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| [[File:Ron Miller - Lindion.jpg|thumb|[[Ron Miller]] - ''Lindion'']]
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| '''Sprites''', or '''fays''', were creatures only mentioned fleetingly in the earliest versions of the tales of [[Arda]] and linguistic writings of the [[Eldar]].<ref name=LT1-66>{{LT1|III}}, p. 66</ref><ref name=PE11>{{PE|11}}</ref>
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| ==Characteristics==
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| The sprites and fays were part of what apparently was a three-fold division of the lesser [[Ainur|Ainu]] spirits: [[sylphs]] (spirits of the air), sprites (spirits of the earth), and [[mermaids|water spirits]].<ref name=LT1-66/>
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| "''About them fared a great host who are the sprites of trees and woods, of dale and forest and mountain-side, or those that sing amid the grass at morning and chant among the standing corn at eve.''"<ref name=LT1-66/>
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| "''...their number is very great: yet must they not be confused with the Eldar, for they were born before the world and are older than its oldest, and are not of it, but laugh at it much, for had they not somewhat to do with its making, so that it is for the most part a play for them''"<ref name=LT1-66/>
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| ==Names and divisions==
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| While "sprites" and "fays" seem to have been the most common names for these creatures, other names were also used: '''[[Wikipedia:Brownie (folklore)|brownies]]''', '''[[Wikipedia:Pixie|pixies]]''', and '''leprawns'''.<ref name=LT1-66/>
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| A basic division of four groups of sprites and fays, with their [[Elvish]] names, are given as follow:
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| #'''''Nermir''''': "fays of the meads";<ref name=LT1-66/><ref name=LT1Index/> [[Gnomish]] ''nermil'': "a fay that haunts meadows and riverbanks"<ref name=PE11/>
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| #'''''Tavari''''': "sprites of trees and woods",<ref name=LT1-66/> or "fays of the woods";<ref name=LT1Index/> [[Gnomish]] ''tavor'': "a wood fay"<ref name=PE11/> ([[Qenya]] ''tavar'', ''tavarni'' "dale-sprites", [[Sundocarme|root]] [[TAW|TAVA]];<ref>{{PE|12}}</ref><ref name=LT1App>{{LT1|Appendix}}</ref> the plural noun ''tavárin'', nominative of ''tavārin'' "fay(s) of the woods"<ref name=PE16>{{PE|16}}, p. 80</ref><ref>{{PE|14}}, p. 10</ref>)
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| #'''''Nandini''''': "fays of the valleys";<ref name=LT1-66/><ref name=LT1Index/> [[Gnomish]] ''nandir'': fay of the country" ([[Qenya]] ''nandin'')<ref name=PE11/>
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| #'''''Orossi''''': "fays of the mountains"<ref name=LT1-66/><ref name=LT1Index>{{LT1|Index}}</ref>
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| In a poem appear the ''oromandi'', "wood-spirits".<ref>{{MC|Secret}}, pp. 215-6</ref>
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| Some other mentions of fays seem rather to be referring to individuals:
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| *''Sacha'' "the fire-fay" (Qenya ''Sāya'')<ref name=PE11/>
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| *''Tethil'': "a flower fay who dwelt in a poppy"<ref name=PE11/>
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| *''Tinfing'' or ''Tinfang'' the fluter (surnamed ''Gwarbilin'', Birdward) a fay<ref name=PE11/>
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| ==Commentary==
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| Based on etymological information, linguists have suggested that [[J.R.R. Tolkien|Tolkien]] intended "the wood-fays to 'use' the forest as their home", and that such forests were watched or guarded by the fays.<ref name=PE16/>
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| ==The later legendarium==
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| As the sprites and fays are not mentioned in later versions of the [[legendarium]], it might be that [[J.R.R. Tolkien|Tolkien]] envisioned these creatures as the "''servants and helpers''" of the [[Maiar]] (mentioned in later versions of [[Elves|Elven]] chronicles)<ref>{{S|IIc}}</ref> — lesser spirits that would have remained in [[Middle-earth]] (and would thus perhaps be equivalent to the [[Faeries]]). As Tolkien never cared to elaborate much on these "lesser Maiar" in the texts used by his son [[Christopher Tolkien|Christopher]] when preparing the published ''[[The Silmarillion]]'', one could speculate on how much Tolkien would have retained or rejected of this earlier conception.
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| ==Portrayal in adaptations==
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| '''1995-8: ''[[Middle-earth Collectible Card Game]]'':'''
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| :The Warrior Ally card "Lindion the Oronín", portraying a unique character, is given the following description: "''The fays of the mountains pipe melodies that harmonize with wind and weather, pleasing to the ears of all creatures aloft on wings''", apparently inspired by the Orossi (see above). Lindion is playable at the site Stone-circle in the region Old Pûkel Gap.
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| ==See also==
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| *'''[[Mermaids]]'''
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| *'''[[Sylphs]]'''
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| *[[Dryads]]
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| *[[Fairies]]
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| *[[Tinfang Warble]]
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| ==External links==
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| *{{WP|Sprite (creature)}}
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| {{references}}
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| {{legend}}
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| [[Category:Spirits]]
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