The River-woman, said to be the mother of Goldberry, was a possibly fictitious character mentioned only in a verse as being associated with the Withywindle of the Old Forest.
In a poem, Tom Bombadil was pulled into the river by the swimming Goldberry. She swam "back to her mother's house in the deepest hollow". Later, Tom returned to the river and asked the River-woman for Goldberry's hand; she complied unquestionably, so the two were married.[1]
Portrayal in adaptations
2007-: The Lord of the Rings Online:
- The River-maidens are spirits that watch over the waters of Middle-earth, one is said to be present whenever a river is flowing. Goldberry is the River-maiden of Withywindle, and others can be found watching over Midgewater, Mitheithel, Gladden, Gilrain, Serni, Celos, Sirith and Erui. Some show themselves openly, others are secretive and only reveal themselves to the Wise and the descendants of the Númenóreans who had known of River-maidens in the years of old. But some were driven mad by the bloodshed spilled over their waters, or even slain by the servants of the Enemy who then take on their fair appearance.
Genealogy
| RIVER-WOMAN | |||||||||||||||||
| Goldberry | Tom Bombadil | ||||||||||||||||
References
| Legendary races of Arda | |
| Animals: | Dumbledors · Gorcrows · Hummerhorns · Pards · Swans of Gorbelgod · Turtle-fish · Wise-fish |
|---|---|
| Dragon-kind: | Sea-serpents · Spark-dragons · Were-worms |
| Other: | Badger-folk · Ettens · Giants · Great beasts · Half-trolls · Hobgoblins · Lintips · Mewlips · Nameless things · Ogres · Otter-folk · Snow-trolls · Spectres |
| Individuals: | Badger-brock · Bill Butcher · Farmer Hogg · Fastitocalon · Fisher Blue · Fíriel · Grip · Hunter and Rider · The Lady of the Sun · Lonely Troll · Man in the Moon · Mee · Mrs. Bunce · Old Swan · Peeping Jack · Perry-the-Winkle · Pott the Mayor · Talking Gurthang · Talking purse · River-woman · Shee · Tarlang · Tim · Tom · Whisker-lad · White cow · Willow-wren |