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"For I am the daughter of Elrond. I shall not go with him when he departs to the Havens: for mine is the choice of Lúthien, and as she so have I chosen, both the sweet and the bitter."
The Return of the King, "Many Partings"

Arwen was the Half-elven daughter of Elrond and Celebrían. She was often called Arwen Undómiel or "Evenstar".

In marrying Aragorn II Elessar after the War of the Ring, she became Queen of the Reunited Kingdom of Arnor and Gondor, and like Beren and Lúthien before her, she united Elf and Man in peace, while becoming mortal.

Biography

Early life

Arwen was born in TA 241, to Lord Elrond and Lady Celebrían of Rivendell.[1] Like her father and brothers, she had the right to choose between immortality or mortal life. She lived most of her life in Rivendell and Lothlórien interchangeably.

Third Age

Aragorn and Arwen

Aragorn and Arwen - The Fellowship Of The Ring

Aragorn and Arwen "plight their troth"

During Aragorn's twentieth year, he met Arwen for the first time in Rivendell, where he lived under Elrond's protection. Arwen, then over 2700 years old, had recently returned to her father's home after living for a while with her grandmother Galadriel in Lórien. Aragorn fell in love with Arwen at first sight, and at first mistook her for Lúthien, thinking he had fallen into a dream.[4]

Arwen, Kulisz

Arwen, by Anna Kulisz

About thirty years later, the two were reunited in Lórien, where Arwen reciprocated Aragorn's love and they "plighted their troth" (promised themselves to each other) on the mound of Cerin Amroth, Arwen choosing to become mortal and to stay in Middle-earth with Aragorn, and giving up the chance to sail over the sea and live forever in the Blessed Realm. Elrond would, however, not permit the two to marry until Aragorn had taken the thrones of Arnor and Gondor, the price for Arwen's abandonment of immortality. Arwen never broke faith with Aragorn, even when he went to war. While the War in the South raged on, Arwen wove a banner for Aragorn, which would become his standard after he became king.

Before taking the Paths of the Dead, Aragorn was met by the Grey Company, consisting of Rangers of the North, and Arwen's brothers, Elladan and Elrohir. They brought to him a banner of black cloth: the gift made by Arwen, and a sign that encouraged him to take the difficult path.[5] When the banner was unfurled at the Battle of the Pelennor Fields to reveal the emblems of Elendil in mithril, gems, and gold, it was the first triumphant announcement of the King's return.

After the War

Aragorn and Arwen - The Return Of The King

Queen Arwen and King Aragorn Elessar are wed in The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

Arwen arrived at Minas Tirith after Aragorn had become King of Gondor and Arnor, and they married on Midsummer's Day in the year TA 3019, after the end of the War of the Ring. She became Queen of the Reunited Kingdom. After marrying Aragorn, she bestowed upon Frodo Baggins a gift; her place on the ships to Valinor. She bore Aragorn's son, Eldarion, and several unnamed daughters, some time in the Fourth Age.

Fourth Age

In the year 121 of the Fourth Age, one year after Aragorn's death, Arwen died of a broken heart at Cerin Amroth in Lórien,[2] and was buried there, to whom she had been wedded for 122 years. She was 2901 years old.

Etymology

The name Arwen means "Noble maiden", from Sindarin ar(a) ("royal, noble") and wen ("maiden"). Her epessë Undómiel means "Evenstar", from the Quenya Undómë ("evening twilight") and el ("star").[6]

Character

Arwen was described to be the most beautiful of the last generation of High Elves in Middle-earth, and was even said to bear a remarkable resemblance to her ancestress, Lúthien. J.R.R. Tolkien described Arwen as following:

In the middle of the table, against the woven cloths upon the wall, there was a chair under a canopy, and there sat a lady fair to look upon, and so like was she in form of womanhood to Elrond that Frodo guessed that she was one of his close kindred. Young she was and yet not so. The braids of her dark hair were touched by no frost, her white arms and clear face were flawless and smooth, and the light of stars was in her bright eyes, grey as a cloudless night; yet queenly she looked, and thought and knowledge were in her glance, as of one who has known many things that the years bring.
The Fellowship of the Ring, "Many Meetings"

