haleth + wardrobe!!!!

Haleth is Haldad’s daughter, and though circumstances force her to fulfill the role of chieftain that her brother was expected to fill, she does so as herself and not as her brother. Her people are not averse to the idea of a woman leading them in all things, even in battle – the daughters that guard their chieftain with their great axes and thick boar-skin armor are proof of that. But Haleth dresses as a woman of her people, needs not wear a man’s grab to be taken seriously, and enjoys fine jewelry and clothes. Not too fine- her people are woodsmen and practical. But they are not poor cousins- Haleth with her force of will, she will ensure that they are never destitute and not seen as such on the political stage of Beleriand. Gold twists around her neck, and electrum, and far more precious and prestigious beads of coral traded from the Grey Elves. She has a fine gown made of fabric gifted to her from the hands of Queen Melian herself, a hounds-tooth silk weave of black and white. Many of Haleth’s gowns and cloaks are simple checkered patterns, the trademark of her people. She knows thus this fabric was crafted especially to please their new allies in Brethil- and also to suit the Haladrim tastes, the Elven Queen sent fabric and not a full gown. Haleth, busy with the duties of leading her people, did not sew the gown. Other articles of clothing she did, and the task of re-hemming her nephew’s clothing as the teenage boy grew she allotted to herself as the proper duty of an aunt, but those were garments for work and winter when the snow fell and only family. Queenly fabric needed the most skilled needles. 

The cut of Haleth’s tunics and gowns are not like those of the other tribes. For example, sleeves are very wide at the armholes and taper tight to the wrist. Over-gowns, if worn, are left open at the sides and only pinned at the shoulders. Such pairs of shoulder broaches Haleth has a’plenty, and she will be buried in the Lady-barrow with her best set, which look like a cluster of acorns and oak leaves. She cinches the gown with a wide belt embroidered in bright colors and patterns. Their embroidery is another element that sets them apart from their cousins. The simple two-tone or black-work patterns of the Bëorians look juvenile next to those of the Haladim, though it is far more common to find bands of embroidery on Bëorian and Haradim blouses, vests, and aprons. Traders travel to the forest of Brethil to buy the masterworks to sell back to other Edain. Fabric sits in gentle folds high on her chest, nearly hiding the strings of amber beads. More amber twists in the cords that hold the simple diadem of her formal chieftain’s grab. She only bothers to wear it when facing guests, perched on a tree stump outside her house, her plain and thick leather shoes not hidden by the hem of her bold patterned gown, a rustic counterpoint to the finery around her weather-worn face. It is not a beautiful face, but with strong features and an even stronger intelligence and will that animate that face, no one who meets Haleth comes away with the impression of coarseness or ugliness. With a huff, Chief Haleth extends a hand in greeting, and around her wrist a bracelet of amateurishly carved boar-teeth beads rattles. Haldar made them for her, decades ago. She will trade no finery for them- not even a Silmaril.