The Riddles of Aragorn # 3: Estel the Lover

 Aragorn and Arwen in Lothlorien

The Lord of the Rings is one of those odd books in which romance, love-triangles, explicit sex-scenes and tensions, debauchery, dirty jokes and forbidden/true love issues are not at all central or crucial to the plot of the story. There is indeed very little romance, no sex scenes, and no nagging woman around (with the possible exception of Eowyn) to trip the heroes up or get in the way of their tasks. This annoys a lot of people. It annoyed Peter Jackson, who preformed some serious character-assassinations (and made stuff up) in order to expand the love story of Aragorn and Arwen and make it more crucial in the movies. It does not annoy me; I actually like it. Here are my musings on Aragorn as a lover, the book romances and why they are important, and why Tolkien treated them the way he did.

In the book, there are only a few scenes in which Aragorn and Arwen are physically together. The first is at Rivendell in the Hall of Fire, where the Elves and the hobbits are singing after the celebratory victory feast held in honor of Frodo's recovery from the Nazgul wound. During the feast, Frodo noticed that Aragorn had not been at table, but he had beheld Arwen for the first time, seated close to Elrond, and Tolkien gives a lavish description of her as Frodo sees her, which becomes our impression as well, since we are seeing her through his eyes. Later in the Hall of Fire, as Fodo and Bilbo talk about their adventures together, Aragorn quietly comes in and stands looking down at them smiling. Bilbo looks up and sees him: ''Ah, there you are at last Dunadan!'' he says, ''...Where have you been my friend? Why weren't you at the feast? The Lady Arwen was there.''
''I know,'' says Aragorn gravely, ''but I often must put mirth aside. Elladan and Elrohir [Elrond's sons] have returned out of the Wild unlooked-for and they had tidings that I wished to hear at once.''
This reply is another important insight into the person of Aragorn. Up until this moment, Tolkien gave no indication that he was in a relationship, or that he might be in love with someone. This not-so-causal remark by Bilbo - who knows quite a lot about Aragorn - sheds a new light on the ragged Ranger Frodo has been traveling with for almost two weeks and adds another layer to the mysteries surrounding him. Later, as Frodo and Bilbo are about to leave the Hall, Frodo looks back and sees Elrond, Arwen and Aragorn all together: ''Elrond was in his chair and the fire on his face was like summer-light upon the trees. Near him sat the Lady Arwen. To his surprise Frodo saw that Aragorn stood beside her; his dark cloak was thrown back, and he seemed to be clad in elven-mail, and a star shone on his breast.'' Here, amide the enchanting elven hymns, Frodo (and us) are given a futuristic vision of Elessar the King with Arwen his Queen. They have already been betrothed, but still they must wait, for Elrond will not allow them to wed until the fate of the world has been decided and Aragorn passes his tests and takes up his rightful kingship of Gondor and Aranor

 Arwen at feast in Rivendell

Later, after Aragorn leaves Rivendell and journeys far away with the Fellowship, Arwen must continue to wait, for both of them have long-foreseen this war, and though their lives are long and such waiting can be endured, it is both weary and hard; and who in the end shall have the victory? The Heir of Elendil or the Dark Lord? So in hope and great fear she slowly makes for him a great kingly banner with Elendil's signs of the Tree and Stars and White Crown, which are the symbols of Numenor; the heritage of Aragorn. ''The days now are short. Either our hope cometh, or all hope's end. Therefore I send thee what I have made for thee. Fare well, Elfstone!'' And upon receiving this great gift, Aragorn uses it to declare  himself to the Oathbreakers; riding with it to victory at the battle of the Pelennor Fields and finally flaunts it before the Black Gates of Mordor itself. Arwen is a beacon of light and a quiet support to Aragorn during the War of the Ring, a light in his darkness, the treasure he will claim at the end of all his hardships, the hope of a new life lived in blessedness and peace with the one whom he most loves. Their love for each other is subtly woven throughout the story, shadowy but present, coming at last into full light after the crowning of the King. In the book Arwen never tries to talk him out of nor prevents him from doing any of his duties, duties which may lead to his death and the death of all their dreams; but she has hope, and so does he, and in the end they are victorious and their long waiting and labors finally come to fulfillment.

