Nerdanel

Nerdanel is a significant character in J.R.R. Tolkien's Legendarium, primarily appearing in The Silmarillion. She is depicted as the wife of Fëanor, the most skilled craftsman and warrior among the Noldor, and the mother of their seven sons. Nerdanel is noted for her intelligence, wisdom, and strong will, often described as being of a more grounded and practical nature than her impetuous husband. Her lineage is notable, as she was the daughter of Mahtan, a highly skilled smith of the Noldor, and was herself a skilled artisan and possibly a healer.

Despite her lineage and Fëanor's prominence, Nerdanel is often a figure of quiet strength and resilience. She is shown to have a deep understanding of her husband's character and the dangers of his pride, though she is ultimately unable to sway him from his destructive path. Her role is often seen as a counterpoint to Fëanor's fiery spirit, representing a more stable and perhaps more sorrowful aspect of the Noldor's history. Her children, the Sons of Fëanor, are central to many of the tragic events of the First Age, and Nerdanel's influence, though often indirect, is a subtle but important element in their story. Her name is often translated as "Gift of Nerd" or "Gift of a Wise Woman."