Lineage

Arwen was the youngest child of Elrond and Celebrían; her elder brothers were the twins Elladan and Elrohir. Through her father, she was the granddaughter of Eärendil the Mariner (the second of the Half-elves), great-granddaughter of Tuor of Gondolin, and therefore a direct descendant of the ancient House of Hador. Arwen was also a descendant of High King Turgon of the Ñoldor through her great-grandmother, Idril. Through her mother, she was the granddaughter of the Lady Galadriel and the great-granddaughter of Finarfin. Éomer of Rohan said that the Lady Arwen was more fair than the Lady Galadriel of Lórien, but Gimli son of Glóin thought differently. Through both of her parents Arwen was a direct descendant of the ancient Elven House of Finwë. Furthermore, Arwen was a descendant of Beren and Lúthien Tinúviel, whose story resembled hers. Indeed, Arwen was held to be the reappearance in likeness of her ancestress Lúthien, fairest of all the Elves, who was called Nightingale (Tinúviel).

Elrond and Arwen

Elrond learns of Arwen's choice to become mortal

Arwen was a very distant relative of her husband Aragorn. Aragorn's ancestor, Elros Tar-Minyatur, the first King of Númenor, was her father Elrond's brother, who chose to live as a man rather than one of the Eldar. This means that Aragorn also has very distant Elvish ancestry. Elros died in SA 442, some 3240 years before Arwen was born.

Arwen eventually became Queen of the Reunited Kingdom of Arnor and Gondor when she married Aragorn, who was of the line of the Kings of Arnor.

After the War of the Ring ended, Arwen and Aragorn produced the future heir of the throne, Eldarion.

By Arwen and Aragorn's marriage, the long-sundered lines of the Half-elves were joined. Their union also served to unite and preserve the bloodlines of the Three Kings of the High Elves (Ingwë, Finwë, and the brothers Olwë and Elwë) as well as the only line with Maiar blood through Arwen's great-great-great grandmother, Melian, Queen of Doriath, and also on Aragorn's side, through the line of Kings of Arnor and Númenor to Elros, Elrond's brother, whose great-great-grandmother was also Melian.

Line of the Half-elves

Finwë
   
   
Indis
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
Fingolfin
   
   
Anairë
   
   
Galdor
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
Thingol
   
   
Melian
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
Elenwë
   
   
Turgon
   
   
   
   
Huor
   
   
Rían
   
   
Beren
   
   
Lúthien
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
Idril
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
Tuor
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
Dior
   
   
Nimloth
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
Eärendil
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
Elwing
   
   
Eluréd and Elurín
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
Elros
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
Elrond
   
   
Celebrían
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
Kings of Númenor
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
Lords of Andúnië
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
Elendil
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
Isildur
   
   
   
   
   
   
Anárion
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
Kings of Arnor
   
   
   
   
   
   
Kings of Gondor
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
Chieftains of
the Dúnedain
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
Aragorn II Elessar
   
   
   
   
Arwen
   
   
Elladan
   
   
Elrohir
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
Eldarion
   
   
   
   
   
   
Daughters

The marriages between Elves and Men are in bold.
The Half-elves or the Peredhil are in italic.


In adaptations

Arwen - Sword

Arwen takes up the task of delivering Frodo to Rivendell

Aragorn and Arwen - The Two Towers

Arwen and Aragorn in the films

The Lord of the Rings film trilogy

I would rather share one lifetime with you than face all the Ages of this world alone.
—Arwen to Aragorn in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

Arwen Undomiel was portrayed in The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and The Return of the King by the American actress Liv Tyler. In The Fellowship of the Ring, it was she who met Frodo and bore him across the Ford of Bruinen, instead of Glorfindel, and wielded the sword "Hadhafang", which does not appear in the books.

