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Aragorn and Arwen embody the love in the Lord of the
Rings, and theirs is a magical, though bittersweet, story. This is their story according to
Tolkien's appendices.
Aragorn was known as Estel, meaning hope, in his youth, in
order to keep the truth of his existence hidden from the enemy. He grew up in the house
of Elrond with his mother Gilraen, and earned fame as a warrior.When he was twenty
Elrond told him who he truly was. The following day he was walking in the woods and
met Arwen, and immediately fell in love with her. She told him that she was Elrond's
daughter and immortal, but from that day his heart was taken. |  |
 |
All that is gold does not
glitter
Not all those who wander are lost
The tree that is strong does not
wither
Deep roots are not reached by the frost
From the ashes a fire shall be
woken
A light from the shadow shall spring
Renewed shall be Blade that was
Broken
The crownless again shall be King
|  |
| Arwen had been living with her
grandmother, Galadriel, in Lothlorien. Aragorn knew she was immortal, and it troubled
him. He spoke to Gilraen of this, and she counseled him to forget Arwen because, she
said, it was not right that a mortal and elf should wed. But Aragorn would not give up on
his love, and said, "Then bitter will my days be, and I will walk in the wild alone." Elrond
also spoke to him and told him that until he took up the crown of Elendil he would not
become betrothed to any woman, including and especially Arwen. Elrond explained to
him the sadness in Arwen's choice; that as long as Elrond lived on Middle Earth, Arwen
would live with the immortality of the elves, and she could accompany him to the Grey
Havens when he departed. Elrond's fear and sadness was that if she did come to love
Aragorn, she might choose instead to remain on Middle Earth, become mortal, and so
die. |
 |
| Aragorn did not see Arwen for nearly thirty years. After his talks
with Elrond and Gilraen, he went into the wilderness, became one of the Rangers,
befriended Gandalf the Grey, rode with the Rohirrim and fought for the Lord of Gondor.
In that time he was much renowned, but instead of choosing to follow fame, he went
deep into the East and South, seeking the servants and plots of Sauron. Aragorn was
nine and forty, then, when he returned from one hard journey after Sauron's agents, and
chose to rest a while in the land of Lothlorien. Arwen Undomiel was there as well, but he
did not know that when he came there. She had not changed, being immortal, but
Aragorn was now grown, and Galadriel honored him and clothed him like one of the
elves. He walked on the hill of Caras Galadhon and there Arwen saw him after their long
absence, and made her choice to love him. For a while he stayed in Lorien, and on
Midsummer Eve when he was to leave again they went to the beautiful hill of Cerin
Amroth and made their vows to eachother. Arwen swore to love Aragorn and to give up
the immortality of her people, although it saddened her greatly to leave her father, whom
she also loved. |
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 |
Elrond learned of the choice of his daughter, and was very sad that his fears had come
to pass. When Aragorn came again to Rivendell he was called to come before Elrond,
who told him that although he had helped to raise him and loved him as a son, he could
not let Arwen, who was of royal Elvish blood, marry anyone less than the king of both
Gondor and Arnor. So, Aragorn set out to attain that crown, so that he could fulfill his
promise to Arwen and marry her. His quest brought him into more closeness with
Gandalf, which drew him to meet Frodo and become part of the Fellowship. |
| At the end of Return of the King they were
finally married, and Aragorn ruled as High King over all Middle Earth with Arwen as his
Queen. They ruled for a hundred and twenty years and had several children, including
their son and heir Eldarion. When Aragorn died, Arwen went out of their House in Minas
Tirith and "the light of her eyes was quenched." She bade farewell to her children and
went to Lothlorien, empty now of elves because Galadriel and Celeborn had passed
away into the West. She dwelt there alone until winter came, at which time she laid
down upon Cerin Amroth and never rose again. |
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