Birth: Year 241 the Third Age
Death: Year 121 the Fourth Age Race: Elves Culture: Rivendell Elves Hair Color: Dark Eye Color: Grey Skin Color: White Father: Elrond Mother: Celebrian Siblings: 2 brothers-Elladan and Elrohir Spouse: Aragorn Children: 1 son- Eldarion, daughters Residences: Rivendell; later Minas Tirith in Gondor |
Biography
Arwen Evenstar, also called Arwen Umdomiel, was a beautiful Elf-maiden of Rivendell who fell in love with a mortal man of the Dunedain called Aragorn. Their love story was recorded as the Tale of Aragorn and Arwen and it was remembered as one of the greatest tales from the Third Age.
Arwen was the daughter Lord Elrond of Rivendell and Celebrian. Arwen's father Elrond was half-Elven, and he was the son of Earendil, a great hero of the First Age. Because Elrond was half-Elven, he had the choice between mortality and immortality. He chose to live forever as an Elf. Arwen would be given this same choice at some point in her life. Arwen's mother Celebrian was the daughter of the ancient Queen Galadriel of Lothlorien, who had migrated to Middle-Earth over the Grinding Ice before the beginning of the First Age. Arwen was born in 241 of the Third Age. She had two older brothers named Elladan and Elrohir.
In 2509 of the Third Age, Arwen's mother Celebrian was attacked and tortured by Orcs at the Redhorn Gate. Her sons Elladan and Elrohir rescued her, but she had been emotionally wounded and she left Middle-Earth in 2510.
Arwen spent a great deal of time with her grandmother Galadriel and grandfather Celeborn in Lothlorien. She also spent a lot of time in Rivendell with her father and brothers. In 2951, Arwen returned to Rivendell and met Aragorn, a Dunedain ranger from the North who had come to Rivendell to be fostered by Elrond before he would become Chieftain of the Dunedain.
Arwen and Aragorn fell in love, but Elrond told Aragorn that he could not marry Arwen because of her heritage and because of the fact that she would have to give up her immortality to marry a mortal man. Aragorn was hurt by this, and he left Rivendell to travel to the distant regions of Middle-Earth to gain an extensive knowledge.
When Aragorn returned in 2980, he found Arwen in Lothlorien and he spoke to her at Caras Galadhon. Arwen decided then that she chose a mortal life and she wished to die with Aragorn. They danced in the Elanors of Cerin Amroth together, and it was there that they were betrothed. When Aragorn told Elrond of this, he told Aragorn that the only man who could marry Arwen was the High King of the reunited Kingdom of Gondor and Arnor. There was no king of Gondor and Arnor, but the line had passed to Aragorn and his people had become rangers long ago. But Aragorn had the potential to reclaim the throne and thus marry Arwen.
Arwen remained in Lothlorien until 3009, when Elrond requested that she return home because of the danger that lurked in the regions of the Misty Mountains and Lothlorien. There she remained without Aragorn until October of 3018, when he returned for two months with Frodo Baggins. Aragorn was guiding Frodo on his quest, and two months later he set out with Frodo on his quest to destroy the One Ring in Mordor. When Aragorn reached Lothlorien in 3019, he received the Elessar that Arwen had left for him.
As it turned out, Aragorn successfully led the forces of the West to defeat the great enemy Sauron. On Midsummmer's Eve in 3019, Arwen and Elrond reached Minas Tirith in Gondor. On Mid-year's day in 3019, Aragorn was reunited with Arwen. They were wedded that day and Arwen became Queen of the Reunited Kingdom of Gondor and Arnor at last.
Arwen saw that Frodo was enduring much pai even after the destruction of his burden the One Ring. She gave him a white jewel and told him that he could pass over the Sea into the West in he stead. As an emissary of the Valar, Gandalf allowed this to happen and Frodo left Middle-Earth with Gandalf, Galadriel, Celeborn, Elrond, and Bilbo in 3021.
Arwen and her father journeyed to Edoras to pay their condolences for the death of King Theoden. Elrond and Arwen left the funeral early in order to bid one another farewell. Since Elrond was going to pass over the Sea into the Undying Lands to the west, he was never going to see his daughter again.
