H I S T O R Y

OF HOUSE OF VALOIS AND HOUSE OF FINARFIN

"I am a Valois, I serve my father and the House of Finarfin. I am a Noldo, and from the ashes, I rise, and with fire, I burn."

— Adanaethor, to his uncle, Hambaroth, during his training.

Adanaethor is a male Elf of Noldorin blood, it is possible that he also has Vanyarin blood, for his hair is gold as the Elves of Vanyar, unlike most Noldor. His Vanyarin heritage could also be traced back to his ancestor. He originated from Laurelindorenan as the only son of Prince Barahir ^{(Sind. "Fiery Lord")} Valois and Lady Hírilorn ^{(Sind. "Lady-tree")} Valois. Adanaethor was born in the year 1601 S.A as Aerandir ^{(Sind. "Sea-wanderer")} and not so long after his birth, his family moved to Celondim.

Barahir once told his son that his sister was kind and beautiful beyond measure, but refused to elaborate any further. Adanaethor himself has no knowledge of his sister, but he heard that she was naive like their mother. Adanaethor was raised at Celondim alone with only his father, mother and uncle. An ally of House of Valois, House of Anglachel ^{(Sind. "Flaming Iron")}, has an heir named Aredhel ^{(Sind. "High, noble Elf")} was as the same age as Adanaethor so they became playmates and comrades in training. Not like other children in the area, Adanaethor learn to grow up quickly. This made him mature and preceptive beyond his age but this also is a prove that he sometimes does bold moves, but honorable nonetheless, however bold moves can prove harmful to his own kin or another. Long he dwelt with the Elves in Celondim and studied strategies of war from his uncle, Hambaroth. As the son of the Prince of House of Valois, Adanaethor urged his father to maintain the House's relationship with House of Finarfin.

OF THE NOLDOR IN ERYN GALEN

"I ran against the dark ashes of Dagorlad, I ran toward the young prince. I swung my blade, with fire burning inside me, against the forces of Sauron. Then I looked back, and failed my King."

— Adanaethor, to a friend, regarding the death of King Oropher.

Spending most of his time in Ered Luin during the Second Age, Adanaethor was trained in the art of close combat for years. He maintained peace and stability in Celondim, leading the Guards of his House. During the War of the Elves and Sauron, Lord Anosthor ordered his son to guard Ered Luin. As the war ended, Adanaethor's House suffered a heavy loss. Lord Barahir, Lady Hírilorn, and Lord Hambaroth died during the battle. From the wise Elf known as Aerandir, he changed his name into Adanaethor ^{(Sind. "Father of Sorrow")}. As the only surviving legitimate member of House of Valois, Adanaethor decided to dismiss the House himself.

In 1731 S.A, Adanaethor traveled eastward to King Oropher's kingdom with the remnants of his House Guards. They were unwelcome at first, but with years of cooperation and trading, King Oropher decided to accept the remnants of House of Valois and welcome them to live in Greenwood's capital, Amon Lanc. Adanaethor and his Elves merged with the local.

From a Prince-in-Exile, Adanaethor rose into one of Oropher's Royal Guard. Following his King's command, he went with the Greenwood Elves to battle against the dark forces of Mordor in the Battle of Dagorland. Adanaethor begged Oropher to join Gil-Galad's supreme command, yet the King ignored him. While trying to save Prince Thranduil, Oropher was slain. Until the Third Age, he remained at Thranduil's side, acting as a Royal Guard and trusted advisor.

OF ADANAETHOR AND THE RISE OF GLANAUR MAETHYR

Since the death of King Oropher, Adanaethor took command of a small Elven army. He trained the Silvan soldiers, especially in the arts of close combat. After spending years serving King Thranduil, he became a well-known military commander, and the only commander with Noldorin blood, who protected his King's realm. Adanaethor is also reputed warrior talented in war and literature.

After the Battle of the Five Armies, Adanaethor traveled northwest, to the Dunedain. He remained with them for two years before leaving for his home, Celondim. On his way, through the Misty Mountains, he was ambushed, taken by complete suprise, by a small band of Orcs and his armors were either stolen or broken, leaving him empty-handed. Adanaethor returned to Celondim without hir armors and without his House Guards, and he was healed by Elrond the Halfelven himself.

