Finwë

Ambassador and king

Finwë was the leader of the second clan of the Elves at Cuiviénen, the people who became the Noldor. With Ingwë and Elwë he was taken by Oromë to see the light of the Trees, and he came back to persuade his people to accept the summons. He led the Noldor on the Great Journey as the second of the three hosts, and in Aman he ruled them from Tirion, the city they built on the hill of Túna in the Calacirya. He was a close friend of Elwë and grieved when the Teleri were left behind in Beleriand.

Two marriages

Finwë married Míriel Serindë, the greatest needleworker of the Noldor, and she bore him one son, Fëanor, the most gifted of all the Elves. The birth consumed her strength, and she went to the gardens of Lórien and let her spirit depart to Mandos, refusing to return. Finwë's grief was long; then he asked the Valar for leave to marry again, and after judgement was given that Míriel would never return, he took Indis of the Vanyar. By her he had two sons, Fingolfin and Finarfin, and daughters. Fëanor never accepted his stepmother or his half-brothers, and the division in Finwë's house was the seed from which the later ruin of the Noldor grew.

The lies of Melkor

When Melkor was released from his sentence he went among the Noldor and worked on their pride. He told Fëanor that Fingolfin schemed to take his place as heir, and told Fingolfin that Fëanor meant to drive him out. Finwë called a council to reconcile his sons, and at it Fëanor drew his sword on Fingolfin. The Valar banished Fëanor from Tirion for twelve years. Finwë, holding that he would not be king in a city where his eldest son was outlawed, left the rule of Tirion to Fingolfin and went north with Fëanor to the stronghold of Formenos, where the Silmarils were kept.

Death

When Melkor and Ungoliant destroyed the Two Trees, Melkor went straight to Formenos while all the Noldor were at the festival on Taniquetil. Finwë alone had refused to attend, out of loyalty to his exiled son. He met Melkor at the door and was killed, the first of the Eldar to be slain in Aman, and the Silmarils were taken. His death, more even than the theft of the jewels, drove Fëanor to his Oath, and the sons and grandsons of Finwë carried the blood-feud against Melkor into Middle-earth. His spirit went to the Halls of Mandos; the Silmarillion does not record his return.

Legacy

Every High King of the Noldor descended from Finwë, and the three branches of his house, the Fëanorians, the house of Fingolfin, and the house of Finarfin, shaped the whole war of the Jewels. Through Finarfin's line his blood passed to Galadriel, and through Fingolfin's to Turgon, Idril, Eärendil and the Half-elven.

Slain by Melkor at the door of Formenos in the darkness after the death of the Trees.