Should she glow?

[Galin]

Originally Posted by Inziladun

I don't recall that note about female Elves fighting, though a similar observation was made in UT about the Wainriders who had taken over the homes of the Northmen.

The description comes from Laws And Customs Among The Eldar [Moroth's Ring]. When speaking generally about Elvish customs, the author notes that they could vary according to time, place, or Elvish clan, but then the text goes into a specific for instance...

'There are indeed some differences between the natural inclinations of neri and nissi, and other differences that have been established by custom (varying in place and in time, and in the several races of the Eldar). For instance, the arts of healing, and all that touches on the care of the body, are among all the Eldar most practised by the nissi; whereas it was the elven-men who bore arms at need.'

... and when the essay gets specific about fighting and healing, the nissi [Elven women]...

'Indeed in dire straits or desperate defence, the nissi fought valiantly, and there was less difference in strength and speed between elven-men and elven-women that had not borne child than is seen among mortals.'

... and exceptions with respect to Elven-men and hearling are noted...

'On the other hand many elven-men were great healers and skilled in the lore of living bodies, though such men abstained from hunting, and went not to war until the last need.'

So it appears to remain that Elven-women fought under the already described scenario, and not outside it [again, even though in a more general context, customs could vary for certain reasons] -- within which scenario [in my opinion] might fall Idril arming herself [if this was to remain a detail in any updated Fall of Gondolin, that is], and possibly Galadriel's heroic defense of the Teleri [if in fact this was part of Galadriel's 'true' history].

Some ifs there.