Narsil - a question - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Elanor · 01-05-2003, 06:13 AM

I was discssing Strider and Narsil with a friend, and I realised something that bothers me slightly: did Aragorn always carry the broken shards of Narsil? That is what I have always believed. But for some reason, on my current rereading, the words of Boromir's dream jumped out at me - "Seek for the sword that was broken, in Imladris it dwells..." Well, if Aragorn had it, how on earth could it dwell in Imladris? And why tell Boromir to seek for it, and then tell him where it was?
I know Aragorn was in Rivendell with the shards of the sword when Boromir arrived there, but he wasn't there when the dream occurred, or when Boromir set out on the journey. So what happened? Were the words of the dream incorrect? Can anyone help me out?
I'm certain one of you has a logical answer somewhere that I have missed! Thanks...

vanwalossien · 01-05-2003, 07:41 AM

I don't know if Aragorn always carried the broken Narsil (he would've needed a whole sword sometime wouldn't he?), but he was brought up in Rivendell, so even if he wandered, you could say that Aragorn dwelled there and the Narsil with him. I think...

[ January 05, 2003: Message edited by: vanwalossien ]

Elanor · 01-05-2003, 08:12 AM

Mm, that makes sense I suppose. [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]

doug*platypus · 01-06-2003, 06:58 AM

That's something that's always struck me, as well, from the first time "that guy" pulled his "broken sword" out in Bree. How could he hope to defend himself?? I can understand PJ changing the story around here, because certainly you gots to have a working sword if you're Aragorn.

I don't know if we are told anything about the mission he was on when he started tracking Frodo. Possibly he was waiting for Frodo, and took the shards of Narsil as proof of his identity? No, that wouldn't work cos he didn't know about Gandalf's letter... So what weapons did Aragorn carry to defend himself? Why did he carry Narsil? I'm sure JRRT had a reason. Maybe he always pulled that "just kidding - it's broken!" gag.

Elanor, putting "aragorn" and "narsil" in the search engine came up with
this thread. It's good like that...

[ January 06, 2003: Message edited by: doug*platypus ]

Selmo · 01-06-2003, 09:36 AM

I assume that Narsil, precious hierloom of Arnor, would normally be held in Elrond's safe-keeping, along with the Sceptre of the Northern Kingdom, but in his mission to bring Frodo and the Ring safely to Rivendell, Aragorn knew that he might have to face the Nazgul. No ordinary sword would have been much use but perhaps Aragorn felt that the Black Riders might hesitate when they came up against someone wielding the sword that had once defeated their master, however many pieces it was in, buying time for an escape.
As it turned out, he didn't have to tackle all Nine at the same time; at Weathertop fire was sufficient to drive them away.

01-05-2003, 06:13 AM	#1
Elanor Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: my own corner of the Shire Posts: 316	Narsil - a question I was discssing Strider and Narsil with a friend, and I realised something that bothers me slightly: did Aragorn always carry the broken shards of Narsil? That is what I have always believed. But for some reason, on my current rereading, the words of Boromir's dream jumped out at me - "Seek for the sword that was broken, in Imladris it dwells..." Well, if Aragorn had it, how on earth could it dwell in Imladris? And why tell Boromir to seek for it, and then tell him where it was? I know Aragorn was in Rivendell with the shards of the sword when Boromir arrived there, but he wasn't there when the dream occurred, or when Boromir set out on the journey. So what happened? Were the words of the dream incorrect? Can anyone help me out? I'm certain one of you has a logical answer somewhere that I have missed! Thanks... __________________ "When I read about the evils of drinking, I gave up reading." Henny Youngman (1906 - )

01-05-2003, 07:41 AM	#2
vanwalossien Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: middle of Nowhere/Norway Posts: 372	I don't know if Aragorn always carried the broken Narsil (he would've needed a whole sword sometime wouldn't he?), but he was brought up in Rivendell, so even if he wandered, you could say that Aragorn dwelled there and the Narsil with him. I think... [ January 05, 2003: Message edited by: vanwalossien ] __________________ "The ships hung in the air in much the same way as bricks don't"

01-05-2003, 08:12 AM	#3
Elanor Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: my own corner of the Shire Posts: 316	Mm, that makes sense I suppose. [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img] __________________ "When I read about the evils of drinking, I gave up reading." Henny Youngman (1906 - )

01-06-2003, 06:58 AM	#4
doug*platypus Delver in the Deep Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Aotearoa Posts: 960	That's something that's always struck me, as well, from the first time "that guy" pulled his "broken sword" out in Bree. How could he hope to defend himself?? I can understand PJ changing the story around here, because certainly you gots to have a working sword if you're Aragorn. I don't know if we are told anything about the mission he was on when he started tracking Frodo. Possibly he was waiting for Frodo, and took the shards of Narsil as proof of his identity? No, that wouldn't work cos he didn't know about Gandalf's letter... So what weapons did Aragorn carry to defend himself? Why did he carry Narsil? I'm sure JRRT had a reason. Maybe he always pulled that "just kidding - it's broken!" gag. Elanor, putting "aragorn" and "narsil" in the search engine came up with this thread. It's good like that... [ January 06, 2003: Message edited by: dougplatypus ] __________________ But Gwindor answered: 'The doom lies in yourself, not in your name'.*

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01-06-2003, 09:36 AM	#5
Selmo Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: The Shire (Staffordshire), United Kingdom Posts: 273	I assume that Narsil, precious hierloom of Arnor, would normally be held in Elrond's safe-keeping, along with the Sceptre of the Northern Kingdom, but in his mission to bring Frodo and the Ring safely to Rivendell, Aragorn knew that he might have to face the Nazgul. No ordinary sword would have been much use but perhaps Aragorn felt that the Black Riders might hesitate when they came up against someone wielding the sword that had once defeated their master, however many pieces it was in, buying time for an escape. As it turned out, he didn't have to tackle all Nine at the same time; at Weathertop fire was sufficient to drive them away.