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Dwarvish Companions

Who knows of any Women in Middle-earth who belong to the dwarvish race?

Although I have not read every book of Tolkien, I am hear any mention of Female Dwarves.

We, of course, must assume that Male Dwarves can not have children alone, but is there any
section of any book, letter e.t.c mentioning anything concerning Female Dwarves.

Also.....if there are any, do they grow beards!

I am sure some Downs members can point me in the right direction with this subject.

[ December 10, 2002: Message edited by: Pallando B.C ]

Check the appendices of The Lord of the Rings...there's stuff there. Other than that, I don't know.

From Appendix A:

Quote:

Dis was the daughter of Thrain II. She is the only dwarf-woman named in these histories. It was said by Gimli that there are few dwarf-women, probably no more than a third of the whole people. They seldom walk abroad except at great need. They are in voice and appearance, and in garb if they must go on a journey, so like to the dwarf-men that the eyes and ears of other peoples cannot tell them apart. This has given rise to the foolish opinion among Men that there are no dwarf-women, and that the Dwarves "grow out of stone."

It is because of the fewness of women among them that the kind of the Dwarves increases slowly, and is in peril when they have no secure dwellings. For the Dwarves take only one wife or husband each in their lives, and are jealous, as in all matters of their rights. The number of dwarf-men that marry is actually less than one-third. For not all the women take husbands: some desire none; some desire one that they cannot get, and so will have no other. As for the men, very many also do not desire marriage, being engrossed in their crafts.

~*~Orual~*~

Dis, Fili's and Kili's mother