Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Children of Arvedui:
Aranarth — Lorneth
Amathim

Children of Aranarth:
Arahael — Avorniel
Idhrion

Children of Arahael:
Aranuir — Bellassamdir

Children of Aranuir:
Aravir — Daerís

Children of Aravir:
Aragorn I — Galadil

Children of Aragorn I:
Araglas — Aeneth

Children of Araglas:
Arahad I — Silivreneth

Children of Arahad I:
Aragost — Alphalas

Children of Aragost:
Aravorn — Sírdhem

Children of Aravorn:
Arahad II — Ellother

Children of Arahad II:
Arassuil — Glórineth

Children of Arassuil:
Arathorn I — Dravoriel

Children of Arathorn I:
Argonui — Theriel
Eithiar — Farion (descendant of Amathim)

Children of Argonui:
Arador — Malríneth

Children of Arador:
Arathorn II — Gilraen

Children of Eithiar:
Dírhael — Ivorwen (daughter of Gilbarad)

Children of Dírhael:
Gilraen — Arathorn II

Children of Arathorn II and Gilraen:
Aragorn II Elessar — Arwen Undómiel (daughter of Elrond brother of Elros)

Children of Elessar:
Eldarion — Elboron
Erthoril
Eliominal
Evrindil

Chapter Text

Aranarth was the son of Arvedui, the last King of Arnor, and Fíriel, a princess of Gondor, and the first Chieftain of the Dúnedain. When his father disappeared after a crushing defeat in battle, a young Aranarth searched tirelessly for any news of him, at last discovering that he had fled north to the Ice-bay of Forochel. He beseeched the aid of the elves to save the king, but though Círdan sent a ship to rescue him, it was sunk in the freezing water and Arvedui perished.

As his father’s heir, Aranarth could have claimed the title of King of Arthedain, but as the remnants of Arnor had been destroyed by the Witch-king of Angmar, he chose instead to call himself the Chieftain of the Dúnedain. Upon Eärnur’s arrival in the land that once had been Arnor, Aranarth joined with the heir of the South-kingdom to defeat Angmar once and for all. Though the Witch-king survived, he fled south to Gondor where he would focus his efforts on Eärnur rather than Aranarth and his people.

For many long decades, Aranarth led his people, now known as the Rangers of the North, in a wild and woodland life. During his rule, the North experienced much chaos, including the fall of Khazad-dûm and the rise of Dol Guldur. Aranarth was a skilled tracker, known for leaving no footprints as he walked, and under his guidance they hunted down many remaining bands of orcs and defended those few inhabitants of Eriador (including the Shire, who in the absence of a King elected their first Thain, Bucca of the Marish) from Angmar’s servants.

After many years of solitude save for the steadfast companionship of his younger brother Amathin, Aranarth at last met Lorneth, a contemplative woman training to become a healer. At first, Lorneth shyly demurred her Chieftain’s advances, but in time she grew to love him, and the two were wed.

When the couple were expecting their first child, a band of men once under the service of Angmar mustered a coordinated attack against the Dúnedain. Amathin was slain defending his brother’s wife, and after this loss Aranarth resolved that Lorneth must be sent to safety until he could take care of the bandits. He sent her to the hidden sanctuary of Imladris with an escort and several heirlooms of Arnor, counting on Lord Elrond to deliver mercy upon the line of Elros as he had when Isildur delivered his own pregnant wife to Rivendell in a time of war.

Elrond welcomed Lorneth into his valley and secured the heirlooms she brought with her. Within the month, Lorneth’s son Arahael was born, and before he was a year old, a victorious Aranarth rushed to Imladris to meet his son. Lorneth and Aranarth had a second son, Idhrion, only a few years later; the brothers were inseparable, Idhrion serving faithfully under Arahael throughout all his days as Chieftain.

Chapter Text

Arahael was the elder son of Aranarth, and the second Chieftain of the Dúnedain. He was born and raised in Imladris alongside his brother Idhrion, who was his constant companion. The brothers competed for the affections of the maiden Avorniel, but not even her choice to wed Arahael instead of Idhrion could shake their unbreakable bond.

