Ariyë


 * The inner garden, the sun burning white in the sky at midday, the myriad scents of the flowers heavy in the hot air. Sparring with his instructor in arms while his father watched from a couch beneath an awning. Andrahar’s mother Ariyë was at the lord’s feet, embroidering a festival shirt for her son, and from time to time Isfhandifar’s hand would glide lovingly over her sleek black head.


 * - Kin-Strife, Ch. 3

Ariyë was the slave-concubine of Isfhandijar, the Khan of Bakshir to whom she bore an illegitimate son, Andrahar.

Personal Life
Ariyë was not born a slave. She was a noblewoman who was enslaved after her house fell into disfavor. The exact nature of this fall from favor, and whose disfavor had been incurred is unknown, as are the circumstances under which she came into Isfhandijar's possession and gained his favor.* Eventually, he made her his concubine, though he never publicly acknowledged their one child together. Despite this, and despite the bad circumstances of her introduction to Isfhandijar, she seems to have come to love him as well.

It is said that her lineage is very "pure," which may be a reference to the fact that her native house, a house of Umbarian aristocrats, were descendants of Black Númenoreans. See also Princes of Dol Amroth journal entry 9 and related entries.

Ariyë was a fine embroiderer. Although her appearance is not described in detail, other than the color of her hair (black), Andrahar remembers her to be very beautiful.

She was known to be a devotee of the a-lehani religious sect, a point which was a cause of much hostility between her and Isfhandijar's wives and legitimate children.

Death
Ariyë was executed by the khan's wives and children after his death. She was accused of having poisoned him, though this seems likely to have been a pretext that served to eliminate a hated, heretical rival and also to cover a power grab.

Differing presentation
[*] In Soledad's Pawns and Symbols, Andrahar tells Imrahil that Isfhandijar was feuding with a noble house of Umbar, and that when he won the feud, as was the custom, the defeated members of the house became slaves. He purchased Ariyë at that time.