sorrow to wisdom.”
But what I find most interesting about Nienna is her importance in Lord of the Rings. You see, one of Nienna’s greatest students in Valinor was the Maia Olorin (who’s later known in Middle Earth as Gandalf.) Through Gandalf (and through those that Gandalf had an affect on, such as Frodo and Faramir) Nienna’s teachings had a strong impact on the actions of the War of the Ring. This is most evident in Gandalf’s words about Bilbo’s choice not to kill Gollum:
Pity? It was Pity that stayed his hand. Pity, and Mercy: not to strike without need. And he has been well rewarded, Frodo. Be sure that he took so little hurt from the evil, and escaped in the end, because he began his ownership of the Ring so. With Pity.
And later, remembering these words, Frodo decides not to kill Gollum either, admitting “For now that I see him, I do pity him.” And it’s generally agreed that keeping Gollum alive was hugely important to the success of Frodo’s mission. (Also, some readers believe it’s no coincidence that Gandalf capitalizes “Pity” and “Mercy” in this quote - as they were the ideals of his teacher, perhaps when Gandalf talks about Pity, he’s really talking about Nienna?)
Later on, when Frodo, Sam, and Gollum are at the mercy of Faramir, he chooses to help them on their quest. And he, too, mentions pity several times. Most interestingly, when he tells Frodo about seeing Boromir’s body. Frodo suggests that it was only a vision from the enemy, meant to trick him into despair. But Faramir replies
‘Nay, it was not so,’ said Faramir. 'For his works fill the heart with loathing; but my heart was filled with grief and pity.’
Grief and pity being Nienna’s two main emotional states, I personally take this to be some indication that Nienna was responsible for setting Faramir’s mind at rest, convincing him that what he saw was true, and that Boromir was dead. Maybe she watched over the friends of her student, or maybe Nienna was responsible for all sorts of little moments like this in Middle Earth.
Anyway, there are plenty of other reasons for why Nienna is my favorite of the Valar, but her wisdom and strength in the face of tragedy, as well as her subtle but important influence on the events of The Lord of the Rings is a great place to start!
SOURCES: The Silmarillion, LOTR
“Estë the gentle, healer of hurts and of weariness, is Irmo’s spouse. Grey is her rainment; and rest is her gift. She walks not by day, but sleeps upon an island in the tree-shadowed lake of Lórellin.”
"Nienna is acquainted with grief, and mourns for every wound that Arda has suffered in the marring of Melkor. So great was her sorrow, as the Music unfolded, that her song turned to lamentation long before its end, and the sound of mourning was woven into the themes of the World before it began.”
It was a busy weekend, but I’m catching back up!
Get as a print HERE
The same force which posessed me to make my nouveau Varda pic now had me try my hand at Nienna. Hope you guys enjoy :)