The birth of Arahael and Avorniel’s son Aranuir, delivered by Lord Elrond himself, established a tradition of the Chieftain’s heirs spending their formative years in Imladris. Aranuir was a serious man, vigilantly guarding Eriador against the dangers of the wild, and only his spouse Bellassamdir could make him smile. Bellassamdir’s cheer warmed the hearts of the Dúnedain even on their darkest nights, and they passed this good humor to their son Aravir.

Aravir was a man of quick wit and cunning action, matched in his cleverness by his wife, the smith Daerís. Though of an unassuming stature, Daerís was a skilled metalworker and forged many blades for her husband.

Their son Aragorn determined to free the Eriador of all evil, embarking on a quest to drive out the remaining orcs and trolls and win the allegiance of rogue men to his side. For eight years he worked tirelessly in this endeavor, but his life was cut short when he was killed by wolves, always a peril in these lands, but not one he had thought to guard against.

He was succeeded by his son Araglas, who had not anticipated to come into his inheritance for many more decades. To help him lead, Araglas depended first on his mother Galadil, a sharp-minded woman in the confidence of Elrond, and then his wife Aeneth, who balanced his mother’s ruthless practicality with pity and piety, traits she passed on to her son Arahad I.

Chapter Text

Arahad was the son of Araglas, and the seventh Chieftain of the Dúnedain. During his rule, the Watchful Peace came to an end when Sauron returned to his fortress of Dol Guldur and spurred his orcs to multiply. Arahad was wearied by these struggles and leaned on his wife, the wise-woman Silivreneth, for support.

The son of Arahad and Silivreneth was Aragost, who was firmer of will than his father and more active in fighting against the rising turmoil in the North. Though Sauron focused his efforts on Gondor and Rhovanion, not Eriador, he was ever vigilant in his defense of his lands. His wife Alphalas was dear friends with Lord Elrond’s wife Lady Celebrían, bonding with her over their shared love for swans, for which Alphalas was named and Celebrían honored as a symbol of her mother’s Telerin heritage.

Alas, Arahad’s wisdom and Aragost’s guarded watch upon the Misty Mountains were, though valiant, imperfect, and Celebrían was waylaid by orcs upon her return from a visit to her parents in Lothlórien. All her companions were slain, including Alphalas, who had been eager to meet the great Lord and Lady of the Golden Wood. Celebrían’s twin sons Elladan and Elrohir found and recovered her, but she was deeply affected by her time in bondage to the orcs and not even Elrond’s medical abilities could save her. The next year, she departed for the West in search of deeper healing.

Alphalas’ young son Aravorn was only twelve years old at the time of her death, and before she sailed, Celebrían made sure to pass along his mother’s love to the child. He was the last Heir of Isildur to know the Lady of Imladris. He carried this sorrow all his life, marrying an equally solemn woman, Sírdhem, whose own parents had been slain by orcs.

The son of Aravorn and Sírdhem was Arahad II, named for his great-grandfather. Despite his parents’ melancholy attitudes, Arahad was a boisterous man of great cheer. He frequently traveled westward to the borders of the Shire, and though he never trespassed upon the land of the periannath he took great heart and comfort from watching their flourishing community, knowing his and his fathers’ efforts to fight against evil were doing good in the world.

It was on one such journey that Arahad met Ellother, a hunter from a small community of Men in the Hills of Evendim. They became fast friends, and soon Ellother asked to be Arahad’s spouse. Though Ellother had a lesser lifespan than their Dúnadan husband, their love was great and from it came an heir, Arassuil.

In the first part of his rule as Chieftain, Arassuil established trade with the hobbits of Bree, delighted by their recent development of pipe-weed. But soon troubles increased in the North, with the orcs of the Misty Mountains growing bold enough to raid Eriador. Arassuil and his rangers fought tirelessly to hold them back, but one party managed to reach the Shire where they were fought off by a brave band of hobbits.

