Luthien & Galadriel

[davem]

Originally Posted by Bêthberry

Just a quick question, Mithalwen, as I must be on 'thick' today, but are you suggesting that childbirth diminished the strength of elven women? Is this stated somewhere in one of Tolkien's more recondite revisionary texts or are you making this deduction from what you have read?

Found this in 'Laws & Customs among the Eldar' (Morgoth's Ring)

Also the Eldar say that in the begetting, & still more in the bearing of children, greater share & strength of their being, in mind & body, goes forth than in the making of mortal children. For these reasons it came to pass that the eldar brought forth fewer children;....

&

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

There may be other references to the way childbearing dimishes the strength of elven-women but that's all a quick search has turned up.