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Arondir

Middle-Earth

Arondir was a Silvan Elf of the Second Age.

Arondir was a Silvan Elf of the Second Age.

Biography

Season One

Arondir grew up in Beleriand, perhaps near the Mouths of Sirion, before its destruction. By the Second Age he was stationed in the Southlands of Middle-earth, for the Silvan Elves watched the land's inhabitants to ensure they did not revert to evil as their ancestors had done in serving Morgoth. Arondir remained in the Southlands for 79 years, during that time becoming acquainted with and falling in love with the woman Bronwyn, who lived in Tirharad, though her son Theo viewed the Elf with suspicion.

After being confronted by Rowan in Tirharad's tavern, Arondir briefly spoke to Bronwyn before leaving quickly to avoid attention. He returned to the watchtower of Ostirith with Médhor, who warned him of the dangers of pursuing a relationship with a human, though Arondir dismissed his concerns. It was then that a messenger from High King Gil-galad came, bearing news that the occupation of the Southlands was to end. Noticeably perturbed, Arondir was visited by the Watchwarden Revion, who urged him to be encouraged at the thought of returning home.

Instead of leaving with his fellow Elves, Arondir returned to Bronwyn, just as a farmer brought his cow to Bronwyn for medical attention. Arondir discovered that instead of milk, a foul black substance came from the cow's udders, and alarmed, he left to investigate where the cow had been grazing. Bronwyn accompanied him towards Hordern. They reached the settlement at dusk to discover it had been burned and ransacked, though no casualties or survivors were to be seen. In one of the houses, the two discovered a tunnel opening, which Arondir entered to investigate further. After being forced to crawl part of the way, Arondir was suddenly grabbed by Orcs and taken prisoner. He was taken to a large trench, where he discovered the other Silvan Elves to be imprisoned as well and made to dig. This endeavor was learned to be the mysterious individual Adar's mission to find a sword-hilt forged by Morgoth.

At length, Arondir and the other Elves refused to cut down a tree in the way of the Orcs' excavation, and the overseer Magrot killed Médhor as punishment. This incited a revolt, which, after much bloodshed, ended with the deaths of Revion and several others, though Arondir mortally wounded Magrot. Arondir's execution was stayed in order that he might be presented to Adar himself. Adar ended Magrot's suffering before speaking to Arondir, and while he avoided revealing his identity, spoke of his time in Beleriand before its destruction. Adar then released Arondir so that he might relay his ultimatum to the people of Tirharad, that if they would not swear fealty, he would destroy them.

Upon hearing the news, the man Waldreg led around half of Tirharad's former inhabitants to accept Adar's offer, leaving the remainder in the watchtower of Ostirith. Arondir remained with them and was given the dark sword-hilt by Theo, who had found it some weeks prior. Bronwyn desired to give Adar the hilt in hopes he would spare them, though Arondir dissuaded her, devising instead a plan in which the remaining villagers retreated, and the watchtower intentionally destroyed once Adar entered. Arondir remained by himself to execute the plan, which worked, though Adar survived. The villagers retreated back to the emptied Tirharad and prepared for Adar's army to return. With some ingenuity, the villagers fought off the initial attack - Arondir himself narrowly surviving an assault from a huge Orc - only to find the advance party to be their own kinsmen who had followed Waldreg. Adar's main army then easily overwhelmed the villagers, and Adar acquired the sword-hilt by threatening to kill Bronwyn; Theo handing it over to save his mother. Just then a force of Númenóreans arrived, led by Míriel, Galadriel, and Halbrand, causing Adar to flee. Arondir joined the new arrivals in fighting the Orcs, pausing to point Adar out to Galadriel.

He was present at a celebration held after Adar and his Orcs were defeated, and given what was believed to be the sword-hilt, which Galadriel had recovered from Adar. Arondir spoke to Theo, attempting to encourage the boy, who felt that he had lost his significance after losing the sword-hilt. Arondir gave Theo the parcel so that he might be the one to get rid of it, but Theo discovered it to be a ruse, for Adar had switched the hilt for a decoy. In the meantime, Waldreg had taken the real hilt to Ostirith and unlocked a dam, which funneled the water towards Orodruin and caused it to erupt. Arondir helped the survivors of the fallout to return to the Númenóreans' camp, where he was reunited with Bronwyn and Theo. He afterwards spoke to Galadriel and Bronwyn, learning of Brownyn's plans to lead the Southlanders to Pelargir.

Season Two

In the following weeks, it became apparent Bronwyn's wound had not healed, and she worsened. The sickness given from the orc-arrow soon proved to be too great, and she died. Grieved, Arondir continued to patrol the area surrounding Pelargir, chancing upon a band of wild men attacking Isildur and Estrid, whom he rescued. The three returned to Pelargir to witness Bronwyn's funeral pyre, and Arondir afterward attempted to console Theo, who initially scorned the Elf.

After Theo agreed to help Isildur recover his stolen horse, and went missing in the process, Arondir went with Isildur and Estrid in search of him. After narrowly escaping a nameless things in a marsh, Arondir and Isildur at last tracked down Theo, finding him prisoner of two Ents, Snaggleroot and Winterbloom. Arondir was able to convince the Ents to release Theo and the other wild men they held prisoner, and Theo expressed his gratitude to the Elf. Upon their reconciliation, Arondir and Theo parted ways, with Theo going to play a more prominent role in Pelargir while Arondir went on a mission to track down the Orcs led by Adar, who he later learned were heading towards Eregion.

After journeying to Eregion, Arondir initially was determined to kill Adar, and was nearly suicidal in the process, willing to confront Adar and kill him despite being vastly outnumbered. However, upon helping a captive Galadriel escape, he was persuaded not to do so, and instead returned to the walls of Eregion where he commanded Elven archers against Adar's army. During the siege of Eregion, Arondir recognized the arrival of Damrod, and helped to kill him alongside Elrond and Gil-Galad. During the morning after, however, he was very emotional upon seeing Adar, and recklessly charged against him; in the process, Arondir was overwhelmed and left for dead by Adar, who plunged a sword through his body. Later, he is oddly shown to be completely healed (perhaps due to Elven immortality-related qualities) and continues fighting, though is taken captive by Orcs. After the arrival of Dwarves from Khazad-dûm, Arondir fights back against his captors, and spots Galadriel falling from her battle with Sauron. He, alongside Elrond and Gil-galad, take her and other survivors to Rivendell, where they vow to stand against Sauron.

Etymology

Arondir does not appear to have any direct translation in any of J.R.R. Tolkien's languages and is likely an invention of the show's creators.

Appearance

Arondir is an Elf with brown skin, green eyes, and short black hair. He has an athletic build befitting his life as a warrior, where he wields his sword, bow, and knife to great effect. He dons a cape of grey-green hue and wears armor of unknown composition, though its appearance is that of a grayish wood.

His armor has a sculptural aspect, depicting a leaf motif on its pauldrons and a male face with its hair and beard made of leaves on his breastplate. It is unclear who this face is supposed to depict, as it does not exactly match the description of any Ainur or other beings in the legendarium, though it is possible that it is an artistic interpretation of an Ent or some nature-related being given the Silvian Elves' love of trees and nature.

Appearances

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power - Season One

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power - Season Two

Behind the scenes

The character was created for the TV series The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power and as such is non-canonical. He is portrayed by Ismael Cruz Córdova.

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