Upon hearing tale of their leader, Bandobras “Bullroarer” Took, Arassuil was greatly impressed and traveled to honor him in person, though Bullroarer had only a vague idea of who this strange Man was. However, this friendship was fortunate, for soon the Long Winter arrived. Many lives were lost throughout Eriador, and with the aid of the wizard Mithrandir, Arassuil and the Rangers of the North brought supplies from Rivendell to the Shire to aid the hobbits.

As he aged, Arassuil grew weary from his wounds, and was forced to spend more and more time in Imladris where his grandson Argonui was growing into a young man. Though he cherished this time with his family, Arassuil worried that he was not doing enough as Chieftain. His wife Glórineth, a few decades younger than him, bravely took up the task of leading the Rangers in their journeys alongside their son Arathorn I. Glórineth and Arathorn continued to aid the hobbits of the Shire and also to the dwarves of the recently-sacked Erebor as they made their long pilgrimage westward to the Blue Mountains.

Chapter Text

Arathorn I was the son of Arassuil, and the twelfth Chieftain of the Dúnedain. The first years of rule were spent warring against the orcs of the Misty Mountains, who had emerged during his father’s rule and continued their attacks relentlessly. He was aided in this task by his wife Dravoriel, a fearsome swordswoman, and their two children Argonui and Eithiar.

But when the Longbeard dwarves of fallen Erebor attempted to retake their ancestral halls of Khazad-dûm, this War of the Dwarves and Orcs thoroughly depopulated the orcs of the Misty Mountains, most of whom were slain or forced to flee. Though ultimately the dwarves won the war, their losses were heavy and they turned back to Ered Luin rather than settling once more in Khazad-dûm. Arathorn and his family, impressed and grateful to King Thráin and his people, aided the dwarves in their long journey westwards.

For many years Arathorn ruled in relative peace. But though orcs were much less of a threat than they had been before, small bands still roamed the mountains and made their way into Eriador from time to time. Whilst out riding with Dravoriel and some friends, Arathorn, now in his old age, stumbled upon such a band of orcs unawares and was slain.

Chapter Text

Argonui was the son of Arathorn I, and the thirteenth Chieftain of the Dúnedain. After his father was slain by a rogue band of orcs, he dedicated his rule to hunting down their kind and preventing them from regaining a foothold in the North. He was often away from home on these missions, leaving his wife Theriel to lead the Dúnedain in his absence.

In his old age, Argonui endured the Fell Winter, when white wolves became a greater threat than orcs; yet little relief would be found when spring at last arrived, when the thawing ice led to great floods devastating Enedwaith and Minhiriath. He died from chills that never left him after that long, harsh winter, and was succeeded by his son Arador.

Assuming leadership in a time of low morale, Arador was faced with the difficult task of uniting the Dúnedain in the face of scarcity and destruction. He welcomed refugees from the long-dwindling city of Tharbad, now fully depopulated, and worked tirelessly to reestablish hope among his people. He and his wife Malríneth could often be seen working the fields and delivering meat and grain to the poorest among them, seeking to prove they were no better than the least of Men, and that all deserved kindness and support.

After a rule of only 18 years, Arador was slain by hill-trolls in the Coldfells while out searching for good stone for his masons. His heir, Arathorn II, would likewise rule only briefly, his life cut short by violence.

Chapter Text

Eithiar was the younger child of Arathorn I, and the sibling of Argonui. They often accompanied their brother on his orc hunts and were well-renowned for their deadly skill with a spear. Their husband was Farion, a cobbler who took the primary responsibility for caring for their only son, Dírhael.

While still young, Dírhael sought the hand of his beloved, Ivorwen the daughter of Gilbarad. Though Ivorwen loved him in return, Gilbarad refused to allow her to wed until Dírhael proved his worth. At last, after a year-long hunt, Dírhael brought down a mighty elk and presented it to his beloved, winning the approval of her father.

When it came time for Dírhael’s own daughter Gilraen to marry, he found himself understanding Gilbarad’s motivations in a way he had not before. His foresight cautioned him that Gilraen’s marriage to the much older Arathorn II, heir to Chieftain Arador, would end too soon. But Ivorwen his wife also had foresight, and argued that this was exactly why they should allow Gilraen to wed Arathorn, so that new hope might be born in the little time they would have together.