Aragorn and Arwen traveled to the North-kingdom of Arnor in year 15 of the Fourth Age, and Arwen helped Aragorn take on the kingship of Arnor by placing the Elendilmir on his brow. The royal couple lived on the shores of Lake Evendim before journeying to the Shire where they reunited with Sam Gamgee, Merry Brandybuck, and Pippin Took. Aragorn made all three of them Counsellors of the North-kingdom of Arnor, and Arwen made Elanor Gamgee, Sam's eldest daughter, her maid of honor.
Aragorn and Arwen reigned as mighty King and Queen of Elves and men for one hundred twenty years. Arwen and Aragorn lived in the white city of Minas Tirith. Arwen bore Aragorn a son named Eldarion and several daughters as well.
After Aragorn's death in 120 of the Fourth Age, Arwen was deeply grieved as her father had foreseen. In 121, she journeyed back to Cerin Amroth where she had first been betrothed to Aragorn, and there she died. Her son Eldarion became king of the reunited Kingdom.
Arwen was the daughter Lord Elrond of Rivendell and Celebrian. Arwen's father Elrond was half-Elven, and he was the son of Earendil, a great hero of the First Age. Because Elrond was half-Elven, he had the choice between mortality and immortality. He chose to live forever as an Elf. Arwen would be given this same choice at some point in her life. Arwen's mother Celebrian was the daughter of the ancient Queen Galadriel of Lothlorien, who had migrated to Middle-Earth over the Grinding Ice before the beginning of the First Age. Arwen was born in 241 of the Third Age. She had two older brothers named Elladan and Elrohir.
In 2509 of the Third Age, Arwen's mother Celebrian was attacked and tortured by Orcs at the Redhorn Gate. Her sons Elladan and Elrohir rescued her, but she had been emotionally wounded and she left Middle-Earth in 2510.
Arwen spent a great deal of time with her grandmother Galadriel and grandfather Celeborn in Lothlorien. She also spent a lot of time in Rivendell with her father and brothers. In 2951, Arwen returned to Rivendell and met Aragorn, a Dunedain ranger from the North who had come to Rivendell to be fostered by Elrond before he would become Chieftain of the Dunedain.
Arwen and Aragorn fell in love, but Elrond told Aragorn that he could not marry Arwen because of her heritage and because of the fact that she would have to give up her immortality to marry a mortal man. Aragorn was hurt by this, and he left Rivendell to travel to the distant regions of Middle-Earth to gain an extensive knowledge.
When Aragorn returned in 2980, he found Arwen in Lothlorien and he spoke to her at Caras Galadhon. Arwen decided then that she chose a mortal life and she wished to die with Aragorn. They danced in the Elanors of Cerin Amroth together, and it was there that they were betrothed. When Aragorn told Elrond of this, he told Aragorn that the only man who could marry Arwen was the High King of the reunited Kingdom of Gondor and Arnor. There was no king of Gondor and Arnor, but the line had passed to Aragorn and his people had become rangers long ago. But Aragorn had the potential to reclaim the throne and thus marry Arwen.
Arwen remained in Lothlorien until 3009, when Elrond requested that she return home because of the danger that lurked in the regions of the Misty Mountains and Lothlorien. There she remained without Aragorn until October of 3018, when he returned for two months with Frodo Baggins. Aragorn was guiding Frodo on his quest, and two months later he set out with Frodo on his quest to destroy the One Ring in Mordor. When Aragorn reached Lothlorien in 3019, he received the Elessar that Arwen had left for him.
As it turned out, Aragorn successfully led the forces of the West to defeat the great enemy Sauron. On Midsummmer's Eve in 3019, Arwen and Elrond reached Minas Tirith in Gondor. On Mid-year's day in 3019, Aragorn was reunited with Arwen. They were wedded that day and Arwen became Queen of the Reunited Kingdom of Gondor and Arnor at last.
Arwen saw that Frodo was enduring much pai even after the destruction of his burden the One Ring. She gave him a white jewel and told him that he could pass over the Sea into the West in he stead. As an emissary of the Valar, Gandalf allowed this to happen and Frodo left Middle-Earth with Gandalf, Galadriel, Celeborn, Elrond, and Bilbo in 3021.
Arwen and her father journeyed to Edoras to pay their condolences for the death of King Theoden. Elrond and Arwen left the funeral early in order to bid one another farewell. Since Elrond was going to pass over the Sea into the Undying Lands to the west, he was never going to see his daughter again.
