 | |
| Arnorian | |
| Gilraen | |
|---|---|
| Biographical Information | |
| Other names | the Fair |
| Location | Eriador, Rivendell |
| Language | Sindarin, Westron |
| Birth | T.A. 2907 |
| Death | T.A. 3007 (aged 100) |
| Family | |
| House | House of Isildur |
| Parentage | Dírhael and Ivorwen |
| Spouse | Arathorn II |
| Children | Aragorn |
| Physical Description | |
| Gender | Female |
| Gallery | Images of Gilraen |
Gilraen the Fair (T.A. 2907-3007) was a Dúnadan of the North, the daughter of Dírhael and Ivorwen, and a descendant of the first chieftain, Aranarth.
History
Gilraen was born in the year 2907 of the Third Age[1]. Arathorn II (heir to Arador, the Chieftain of the Dúnedain) sought to marry her, but her father Dírhael opposed the match because Gilraen was younger than was customary for marriage and Arathorn was a "stern man of full age"[2]. Dírhael also opposed the match because he had foreseen that Arathorn would live a short life. However, his wife Ivorwen was also foresighted, and she persuaded Dírhael that a hasty marriage between Arathorn and Gilraen was even more necessary if Arathorn's life was to be short, saying that
[...] The days are darkening before the storm, and great things are to come. If these two wed now, hope may be born for our people; but if they delay, it will not come while this age lasts.[2]
Gilraen and Arathorn were married in T.A. 2929[1]. Arathorn became Chieftain of the Dúnedain upon his father Arador's death a year later, and Gilraen bore a son, Aragorn, in T.A. 2931. Arathorn was killed while riding out against Orcs with Elladan and Elrohir in T.A. 2933[2], only four years after his marriage to Gilraen.
She then brought her son to live in Imladris to protect him from harm (from Isildur's enemies) as was customary with the Heir of Isildur. She opposed Aragorn's love for Arwen, believing that Arwen's lineage was more noble than his and that Elves and mortals should not intermarry. About T.A. 2984 Gilraen returned to her people in Eriador where she died in 3007,[1] aged one-hundred years.
Her final words to Aragorn were the linnod Ónen i-Estel Edain, ú-chebin estel anim, meaning "I gave Hope (an obvious reference to her son's nickname) to the Dúnedain, I have kept no hope for myself."[2]
Etymology
Gilraen is a Sindarin name. It means "one adorned with a tressure set with small gems in its network" and is a combination of gil ("star") and raen ("netted", "enlaced").[3] More loosely translated, it means "Netted Star".[4] It was a common name given to women of high rank among the Rangers of the North, because they used to wear such tressures.[3]
Genealogy
Portrayal in adaptations
-
Gilraen's grave in The Lord of the Rings (film series)
_-_Gilraen%27s_grave.jpg)
2001: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring:
- Aragorn and Elrond have a conversation at a memorial to Gilraen in Rivendell. Elrond suggests that she brought Aragorn to Imladris for safety from pursuit by the forces of evil. Elrond also thinks that Gilraen believed Aragorn would not escape his fate. Her memorial features a statue along with her name and an inscription of her final words written in Tengwar.
2003: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King:
- Elrond and Aragorn recite Gilraen's final words when Elrond brings the re-forged sword Andúril to Aragorn, with the words possibly taking on a different connotation from their meaning in the book.
External links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Third Age"
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The Númenorean Kings", "The Tale of Aragorn and Arwen"
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Vinyar Tengwar, Number 42, July 2001, pp. 11-13
- ↑ Paul Strack, "S. Gilraen f.", Eldamo - An Elvish Lexicon, accessed 5 February 2022