I beg to differ about Aragorn's not wanting to hand over his sword to the Doorward of Theoden. The reason for his balking was because of Anduril and Aragorn's heritage, and that Aragorn was certainly of Theoden's equal two generations before, when he served in Rohan.
The problem was, that any man who pulled the blade from it's shieth, even in curiousity, if he were not Aragorn, he would die. This was the power of the shieth that Galadriel gave Aragorn. I do not think Aragorn wished to suffer that any man might die due to not believing it.
Indeed, after Aragorn explains the sword, the guard:
"Stepped back and looked with amazement on Aragorn.
'It seems you are come on wings of song out of the forgotten days,' he said. 'it shall be, lord, as you command.'"
See? He ceased to question Aragorn, believed his command, and called him lord.
I too, would have been angry, as Aragorn was, if I had been a lord of Rohan, and forgotten in only 2 generations. I'd be mighty furious! Woooo!
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'Perilous indeed,' said Aragorn, 'fair and perilous; but only evil need fear it, or those who bring some evil with them. Follow me!'
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