Her history is as ancient and long as the elf herself as one might guess. Much of the oldest things are lost now, vanished during the countless decades and centuries she has lived. And she is not the type of person you want to go ask. Not that she would answer you anyhow if you would. She is very reclusive and secretive that way.

But this much is known, from texts and other elves who have seen her in their own lives and passed the information onwards. Much of it is lost of course, and many of the persons whom the info has come from no longer live, and cannot tell anymore if the information is correct or not.

One of the most certain things we do know is that she is an ancient being . Born in the first age, maybe even among the first elves who woke upon the shores of Cuiviénen, the waters of awakening.

She was among the Nandorin, elves of Telerin descent, who left the for the Great Journey from Cuiviénen to Valinor. As the elves reached the Hithaeglir (Misty Mountains), some hesitated. Under their leader Lenwë (Dan in their own language), a group of Teleri turned south along the Great River (Anduin), and disappeared from written history. Nandor eventually became their term for themselves, and meant people of Dan in their own language. Laliwen was one of them.

A much of that knowledge of that time is lost to us know. There is no exact knowledge of their or Laliwen’s whereabouts for many, many years. But she is among the elves who have never seen the lights of Valinor, one who hasn’t set her feet upon the blessed lands or laid her eyes upon the grace of the Valar. That much we do know.

Her origins as a warden of the lands of the elves must thrive from here. Nowdays she has the qualities of an ultimate hunter. She knows the lands and creatures that inhabit it. She has the skill to move silently in any terrain and she has the will to vanquish her foes with sword or spear, whether it is javelin –type throwing spear, a pikeman’s longspear or anything in between. She is said to be able to throw a javelin with a speed and accuracy that many people are accustomed to only bow-users to be able to. If you are ever to combat with her, don’t ever turn your back towards her. You won’t get far.

Second confirmed fact we do know is that at some point she lived in the port of Edhellond. Edhellond was an elf haven and settlement on the Bay of Belfalas. It was located on the Blackroot River near the point where it was joined by the Ringlo. The Blackroot then emptied into Cobas Haven, a small inlet on the Bay of Belfalas. Edhellond was about 50 miles north of Dol Amroth, also located on Cobas Haven. Edhellond was in the land of Gondor, but it was under the control of Elves.

The origin of the port is uncertain, but one version tells us that Edhellond was founded by the Sindarin refugees in three small ships fleeing the ruin of Beleriand following Morgoth's successful onslaught of the elvish kingdoms. Another version tells that some refugees of Doriath, in the course of their wandering, founded the haven. In both versions, the original founders possessed the knowledge of shipbuilding, which in the First Age was known only to Círdan and the elven-folk of the Falas. Whatever its ultimate origins, in time Edhellond was swelled by Nandorin elves seeking for the sea.

From Edhellond, Elves could sail to the Undying Lands. Some Elves departed from Edhellond after Eregion was destroyed by Sauron in 1697 of the Second Age. According to one story, Galadriel came to live for a time on the coast of the Bay of Belfalas because she was filled with Sea-longing, but she remained in Middle-earth.

Over time, the population of Edhellond diminished as many of the Elves who lived there departed across the Sea. But some remained, building ships and offering passage to those who had become weary of Middle-earth.
Laliwen lived on these parts for quite some time. She had never been to the other side of the Sea, but like all elves, she had a desire inside her to make the last voyage. And so she wondered and wandered around those parts for many years, tormented by the desire to stay and trying to fight the will to leave at the same time.

We also know that she has been the drill master of spear for the first Numenoreans who established the haven of Pelargir near the Mouths of the Anduin in 2350 of the second age. In 3320 when foundation of the realms of Gondor and Arnor were built much the same way she helped to train the future Gondorian pikemen and also the various scouts with their trade. All this time she most likely had a permanent home in Edhellond.
There is much written about the elven King Amroth, and how he died looking for his beloved Nimrodel. It is said in chronicles of the history that in 1981 of the Third Age, he came to Edhellond. He had promised to take his lover Nimrodel to the Undying Lands, but he had become separated from her on the journey south. When Amroth arrived, the few remaining Elves of Edhellond - less than a shipload - were preparing their last ship to depart from Middle-earth. Though they were reluctant to delay, the Elves of Edhellond agreed to wait a few weeks for Nimrodel, but she did not come.

In the autumn, a great storm came out of the north and swept the ship out into the Bay of Belfalas. Amroth leaped overboard in an attempt to return to land, and he was drowned. But the ship survived and continued its voyage across the Sea, and with it went the last of the Elves of Edhellond.

That much is said on the chronicles. But all elves did not leave that day from Edhellond. For some reason not known to us, Laliwen didn’t go. She stayed behind and remained in Middle-Earth until this day. There is no more written history about her, but we do know that she is alive, lingering in the autumn of the elven-kind, waiting for her day to come. Waiting for the day she must go to the undying lands, one way or the other, as all elves still living this day do.

-Lumie, scholar and historian of Imladris.