People of Middle Earth: Aragorn

By: Martuk

One of the most renowned characters in Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings series is Aragorn. Descended from the blood line of Elendil he aided greatly as a key ally in the war against Sauron in the third age. With the re-forged blade of kings formerly called Narsil and re-named Anduril, he became king after Sauron’s defeat and ushered in a new age of peace and the reunification of the kingdoms of Gondor and Arnor.

Aragorn was born during the third age of Middle Earth. He was the son of Arathorn II and Gilraen. He is a direct descendant of Isildur son of Elendil and Elros Tar-Minyatur, Elrond’s half brother and the first king of Numenor. Being of Numenor decent, Aragorn was blessed with longer than normal life for a human.

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Aragorn’s father Arathorn was killed by orcs when he was only an infant. Fearing for the safety of her son, Gilraen fled to the elvish city of Rivendale. Gilraen requested that Aragorn be raised in the elvish city and his heritage hidden from him as she feared he might be killed if it were ever discovered. Lord Elrond accepted Aragorn as an adopted son renaming him Estel and he was raised in Rivendale. Elrond kept Estel’s lineage and true name hidden from him as his mother had requested until he came of age.

When Estel came of age, Elrond revealed to him his real name of Aragorn and told him of his heritage and his right to the throne. Elrond delivered to Aragorn the shards of Narsil that Isildur used to cut the one ring from the hand of the dark lord Sauron and the Ring of Barahir. Elrond withheld the Scepter of Annuminas from Aragorn until later. It was around this time that Aragorn met the daughter of Lord Elrond named Arwen. The two would fall in love even though Elrond disapproved of his daughters choice to love a mortal, he ultimately would approve of the joining of the two.

Once he came of age and learned of his lineage, Aragorn took up his position as a chieftain of the Dunedain rangers of the north. It was during this time Aragorn first met a wizard by the name of Gandalf the Grey. The two became good friends and at the behest of Gandalf, Aragorn and the rangers began to keep a close eye on a section of the Shire, home of the furry foot Hobbits. Aragorn became known as Strider by the people of Bree and the surrounding areas of the Shire.

When Gandalf discovered the one ring was in the Shire, it was Aragorn who helped guide the hobbit Frodo Baggins and his three companions to Rivendale. During the journey Aragorn fought off a Nazgul attack near Weathertop where Frodo was stabbed with a Morgul blade. Had it not been for Aragorn’s healing abilities, Frodo would not have made it to Rivendale where he was healed by Elrond.

Aragorn joined the fellowship from Rivendale with the ring bearer Frodo Baggins that set out for Mount Doom to destroy the one ring. Before leaving Rivendale the shards of Narsil were re-forged and the sword was given a new name, Anduril Flame of the West. The fellowship traveled from Rivendale to the pass of Caradhras, but when they failed to cross the group headed to the mines of Moria. Here Aragorn helped fight through the goblin infested mines that doomed an entire dwarven city. When the fellowship exited Moria Aragorn became their leader as Gandalf was believed dead having fallen with the Balrog. Though Aragorn had set out to take the re-forged blade to Gondor he now found himself responsible for the fellowship. He pressed the group into the forest of Lothlorien where they met the Lady Galadriel before moving on.

When the fellowship reached the Falls of Rauros on the Anduin River, Aragorn instructed Frodo that he must decide whether to take the ring to Gondor or Mount Doom. Frodo requesting an hour alone met Boromir who tried to take the ring from him. In an effort to redeem himself for his actions, Boromir gave his life defending Merry and Pippen from orcs and died in the arms of Aragorn.

The fellowship broke at the river, but Aragorn did not give up. He rallied Gimli and Legolas as they pursued Marry and Pippen and their orc captors. During the pursuit the three met Gandalf reborn as Gandalf the White in the Forest of Fangorn. He rejoined them and helped set King Théoden free of Saruman the White’s enchantment. After being set free King Théoden ordered his people to Helms Deep. Gandalf left in search of Erkenbrand and the Rohirrim. Aragorn aided in the defense of Helm’s deep holding back the forces of Mordor until Gandalf arrived with the Erkenbrand’s men.

Once the battle for Rohan was finished Aragorn aided in the defense of Minas Tirith with the aid of an undead army of oath breakers who could not rest until their oath was fulfilled by the king. Aragorn summoned them to his side to help defeat a large force of Corsair ships on their way to aid in the attack on Minas Tirith after which Aragorn released them holding their oath fulfilled and allowing their souls to rest. At the end of the battle for Pelennor Fields, Aragorn used his healing abilities to aid the wounded and the sick. This made the people even more willing to accept him as their king, but Aragorn did not ascend to the throne just yet. Knowing the peril that Frodo was now in he devised a plan. He used a Palantir to reveal himself to Sauron making known his bloodline and he led the allied forces in an assault on the Black Gate to create a distraction for Frodo who was drawing ever closer to Mount Doom. The plan worked as the Black gates army engaged the Aragorn’s forces giving Frodo just enough time to reach Mount Doom and the one ring was destroyed.

In the coming years Aragorn ascended to the throne of king and restored the kingdom of Arnor. He married the lady Arwen and he ruled for one hundred and twenty years. Aragorn died at the age of two hundred and ten, but under his rule there was great prosperity and peace in the kingdom of Gondor and Arnor.

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Tolkien, J.R.R. (2001). Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring. New York, New York: Houghton Mifflin Company.

Tolkien, J.R.R. (2002). Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers. New York, New York: Houghton Mifflin Company.

Tolkien, J.R.R. (2003). Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King. New York, New York: Houghton Mifflin Company.

Tolkien, J.R.R. (2004). The Silmarillion. New York, New York: Houghton Mifflin Company.