She was born beyond the sea in Tirion the fair to parents connected by kin and friendship to some of the lords of the Noldor. Any who knew her then would remember a studious and dutiful Elf-maiden, with skill enough to delight at high-feasts with songs upon the harp, herself a student of the strange languages with which the world sings, of numbers and melody both. 

When torches broke the dark of light-riven Valinor, the words of Fëanor kindled in her heart bitter anger, cold and enduring as the grinding ice, against the Valar and Morgoth alike. With her parents she followed him beneath the banner of Curufin. 

The words of the Doom rang oft in her ears through the centuries of defeat. Her mother fell with Himlad, and Norimiel took her place helping to organise supplies and the civilians of Himlad for the retreat. To Nargothrond they came, and it chafed the proud elleth to dwell as guests and beggars in this realm of Finarfin’s son, and as Curufin sought to carve for them a place in the politics of the realm, so too did she in softer ways, building friendships, organising aid to leave craftsmen of Narogothrond and scouts alike in her debt. 

But too far did Curufin go in imprisoning the princess of Doriath even for her loyalty, and when at last the sons of Fëanor were bid depart the doors of Felagund she remained under Celebrimbor, though her father followed Curufin, speaking these words to his daughter, “Now well I see the foresight wherewith thy mother bestowed upon thee the name of Vistare, the changeful one. Farewell I say, and I shall long to see thee once more, though when we meet again it shall be to our greater sorrow. Namarië.”

Now released from the duties of serving as acting seneschal for Curufin, Vistare turned her mind to building up her own household and position. She bid the craftsmen of Nargothrond build an addition more towards the centre of Nargothrond than where the Fëanoreans had hitherto dwelt, moving there with a small group of Elves—mostly scholars who worked with Vistare. Then she was free to chart the stars and ply her calculations.