In the end, this shadow is but a small and passing thing. There is light and high beauty forever beyond its reach. Find the light... and the shadow will not find you.
Bronwyn to Theo
Bronwyn was one of the main characters in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. She is a healer from the village Tirharad and the mother of Theo.
Official Description[]
Bronwyn is a single mother and a healer from the Southlands, with a mind and curiosity thoroughly unappreciated by those around her. Only one sees her for who she really is – the elf-soldier Arondir. But he is loathed by all of Bronwyn’s townsfolk, making any relationship between them forbidden.
Biography[]
Early life[]
Bronwyn was a woman born in the Southlands village of Hordern, who later lived in the village of Tirharad with her son, Theo. She was the local healer, and she became close to an Elven soldier who patrolled the village, Arondir. However, the village's hatred of the Elves, including her own son's feelings, meant any relationship between them was forbidden.[1]
Arrival of the Orcs[]
Tredwill brought a sick cow for Bronwyn to look at; Arondir was present at the time and found that the cow's udders expressed a black fluid rather than milk. The cow had been grazing to the east, near Hordern, and Bronwyn joined Arondir in investigating the village. They found Hordern smoking and in ruin.[1]
They investigated the ruins and found passageways that came from the ground. The passages seemed to be heading toward Tirharad. Arondir decided to follow the passages while Bronwyn tried to warn her people of the impending threat. They did not believe her and required proof before they could take action. She went home and discovered a passage had been made there. She valiantly fought the Orc that emerged and ultimately decapitated it. She presented its head to her people as proof, then packed her belongings to leave the village with Theo.[3]
Their sanctuary became difficult as more refugees arrived despite the full barracks. Tredwill informed her they were low on rations, and Waldreg disagreed that she should bein charge further. She pointed out how he and everyone else decided she should be their leader when they came to the tower. Theo suggested they raise Waldreg's cellar in Tirharad in the daylight, but she refused to let him go. When the hunters turned up with slim pickings, Theo and Rowan disobeyed her orders and went to the village.[4]
Rowan returned alone with a barrel of a food, as Theo had been trapped in the village by the Orcs. Bronwyn ran to save her son and encountered him with a returned Arondir. They brought Theo home safely. She found Arondir that evening and he told her their enemy had a message for her. If they swear fealty to Adar he will spare their lives when they come for the tower.[4]
Bronwyn climbed the Watchtower with Arondir to address her people. She told them of their enemies plan to attack and proposition. She wanted them to stand with her so the tower would be a symbol of their strength and not their fealty. One at a time then all at once, the people agreed to stay until Waldreg intervened. He wanted to take his chances bowing to their enemy. Arondir promised Adar was not their deliverance. Waldreg knew their ancestors had lived, and promised that if they followed him, the would all live. Dozens of people followed, including Rowan. Waldreg requested Theo join them, but the boy stayed behind.[5]
Arondir told Bronwyn the hilt Theo possessed was a key conjured by some forgotten craft of the enemy to enslave her ancestors. He wasn't sure what it was key too, as the enemy commander only spoke of becoming a God and giving the Orcs a home in the lands. Arondir was certain the enemy knew Theo had the means to enact their plan. It would only be days or hours until the enemy arrived. He assured her they could survive this as there must be a way. She knew of one and prepared to bow to the enemy. He stopped her as if she did this, she would take away the virtue her people had spent an age earning back. She would condemn her son and future descendants to a life of ridicule. She begged him to name another way, but he didn't know of one. She thought he was right to watch them as her people were destined for the darkness. He reminded her more was at stake then their lives. When Morgoth attacked, whole continents sank. There was no telling what horrors the key might unlock in the hands of their enemy. Bronwyn felt powerless to stop him as the tower would fall. They both realized the tower might be their saving grace.[5]
War for the Southlands[]
Arondir brought the watchtower down on their enemy which allowed the Southlanders time to prepare Tirharad. His attempts to destroy the hilt failed, so he hid it from everyone including Bronwyn. Arondir and Bronwyn explained the plan to their people, which included waiting for each Orc to cross the bridge. Those who couldnn't fight would seek shelter in the tavern. Theo wanted to join the fight with his mother, but Bronwyn wanted him inside to protect those who can not fight. He brought up his having bad dreams as a child and spoke of finding the light so the shadows would not find him.[6]
Arondir and Bronwyn sat by the well to prepare for the battle. She didn't feel ready. He removed his necklace that holds the alfirin seeds she gave him. He gave her some and shared his tradition of planting seeds before a battle, which she instantly understood as "a new life in defiance of death". He explained how one of the Valar watched over growing things and those who tend them. They made a plan to plant the rest of the seeds when the battle was over, together, in a garden of their own with Theo. He kissed her beneath the tree.[6]
The Orc army arrived at nightfall and the battle for Tirharad began. Bronwyn and a Southlander woman attempted to light the wagons they've fashioned, but fail. An Orc approached their point which forces Bronwyn to kill him so she could use his torch to light the wagon, which pinned the Orcs in a secluded area. She then saved Arondir from a powerful Orc. They seemingly won the battle until she and Arondir saw their red blood. They came to the horrifying realization they had fought their defected people who had been dressed up as Orcs. A surviving Orc touts over having taken their people for this reason, and promised the rest would pay the toll. Arrows shot into the village and Bronwyn was struck with two arrows.[6]
They hid inside the tavern where Bronwyn was heartbroken to see Tredwill succumb to his injuries. Theo and Arondir were forced to use the alfirin seeds and a hot iron to seer her wounds closed. She passed out as Arondir held her hand. The Orcs invaded the tavern but Arondir was forced to surrender when they held knives to Theo and Bronwyn. Adar requested the hilt and Arondir refused until they killed villagers. Theo ultimately gave up the hilt to save his mothers life. The Númenórean army arrived moments later which created a second battle in which the Southlands finally had a chance.[6]
After the battle, Arondir brought Bronwyn to the Númenor Queen Míriel. Bronwyn thanked the Queen Regent for her help and felt indebted to her. Míriel acknowledged Bronwyn as a leader, but offered her relief in Lord Halbrand. Bronwyn saw the necklace on his hip and the Southlanders muttered in recognition for their promised King. Their relief was short-lived when the fire mountain of Orodruin erupted.[6]
The surviving Southlanders and Númenóreans made for the rendezvous point. Bronwyn and Arondir reunited with Theo at the point. Bronwyn visited with Queen Míriel and the Elf warrior Galadriel before the army departed. Bronwyn told Galadriel that Lord Halbrand suffered a poisoned wound that she could not treat. Galadriel took Halbrand away from the Southlands to seek Elvish medicine for his wound, while his people chanted for his survival.[7]
Death and Remembrance[]
The arrow that pierced Bronwyn had been laced with poison and she succumbed to her latent injuries. Her son Theo took over as the peoples healer as Arondir dealt with his grief in private. He blamed himself for not seeing that her human body wouldn't forget the poison. Theo held resentment for Arondir over Bronwyn's death, though they came together for her cremation in a pyre.[2]
Appearances[]
- Season One
- "A Shadow of the Past" (First appearance)
- "Adrift"
- "The Great Wave"
- "Partings"
- "Udûn"
- "The Eye"
- Season Two
- "The Eagle and the Sceptre" (Corpse)
- "Where the Stars are Strange" (Mentioned only)