Aragorn and Arwen traveled to the North-kingdom of Arnor in year 15 of the Fourth Age, and Arwen helped Aragorn take on the kingship of Arnor by placing the Elendilmir on his brow. The royal couple lived on the shores of Lake Evendim before journeying to the Shire where they reunited with Sam Gamgee, Merry Brandybuck, and Pippin Took. Aragorn made all three of them Counsellors of the North-kingdom of Arnor, and Arwen made Elanor Gamgee, Sam's eldest daughter, her maid of honor.
Aragorn and Arwen reigned as mighty King and Queen of Elves and men for one hundred twenty years. Arwen and Aragorn lived in the white city of Minas Tirith. Arwen bore Aragorn a son named Eldarion and several daughters as well.
After Aragorn's death in 120 of the Fourth Age, Arwen was deeply grieved as her father had foreseen. In 121, she journeyed back to Cerin Amroth where she had first been betrothed to Aragorn, and there she died. Her son Eldarion became king of the reunited Kingdom.
References
The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring: "Many Meetings," pages 239, 245-250; "Lothlorien," page 367
The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King: "The Steward and the King," page 250; "Many Partings," pages 252-254
The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A: "The Tale of Aragorn and Arwen"
The History of Middle-earth, Volume V, The Lost Road and Other Writings: "The Etymologies"
The Unfinished Tales: "The Disaster of the Gladden Fields," page 277
The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien: Letter #246
The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King: "The Steward and the King," page 250; "Many Partings," pages 252-254
The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A: "The Tale of Aragorn and Arwen"
The History of Middle-earth, Volume V, The Lost Road and Other Writings: "The Etymologies"
The Unfinished Tales: "The Disaster of the Gladden Fields," page 277
The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien: Letter #246
Timeline
Year 241 of the Third Age:
Arwen was born to Elrond and Celebrian in Rivendell.
2509 of the Third Age:
Celebrian was tortured by Orcs after being captured while traveling to Lothlorien. Though Celebrian was rescued by her sons Elladan and Elrohir, she was emotionally wounded for life. In 2510, Celebrian decided to journey to the Undying lands in the West.
2951:
While visiting her father in Rivendell, Arwen met and fell in love with Aragorn, a ranger from the North descended from Elendil. But Elrond forbade the match.
2980:
Midsummer's Eve: Aragorn and Arwen were reunited in Lothlorien and they were betrothed in Cerin Amroth despite Elrond's lack of permission. Elrond then told Aragorn that he could indeed marry Arwen if he was able to reclaim the throne of Gondor and Arnor.
3009:
Due to the growing danger in the Misty Mountains, Elrond told Arwen to come back to her home in Rivendell. She did so.
3018:
October 20: Aragorn led Frodo Baggins to Rivendell. Aragorn and Arwen were reunited.
October 24: Arwen attended her father's feast honoring Frodo's accomplishment thus far.
December 25: Aragorn, now a member of the Fellowship of the Ring, left Rivendell.
3019:
February 16: In Lothlorien, Aragorn received Arwen's Elessar gem.
March 6: Aragorn received Arwen's standard.
March 25: Frodo destroyed the One Ring and Sauron along with it.
May 1: Coronation of Aragorn. Arwen left Rivendell with her father for the last time.
Mid-year's Day: Arwen married Aragorn in Minas Tirith.
July 15: Arwen tells Frodo that he may pass into the West in her stead.
August 10: Arwen attended the funeral of King Theoden at Edoras.
August 14: Arwen and Elrond bid one another farewell. They never saw one another again.
3021:
September 29: Elrond left Middle-Earth for the Undying Lands.
Year 15 of the Fourth Age:
Aragorn and Arwen travel to the North-kingdom.
120 of the Fourth Age:
March 1: Aragorn died and was succeeded as King by his son Eldarion.
121:
Arwen traveled to Cerin Amroth in Lothlorien where she died.
Names & Meanings
Arwen:
The name Arwen translates from Sindarin as "royal maiden." It can be derived from ar meaning "royal" and wen meaning "maiden."
Evenstar:
Evenstar means "umdómiel" in the Common Speech. Umdómiel means "twilight star."
Umdómiel:
Umdómiel means "twilight star" from ndu meaning "sunset," domi meaning "twilight," and el meaning "star." Arwen was called Umdómiel because of her beauty.
Queen of the Reunited Kingdom:
As the wife of Aragorn, the High King of the Reunited Kingdom of Gondor and Arnor, Arwen was thus the Queen of the Reunited Kingdom of Gondor and Arnor.
Gallery:
Family Tree
A family tree of Arwen:
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