Eventually Dírhael was persuaded, and witnessed the joyous union of his daughter and his future Chieftain, though neither he nor Ivorwen warned Gilraen of the heavy doom upon her family.

Chapter Text

Arathorn II was the son of Arador, and the fifteenth Chieftain of the Dúnedain. He was close in friendship with the sons of Elrond, often riding out with them to battle. Arathorn was enamoured of the maiden Gilraen, another descendant of Chieftain Arathorn I, for whom he was named, but her father Dírhael opposed their marriage for a time. With the counsel of his wife Ivorwen, Dírhael at last relented, and the two were wed.

However, their happiness would be short-lived, for not a year later Arathorn’s father was killed by hill-trolls. He redoubled his efforts to keep malicious creatures away from his people, and was away hunting orcs with Elladan and Elrohir during the birth of his only son. Hurrying to return to Imladris, where Gilraen and his child were kept safe, Arathorn neglected to keep his guard up and was ambushed by a band of orcs.

The sons of Elrond were close behind and managed to destroy the orc-band, but they were too late to save Arathorn, who had fallen with an arrow in his eye. Thus, after a rule of only three short years, Arathorn died without ever having met his son, Aragorn II.

Gilraen grew bitter and weary after the death of her husband, but she cared well for her little son, now the Chieftain of the Dúnedain. Aragorn was given the name Estel, meaning Hope, and raised without the burden of his heritage until the time Lord Elrond deemed it right for him to know.

Gilraen opposed Aragorn’s love for Elrond’s daughter Arwen, as her father Dírhael had opposed her love for Arathorn and her grandfather Gilbarad had opposed Dírhael’s love for her mother, seeing little hope in love when it had brought her only pain. But as had become tradition, Aragorn plighted his troth to Arwen anyway, and though Gilraen would not live to see it this union would result in much more happiness than anyone could have foreseen.

When Aragorn was a man full-grown, Gilraen left Imladris and returned to the rest of the Dúnedain. Her final words to her son were this cryptic poem: I gave Hope to the Dúnedain; I have kept no hope for myself.

Chapter Text

Aragorn II, known also as Estel and Elessar, was the sixteenth and final Chieftain of the Dúnedain and the first King of the Reunited Kingdom. He was named for his ancestor Aragorn I, but raised under the name Estel. He never met his father Arathorn II, who died when he was only two years old, and was raised by his mother Gilraen and Lord Elrond in Imladris.

For many years he was unaware of his heritage as the Heir of Isildur, but at the age of twenty-one Elrond revealed to him his true name and ancestry. This knowledge filled Aragorn with great hope, and on the very next day as he sang of Beren and Lúthien, great heroes of old, he first beheld Elrond’s daughter Arwen and fell instantly in love, thinking her to be Lúthien herself reborn.

Aragorn now took up his role as Chieftain and went out into the Wild as a Ranger of the North. In his travels he met the Wizard Gandalf and became interested in the Shire, earning the nickname Strider by the suspicious folks of Bree. After a time he turned to the South, serving Steward Ecthelion II of Gondor and King Thengel of Rohan in their struggles against the Enemy under the name Thorongil.

On his return journey to Imladris, Aragorn stopped first in Lothlórien. There he met Arwen again, and for a season they wandered the Golden Wood together, forging a deep bond of love. At midsummer they plighted their troth; later, Elrond agreed to permit their marriage if Aragorn would first become king of both Gondor and Arnor, a task nearly as daunting as Beren’s quest to recover a Silmaril for Lúthien’s hand.

The might of Sauron continued to grow, and Aragorn was never idle in the fight against evil. At the behest of Gandalf, he hunted down the creature Gollum and delivered him to the prisons of the elves of Mirkwood for safekeeping before heading back to the Shire to serve as a guide to Frodo Baggins and the One Ring on their journey to Rivendell. He defended Frodo and his companions when they were attacked by Nazgûl on the hill of Amon Sûl, and joined the Fellowship of the Ring to ensure the destruction of Sauron’s artefact.

