Nienna

Nienna is one of the Valar in Tolkien's legendarium. She is commonly described as the Lady of Mercy or the Lady of Pity, embodying endurance and compassion. She dwells in the western regions of the world and serves as a counsellor who urges restraint and mercy rather than direct conquest or manipulation of nature. She is not a figure of raw power, but of spirit and empathy.

Her defining attribute is sorrow: she weeps for the misfortunes of Arda and its inhabitants. This sorrow is not despair but a source of strength and compassion. In the mythos, Nienna's mercy helps to temper the will of the other Valar, guiding them to show mercy toward the Children of Ilúvatar—the Elves and Men—and to endure the suffering that attends creation. Her contemplation of grief is said to have taught endurance and mercy, turning pity into action that aids those in need.

In Tolkien's writings, Nienna is referenced as part of the Valar in The Silmarillion and related legends. She is less central to plot than some other Valar, but her influence underpins the recurring themes of sorrow, resilience, and mercy that shape the world's history.