Post by Móreadhiel on Jan 16, 2007 14:31:35 GMT -5
Gilraen Grave of Gilraen in the New Line film
Mother of Aragorn, King Elessar. Gilraen was born in 2907. Her father was Dirhael and her mother was Ivorwen. She was known as Gilraen the Fair. Gilraen married Arathorn son of Arador in 2929. Her father Dirhael was opposed to the match because he felt Gilraen was too young to marry and because he had a sense of foreboding that Arathorn would not live long. But Ivorwen counselled her husband to acquiesce, saying "If these two wed now, hope may be born for our people; but if they delay, it will not come while this age lasts." (Appendix A, p. 338)
One year later, Arathorn II became Chieftain of the Dunedain when his father was killed by Hill-trolls. Gilraen gave birth to Aragorn on March 1, 2931. In 2933, Arathorn was slain by an Orc arrow. Gilraen took her two-year-old son Aragorn to Rivendell where Elrond accpeted the boy as a foster-son and gave him the name Estel, meaning "Hope."
Gilraen and Aragorn lived together at Rivendell until 2951, when Aragorn turned twenty and was told of his heritage by Elrond. At that time also Aragorn met Elrond's daughter Arwen and fell in love with her. Gilraen noticed a change in her son and questioned him about it. She warned Aragorn that Elrond would not easily consent to a marriage between his only daughter and a mortal Man. Gilraen feared that the line of Isildur would end, and she told Aragorn that it was his fate to wander in the Wild. She said no more to him of her fears and Aragorn left Rivendell to face many perils and hardships.
Aragorn and Arwen plighted their troth in 2980. A few years later, Gilraen left Rivendell and went to live alone near her people in Eriador. She did not often see her son for he continued to journey throughout Middle-earth. When Aragorn came to visit his mother, she foretold her coming death.
"This is our last parting, Estel, my son. I am aged by care, even as one of lesser Men; and now that it draws near I cannot face the darkness of our time that gathers upon Middle-earth. I shall leave soon."
Aragorn tried to comfort her, saying: "Yet there may be a light beyond the darkness; and if so, I would have you see it and be glad."
But she answered only with this linnod: "Onen i-Estel Edain, ú-chebin estel anim - I gave Hope to the Dunedain, I have kept no hope for myself."
Appendix A: "The Tale of Aragorn and Arwen," p. 342
Gilraen died before the next spring in 3007. Her son Aragorn became King of the Reunited Kingdom on May 1, 3019.
Etymology:
Tolkien defined the name Gilraen as meaning "one adorned with a tressure set with small gems in its network," such as the cap of silver lace and gems worn by Arwen when Frodo first saw her at Rivendell. (A tressure is a medieval word for a net confining the hair.)
Sources:
Appendix A of LotR: "The Tale of Aragorn and Arwen," p. 337-40, 342
"The Rivers and Beacon-hills of Gondor," by J.R.R. Tolkien, edited by Carl F. Hostetter, commentary by Christopher Tolkien, in Vinyar Tengwar #42, July 2001, p. 11-13 (Etymology of Gilraen)
Mother of Aragorn, King Elessar. Gilraen was born in 2907. Her father was Dirhael and her mother was Ivorwen. She was known as Gilraen the Fair. Gilraen married Arathorn son of Arador in 2929. Her father Dirhael was opposed to the match because he felt Gilraen was too young to marry and because he had a sense of foreboding that Arathorn would not live long. But Ivorwen counselled her husband to acquiesce, saying "If these two wed now, hope may be born for our people; but if they delay, it will not come while this age lasts." (Appendix A, p. 338)
One year later, Arathorn II became Chieftain of the Dunedain when his father was killed by Hill-trolls. Gilraen gave birth to Aragorn on March 1, 2931. In 2933, Arathorn was slain by an Orc arrow. Gilraen took her two-year-old son Aragorn to Rivendell where Elrond accpeted the boy as a foster-son and gave him the name Estel, meaning "Hope."
Gilraen and Aragorn lived together at Rivendell until 2951, when Aragorn turned twenty and was told of his heritage by Elrond. At that time also Aragorn met Elrond's daughter Arwen and fell in love with her. Gilraen noticed a change in her son and questioned him about it. She warned Aragorn that Elrond would not easily consent to a marriage between his only daughter and a mortal Man. Gilraen feared that the line of Isildur would end, and she told Aragorn that it was his fate to wander in the Wild. She said no more to him of her fears and Aragorn left Rivendell to face many perils and hardships.
Aragorn and Arwen plighted their troth in 2980. A few years later, Gilraen left Rivendell and went to live alone near her people in Eriador. She did not often see her son for he continued to journey throughout Middle-earth. When Aragorn came to visit his mother, she foretold her coming death.
"This is our last parting, Estel, my son. I am aged by care, even as one of lesser Men; and now that it draws near I cannot face the darkness of our time that gathers upon Middle-earth. I shall leave soon."
Aragorn tried to comfort her, saying: "Yet there may be a light beyond the darkness; and if so, I would have you see it and be glad."
But she answered only with this linnod: "Onen i-Estel Edain, ú-chebin estel anim - I gave Hope to the Dunedain, I have kept no hope for myself."
Appendix A: "The Tale of Aragorn and Arwen," p. 342
Gilraen died before the next spring in 3007. Her son Aragorn became King of the Reunited Kingdom on May 1, 3019.
Etymology:
Tolkien defined the name Gilraen as meaning "one adorned with a tressure set with small gems in its network," such as the cap of silver lace and gems worn by Arwen when Frodo first saw her at Rivendell. (A tressure is a medieval word for a net confining the hair.)
Sources:
Appendix A of LotR: "The Tale of Aragorn and Arwen," p. 337-40, 342
"The Rivers and Beacon-hills of Gondor," by J.R.R. Tolkien, edited by Carl F. Hostetter, commentary by Christopher Tolkien, in Vinyar Tengwar #42, July 2001, p. 11-13 (Etymology of Gilraen)