When Gandalf fell in the darkness of Moria, Aragorn took up leadership of the Fellowship, taking them to Lothlórien for a brief respite. There Arwen’s grandmother, the great Lady Galadriel, gave to him an enchanted green stone, as a token of approval over their marriage. He wore this stone upon his breast, and from it took his kingly name Elessar.

At the Falls of Rauros, Aragorn was uncertain whether he ought to continue with Frodo to Mordor or follow Boromir to Minas Tirith as he had originally planned. The choice was taken out of his hands when Frodo and Sam slipped away on their own and Boromir was slain; with Legolas the elf and Gimli the dwarf, Aragorn instead embarked on a quest to rescue the hobbits Merry and Pippin.

Their path led them to Rohan, where he befriended Éomer and reunited with the miraculously reincarnated Gandalf. He fought with the Rohirrim against Saruman’s attack on Helm’s Deep beside his friends and King Théoden, and after the battle he knew it was at last time to return to Gondor. With a group of stalwart companions at his side, including Legolas, Gimli, Elrond’s sons, and a company of faithful Rangers, Aragorn walked the Paths of the Dead and won the allegiance of the Dead Men of Dunharrow.

As the Battle of Pelennor Fields raged, Aragorn besieged the Corsairs at Pelargir and commandeered their ships. He and his army arrived just in time to turn the tides of the battle, but even then Aragorn would not claim kingship just yet. Instead he passed the leadership of Minas Tirith to Prince Imrahil of Dol Amroth, and only under great duress did he enter the city to heal his friends Merry, Éowyn, and Faramir from the Nazgûl curse. Thus, despite his efforts to maintain relative anonymity, he became known for the King he was, in accordance to a prophecy of old, The hands of the King are the hands of a healer.

Aragorn took counsel with his closest advisors and decided that a distraction was necessary to buy time for Frodo and Sam to destroy the One Ring. He led the armies of the West to the Black Gate of Mordor and waged war against Sauron directly in the Battle of the Morannon, which was won only when the Ring was consumed by the fires of Orodruin and Frodo’s quest was completed.

Thereafter Aragorn returned to Minas Tirith in all his kingly glory and was crowned King Elessar of the Reunited Kingdom of Gondor and Arnor. At long last he wed Arwen Undómiel, daughter of Elrond, and began a blessed rule in the Fourth Age of Middle-earth. Under his leadership, Gondor was reinvigorated and fallen Arnor restored, and peace and prosperity came to the Men of Middle-earth.

Arwen Undómiel, wife of King Elessar and Queen of Gondor, lived for nearly three thousand years before her marriage to Aragorn. In their union, the lines of Elrond and Elros were reunited after two Ages of Arda. Arwen was a skilled craftsman, weaving the Standard of Elendil and reforging Narsil, the Sword That Was Broken, into Andúril, as well as many more projects before and after.

Like her father before her, Arwen was offered the Choice of the Peredhil: whether to be counted as an elf or a man. She delayed her Choice for millennia, though in her heart she knew she would choose mortality. When she met Aragorn she knew that at last her time had come, and the people she was meant to live and die with were finally living. Her choice brought grief to her father Elrond, for he had already lost a brother to mortality, but she was firm in her decision and glad to become a Queen of Men.

When Aragorn died after a reign of 122 years as King, Arwen left Gondor and traveled to the remnants of Lothlórien, where she laid down her life and passed beyond the circles of the world. At this time, her son Eldarion took up the mantle of King and continued the Line of Telcontar, the House founded by Aragorn.

Eldarion ruled wisely and justly, aided in governance by his three siblings, all gifted in their own way. Though he was the eldest, he relied on the counsel of his sister Erthoril, who worked tirelessly as a diplomat to unite and pacify the various peoples of Middle-earth. His sibling Eliominal was a deeply spiritual individual who led a revival of religion in Gondor; like Eldarion himself, they never wed, and though Erthoril did marry, she and her wife had no children. Thus the Line of Kings continued through his youngest sister, Evrindil, a cheerful historian with one daughter and three sons who supported their sister as the first Ruling Queen of the Reunited Kingdom.