After years in Celondim, Adanaethor became a traveler, joining the Riders of Middle Earth. He met an Elf hunter, Saefathiel, and fall in love with her. He spent two years with the Riders before choosing to left it and ventured East, toward Imladris, to build his own clan. Days passed by, and Adanaethor succeeded in re-establishing his family, the House of Valois. While he lingered in Imladris for three weeks, he participated in the weekly Elven gathering in the Hall of Fire. He did make a long speech, speaking of the growing darkness in Middle Earth, especially in Eriador which has long been on his mind. Failed to convince his own kin to march to north to secure the area, Adanaethor left the Last Homely House in disappointment.

For more than a month, Adanaethor lived in a self-imposed exile, most of the time helping the Dunedain Rangers in Anuminas and Lone-lands. In his exile, he received news from his raven that Anriett is pregnant with his former Lord, Harondred.

He recruited Elven warriors to his House and joined the Imladris Council of war, with Elrond and Erestor. One time, he headed to Isengard to seek council with the White Wizard. However, Adanaethor found himself in an unfamiliar land, filled with fire and ashes and dusts- Saruman betrayed the Free People. Adanaethor travelled to Evendim, where he chose to help the Rangers there.

Adanaethor returned Imladris and recruited a group of Elven warriors into a newly founded kinship, the Glanaur Maethyr.

P E R S O N A L I T Y

Adanethor Valois is a calm and rational old Elf, he is also a wise expert of strategy who is capable of seeing through most of his enemies' ploys. He seems darker and slightly more arrogant when you first meet him, but will softened when you gain his trust. Adanaethor has adopted a clear moral compass and a true sense of honor, which he tries his hardest to abide by even when he must mke a hard decision. He has always admired and idolized his father, and loved his mother, but after both of their deaths, he became quiet and distrustful of strangers, being mostly unconcerned with others' affairs.

He treats his allies with modest professionalism and genuine respect, but will have no problem slaying them if they betrays him. His devotion to his homeland is unquestionable, and his talents are praised with renown. His mature and serious persona contrasts with his sister, who is long gone, naive and cheerful one. While he is also a loving brother, his words of caution are not always appreciated by her.

Adanaethor love the woods and the sea, and his armor is embellished with silver and maroon-dyed leather; made by the craftsmen of Eregion with Elven steel, and oak woods as the decoration. The exiled Prince of House of Valois is likely to have many personalities, depending on the person he encountered with. He will bow to no one. Old and wise, he is now on an adventure to become a great Elf.

E T Y M O L O G Y

The name Adanaethor is a Sindarin word for "Father of Sorrow", from ada ("father") and naeth ("sorrow"). Adanaethor was not the name given by their parents, but a name he used after the deaths of his father and mother. His real name was Aerandir, a Sindarin word with the meaning of "Sea-wanderer".

OF THE MANY NAMES OF AERANDIR

Adanaethor is known by many names. In Eriador, he is known as Aegnor, meaning "Fell Fire". In Rhovanion, they call him Malfindel, a Sindarin word that meant "Golden-haired": from Mal- ("Golden") and find or fin ("lock of hair"). To the Elves of Lorien, he is known as Mithedhel, meaning "Grey Elf" in Sindarin.

W E A P O N S

​Adanaethor carries different kind of weapons. During special and official occasion, he uses his one-handed blade, Dragonmouth. Yet Adanaethor's skills in battle lay primarily in his sword craft, his two-handed sword is known as Wolfsbane. If he is in a situation where he is overrun by a large group of orcs, he would uses his shield and his spear, Brightflame. 

In Imladris, he was given a long-bow, Cuneldor, given by Legolas of Mirkwood, as he also prefers to take down his enemies from afar. However, his skill in archery is not that good as other Elven hunters, for he is trained in a close combat for centuries. His Cuneldor could reputedly send two arrows with fatal force.

R E F E R E N C E S

[OOC] Thank you to Lagoran for the advise and knowledge regarding the lore, and for helping me to improve the background story. I use lotr.wikia.com and tolkiengateway.net for reference regarding the lore and the history.

1.↑ [art work of Annatar (Sauron) by Gerwell http://gerwell.tumblr.com]

2.↑ [the Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey]

3.↑ [High Elf bow, Elder Scrolls: Skyrim]