Then there is Eowyn, the Lady of Rohan. Eowyn has been tending King Theoden as he slowly grows weaker and sicker from the poisons and lies fed to him by Grima Wormtongue. She begins to sink into despair, musing on how inglorious her duties are and how her country and her people have fallen far from the honor and majesty they once had. After Gandalf heals Theoden he honors her by appointing her to be the guardian of the people of Edoras while he rides off to war. She leads the people to Dunharrow (not Helm's Deep) where they will be safe for as long as possible. But this is not what she wants. She has a fighting spirit to match her brother Eomer's but has no outlet to express it. For although her Theoden gives her a sword and armor her task is to defend, not fight. She becomes restless and agitated, for Grima has poisoned her thoughts as well. When she encounters Aragorn in the Golden Hall she sees in him a great leader, a 'tall heir of kings,' under no one's authority but the highest; a way out of the 'cage' she feels that she's in; a man with whom she could win great glory and renown far from her duties and her homeland.

 Aragorn and Eowyn at Edoras

Aragorn notices her, but not in the way she wants, for his heart's true love is for Arwen, and for her he has only pity for her situation, which he cannot alter. For although he is a king he will not go against the commands of Theoden and so forbids her from riding with the Gray Company, though she begs him, even if she does not approve of his choice in roads, saying: ''Lord, if you must go [to the Paths of the Dead], allow me to ride in your following. For I am weary of skulking in the hills, and wish to face peril and battle.''
''Your duty is with your people,'' he tells her. ''Did you not accept the charge to govern the people until their lord's return?''
Shall I always be chosen?'' she laments, ''But am I not of the House of Eorl, a shieldmaiden and not a dry-nurse? I have waited on faltering feet long enough. Since they falter no longer, it seems, may I not now spend my life as I will?'' This is somewhat ironic, because Aragorn, could he have his choice, would not even be on this road. ''I do not choose paths of peril, Eowyn. Were I to go where my heart dwells, far in the North I would now be, wandering in the fair valley of Rivendell.'' He does not seek the Paths of the Dead willingly, but because no other option is available to him. He is also under authority, and must do everything in his power to ensure that his kingdom does not fall. Both have duties to perform, and both must put aside their personal desires and do the deeds at hand before their own dreams can be fulfilled.
Again, Tolkien gives us an example of what it means to be self-sacrificial, and the importance of choosing
the right path, even if that path leads away from peace and love to great peril and possible death.

''But I often must put mirth aside.'' With these words that Aragorn speaks, Tolkien puts forward that he does not believe that love or romance or sexuality is somehow bad or inferior or dirty. What he does do is put these things in their proper place, within their proper context. Mirth and love will come, but not yet. There are more important things happening in Middle-Earth that require all of Aragorn's time and energies and these things take greater precedence over romancing and loving. This is why Tolkien put ''The Tale of Aragorn and Arwen'' into the Appendixes of The Return of the King instead of making it a chapter in the actual book. He felt if he made it a part of the main story it would distract/bog down the reader and draw attention away from the important events that were happening to the Fellowship during the War of the Ring. The doom of Middle-Earth hangs upon a thread and Aragorn must play his part as Frodo moves ever closer to Mount Doom, even at the expense of his own desires and wants. The same goes for Arwen too, and this, to me, makes their love story stronger not weaker; for at the end of the road, when all as been accomplished, Aragorn and Arwen, Faramir and Eowyn and Samwise and Rosie are well rewarded for their patience and endurance, using well their days far better then we who hunger for instant romantic and sexual gratification right now and to whom self-sacrifice, patience and purity are but old-fashioned ideas from a irrelevant age. Not so in Middle-Earth, where the Queen and King of Gondor reign in glory, and Sam plays in his garden with his children, and Eowyn finds love and contentment at last in the kind arms of Faramir. It was well-worth waiting - and fighting - for.  
   

 Peace at last: King Aragorn Elessar with Queen
Arwen Evenstar

''Use well the days.''