She was not mentioned or featured in Ralph Bakshi's earlier film The Lord of the Rings.

Behind the scenes

In The Two Towers film, Arwen was originally supposed to appear with the host of Elves and fight at Helm's Deep alongside Aragorn. This was later cut from the film.

The Lord of the Rings Online - Arwen

Arwen in The Lord of the Rings Online

Other appearances

Voice dubbing actors

Foreign Language Voice dubbing artist
Czech Republic Jitka Ježková
French (France) Marie-Laure Dougnac
German Elisabeth Günther
Hungarian Solecki Janka
Italian (Italy) Stella Musy
Portuguese (Brazil) (Television/DVD) Marli Bortoletto
Slovak Lenka Košická
Spanish (Latin America) Rebeca Patiño / Carola Vázquez (The Fellowship of the Ring)
Spanish (Spain) Belén Roca

Translations

Foreign Language Translated name
Amharic ዓርወን
Arabic أروين
Armenian Արվեն (Arwen)

Արվեն Ունդոմիել (Arwen Undómiel)

Assamese আৰ্ৱেণ
Belarusian Cyrillic Арвен (Arwen)

Арвен Ундаміэль (Arwen Undómiel)

Bengali আরউইন
Bulgarian Cyrillic Арвен (Arwen)

Арвен Ундомиел (Arwen Undómiel)

Burmese အာရ်ဝင်
Chinese (Hong Kong) 亞玟
Danish Arven (dronning af Gondor)
Georgian არვენი (Arwen) / არუენ უნდომიელი (Arwen Undómiel)
Greek Άργουεν
Gujarati આર્વેન
Hebrew (Arwen) ארוון

(Arwen Undómiel) ארוון אונדומיאל

Hindi आर्वेन
Japanese アルウェン (Arwen)

アルウェン・ウンドーミエル (Arwen Undómiel)

Kannada ಆರ್ವೆನ್
Kazakh Аруен (Cyrillic) Arwen (Latin)
Korean 아르웬 (Arwen)

아르웬 운도미엘 (Arwen Undómiel)

Kyrgyz Cyrillic Арvэн
Lithuanian Arvena
Macedonian Cyrillic Арwен
Marathi आर्वेन
Mongolian Cyrillic Арвен
Nepalese आर्वेन
Pashto آروېن ?
Persian (Arwen) آرون

(Arwen Undómiel) آروِن آندومیل

Polish Arwena
Punjabi ਅਰਵੇਨ
Russian Арвен (Arwen)

Арвен Ундомиэль (Arwen Undómiel)

Sanskrit आर्वेन्
Serbian Арвен (Cyrillic) Arven (Latin)
Sinhalese අර්වෙන් (Arwen)

අර්වෙන් උන්දොමියෙල් (Arwen Undómiel)

Tajik Cyrillic Арвен
Tamil ஆர்௰எந்
Thai อาร์เวน (Arwen)

อาร์เวน อุนโดเมียล (Arwen Undómiel)

Ukrainian Cyrillic Арвен
Urdu اروین
Uzbek Арвен (Cyrillic) Arven (Latin)
Yiddish אַרווין

Gallery


References

  1. 1.0 1.1 The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B: The Tale of Years (Chronology of the Westlands), "The Third Age"
  2. 2.0 2.1 The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A: Annals of the Kings and Rulers, I: The Númenórean Kings, (v): "The Tale of Aragorn and Arwen"
  3. The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, Book Two, Chapter I: "Many Meetings"
  4. The Lord of the RingsAppendix A: Annals of the Kings and Rulers, I: The Númenórean Kings, (v): "The Tale of Aragorn and Arwen"
  5. The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, Book Five, Chapter II: "The Passing of the Grey Company"
  6. The Silmarillion, Appendix: Elements in Quenya and Sindarin names
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