Quote:
Originally Posted by Rune Son of Bjarne
Must we now?
I understand that of course this could not happen because then there would be no story, but I doubt that one could truly use this as an argument.
When we read the story we cannot include such things, that would make the story close to pointless. Just like the characthers within the book we must assume that there is a definite possibility that Aragorn could be killed in combat, so would he bring these shards with him abroad?
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Well, we mustn't, but I think we should. It were not of that concern if we were talking about some random warrior, or Legolas, or Gimli, or even Boromir, but here is the heir of Isildur, which has its importance for the Third-Age Middle-Earth and the final conclusion of the battle with Sauron. I originally wanted to write "heir of the ancient line of Elros", however maybe the Isildur thing is more important in this particular case, although it's of far smaller importance overall. But to use very daring words, the fate of this line is so important for the fate of Arda, that it could not have gone otherwise. I.e. the line of Isildur simply could not have died out. No way. The other option would be also for Sauron to win, then it will maybe turn into a more "global" scale and you will have "dark Middle-Earth" and "bright Undying Lands", and that will be it. But the victory over Sauron (even though achieved by some Hobbits) needed the Return of the King as its part. For the tale of Arda overall on the other hand is important the line of the descendants of Lúthien and Eärendil and all these folks, simply the representatives of the Elf-Men union. In the case Aragorn died, the reunion of the two lines again as we see it in the case of Aragorn and Arwen wouldn't have been possible anymore (unless there was another heir, like I said above), so Arwen and Elrond, the last of the other descendants of Beren and Lúthien, would have left Middle-Earth and the "dark ME" scenario I outlined above would have taken place.
Or in other words: letting the descendants of Eärendil die out would be as much of a blow to the fate of Arda as if you, let's say, took away the Sun (although even that, in fact, in M-E isn't that much of a problem, as we know from the Silmarillion). Simply: Aragorn was not just "a fella like everyone else" - in a certain way. Now I am aware of the fact that this can be easily misinterpretated and I can already see someone protesting "don't let Aragorn show himself off over some 'ordinary' Boromir or whoever", but that's by no means how I meant it; rather let's say, it is similar to the tale of the Silmarils: they were also "just some stones", but the fate of Arda was bound in them. Analogically it's with the lineage of Eärendil.
I hope it's understandable what I had in mind.
Quote:
Originally Posted by skip spence
Since I can't remember any mention of permanent dwelling-places of the Rangers, I've assumed that Narsil was kept in Rivendell because it was the closest thing Aragorn had to a home and therefore the natural place to keep your stuff. Yet, I can't see the Rangers living a fully nomadic existence either, with simple camps in wilderness as their only option. Perhaps they did have a home base somewhere in the old North Kingdom, to where they could withdraw or gather at need?
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Actually yes, I believe there was supposed to be something like a permanent settlement south of Rivendell. However someone else would have to supply what exactly it was - I think it's from HoME.