As a devoted fan of Middle-earth, I must confess that Aragorn and Arwen’s tale leaves me with a heavy heart. Their love story is one for the ages, filled with valor, sacrifice, and the bittersweet poignancy of fate.
In J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Lord of the Rings,” we encounter Arwen Undómiel, which translates to Evenstar. She is the lovely and long-lived offspring of Elrond Half-elven (Peredhil in Elvish), a term that signifies she carries both Elvish and Human ancestry, along with a hint of celestial blood for good measure. This unique heritage presents Arwen with an extraordinary destiny, one shared by only a select few in Middle-earth. She has the option to live eternally in Middle-earth or to experience death as a gateway to whatever lies beyond.
As an ardent admirer of “The Lord of the Rings”, I can’t help but marvel at Arwen’s decision to marry Aragorn, becoming the mortal queen of Gondor, despite their distant relation. However, what many movie-goers and even book enthusiasts who skipped the dense appendices of “The Return of the King” might not grasp is that Arwen’s story takes a heart-wrenching turn post the epic conclusion. In essence, she succumbs to grief as her final fate.
However, what you see now is merely the beginning of a significant and lengthy life for Arwen. Instead, let’s rewind a moment and examine the events leading to her sorrowful fate.
Arwen’s life (in brief)
Arwen may ultimately choose a mortal life, but initially, she spends thousands of years living alongside her likewise immortal half-elven father. Like any being of this nature, that means she sees a lot of stuff, all of which happens during the Third Age — for those of you wondering, yes, unfortunately, that means we won’t get to see her in Prime Video’s “The Rings of Power” series, which takes place during the Second Age. (Although, to be fair, the writing team for that show has messed with the Tolkien timeline more than once, so it’s still possible.)
In the additional sections of “The Return of the King” (filled with supplementary information about Arwen’s life), it is revealed that she was born 241 years into the Third Age. Throughout her life spanning over 2,700 years, she lived largely unnoticed among the Elves. One fateful encounter led to a meeting with a 20-year-old Aragorn, who was captivated by her timeless elven charm. After many years, Aragorn matures and eventually wins Arwen’s affection. However, they decide to wait until after the War of the Ring before getting married. Following the conclusion of this war, Arwen and Aragorn wed, becoming the new rulers of the reunited kingdoms of Gondor and Arnor, which encompassed essentially the entire left side of the Middle-earth map.
As a devoted fan, I can’t help but marvel at the poignant tale of Arwen and Aragorn. Despite her age, which nears 2,800 years, Arwen chooses to relinquish immortality to stay with Aragorn. Miraculously, Aragorn, being of a long-lived lineage (for a mortal Man), manages to live an additional 120 years. It’s not until he reaches the venerable age of 210 that Aragorn bids farewell to this world, an act that ultimately leads to Arwen’s own passing.
Aragorn’s death (which leads to Arwen’s death)
When we express “Aragorn lays down his life,” we’re referring to him voluntarily giving up his life in a literal sense. He consciously decides, at an advanced age, to relinquish his life willingly before age weakens him beyond repair. This act was also permitted among his long-lived ancestors.
When Aragorn reveals to Arwen that the moment has arrived, we encounter a poignant statement (in “The Return of the King” appendices), “Arwen understood clearly what he was planning, and had foreseen it for some time; yet she was swept away by her sorrow. ‘Are you then, lord, abandoning your people who rely on your leadership?'” Aragorn counters that it’s not a case of leaving “before” his time. He acknowledges his age and mentions that their son, Eldarion, is now prepared to rule as the king.
When Aragorn ultimately lays down for his final rest, he communicates to Arwen, “I offer no solace to you, as there’s no solace for such agony within the realms of this world.” He suggests she could regret her mortal decision and seek passage to the Land of Eternity for Elves at the Grey Havens, but she states it’s already past. Her choice is irreversible, and she must accept the “Fate of Humans” — essentially, death. Lastly, she delivers a profoundly perceptive statement: “Only now have I truly comprehended the story of your kind and their downfall. Earlier, I despised them, but now I empathize with them. For if this is indeed, as the Eldar claim, the gift given by the One to Humans, it’s bitter to be granted.
Arwen’s death (in detail)
After Aragorn’s passing, Arwen is deeply distressed. If this scenario seems familiar, it’s likely because viewers who have watched the extended version of “The Two Towers” will remember a scene where Elrond (played by Hugo Weaving) persuades his daughter Arwen (portrayed by Liv Tyler) to leave Middle-earth by recounting a tale of her sorrow upon Aragorn’s (Viggo Mortensen) demise. In this narrative, she appears tearful and lost in a melancholic forest. Here, she challenges her father’s words, yet the scene mirrors her actual canonical farewell — and it only gets more somber.
After Aragorn passes away, Arwen departs from the realm of the dead, and it’s stated that “the sparkle in her eyes faded, and to her people, she appeared as cold and gray as the winter night without a star.” She bids farewell to her cherished son and daughters before moving on to Lothlórien. At this juncture, however, no solace can be found there. The Elves, Celeborn, Galadriel (with her Ring of Power that preserved nature), and all the others are absent, leaving the land barren and quiet.
In simpler terms, Tolkien writes towards the end, “She eventually rested at Cerin Amroth when mallorn leaves were falling but spring hadn’t yet arrived. Her resting place remains green until the world transforms and those who follow forget all about her, along with the blooming of elanor and niphredil flowers east of the Sea.” This parting line is heart-wrenching, as it’s an unexpectedly sad ending that you wouldn’t have anticipated after the joyous times following the One Ring’s destruction.
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2024-09-10 04:01