The romance and marriage of Arwen and Aragorn are unique in a variety of ways. The first and most obvious way is that Arwen is an Elf and Aragorn is a Man, which is not something that regularly occurs in Middle Earth. The next and perhaps less obvious, way that Aragorn and Arwen make a unique match is that Arwen is Aragorn’s aunt. However, because Arwen is also so much older than Aragorn, it is a relationship that spans not only race but also generations.
But how many generations? For Arwen, it would be two. Eärendil is the common ancestor between Arwen and Aragorn, and Arwen’s father is Elrond, Eärendil’s son. However, the unique thing about Eärendil is that he is not Elfkind, he is a man, which is why Elrond is often referred to as Elrond Half-Elven. Indeed, in order to understand Arwen and Aragorn’s relationship, it is helpful toknow more about their common ancestor, Eärendil, and his wife, Elwing.
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Elwing herself played a crucial role in the recovery of the Silmarils, jewels whose light resembles the light from the ancient Trees of Valinor. Elwing escaped from Doriath with a Silmaril, married Eärendil at the Mouths of Sirion, and went into the East to Valinor. The recovery of the Silmarils from various forms of evil drive many of the events of the First and Second Ages, including the tale of Beren and Lúthien.
Eärendil was a great mariner, and his ship is adorned with the last Silmaril which Elwing recovered from Doriath. Doriath is a forest, most famous for being the abode of Thingol and Melian, Lúthien’s father and mother. In fact, it is the light of Eärendil that Galadriel gives to Frodo in Lothlórien when the Fellowship passes through after the events in the Mines of Moria. This light is a precious gift not only because of its significance and rarity but also because to be given that gift with Aragorn present (a descendent of Eärendil) would truly mark your quest as one of incredible significance.
What does knowing the story of Eärendil and Elwing tell us about Arwen and Aragorn’s relationship? First, it explains that Arwen is Eärendil’s granddaughter through her father, Elrond. Second, it shows that Eärendil is a common ancestor for Arwen and Aragorn. We also know that Eärendil is the son of Tuor and Idril Turgon, which makes him a Man. But how is Aragorn related to Eärendil?
The answer lies in Elros, Eärendil’s son, and Aragorn’s distant ancestor. Elros is also Elrond’s brother, which shows Arwen’s much more direct connection to Aragorn’s ancestry. Elros is also the first King of the Dúnedain, a great and ancient line of Men. But hold on a second. If Elros is Elrond’s brother and Elrond is an elf, how can Elros be a Man, let alone a King of Men?
Once again, the answer lies with Eärendil. Through Eärendil, Elrond and Elros and both descended from the Three Houses of the Edain (because, despite sailing a ship through the heavens, Eärendil is still a Man). However, on their mother Elwing’s side, Elrond and Elros are descended not only from Idril of Gondolin, an Elf, but also Melian, a Maiar, through Lúthien Tinúviel who also fell in love with a Man, Beren. Because of this ancestry, Elrond and Elros were given a choice to live out their lives as either Elves or Men. Elrond chose to be an Elf and live as an immortal through the ages of the world. Elros chose to be a Man and live out his mortal life before passing into the mysterious afterlife of Men on Middle Earth.
So Arwen is a descendant of Elrond and Aragorn is a distant descendant of Elros, who are brothers, which shows their kinship. But Arwen is Elrond’s daughter, whereas Aragorn doesn’t appear in the family tree for many more generations. After Elros, the next mention of the line of Aragorn inThe Silmarillionis regardinghis most famous ancestor, Isildur.
Isildur’s father, Elendil the Tall, and his brother, Anárion, are descendants of Elros. Elendil, Isildur, and Anárion are also kinsmen to the thirteenth king of the line of Elros, Tar-Calion the Golden. In fact, inThe Fellowship of the Ringthe fellowship paddles past two massive statues of Isildur and Anárion upon entering Gondor. These skyscraper-sized statues are called the Argonath (also known as the King-stones or the Pillars of the Kings). When Aragorn looks up at these statues,he is looking 39 generations into the past, as Aragorn is the 39th heir of Isildur in the direct line.
While it may be strange to view Aragorn and Arwen’s relationship through the lens of kinship, it is also helpful to understand just how rare and strong their love is. Arwen was alive to seeover 50 generations of Aragorn’s ancestorsbe born, live, and die in Middle Earth before Aragorn’s mother brought him to Rivendell as a child. It brings a whole other level of understanding to Arwen’s choice to become mortal and live out the rest of her days alongside Aragorn. Through her eyes, it’s easy to imagine thatArwen reckons she’s waited long enough.
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