[Estelyn Telcontar]

As you can tell by my signature quote, I’m interested in Gilraen, having read the story of Aragorn and Arwen in the appendix many times. I looked into it yet again to see what Gilraen was like as a mother. There’s not much, more reading between the lines than specific information, but here’s what I gleaned.

Gilraen was a “single” mother, being widowed when Aragorn was only two years old. Since his life was in danger, being the heir to the throne, her first action was protecting her child. She brought him to Rivendell, hiding him there, and thereby did something quite important – she gave him a substitute father – Elrond. That way he had a male role model – a very vital thing for a boy. The next time we’re told anything of her, Aragorn had fallen in love with Arwen. She noticed his preoccupation and asked what was wrong. When he told her, she gave her opinion, voiced her fears, but did not act to hinder his choice. She didn’t press her forebodings on him and kept his secret, telling no one else. When it was time for him to leave, to begin to accomplish his task in life, she let him go, though she certainly knew that his travels took him into danger. She lived her own life, going back to her own people.

Then came her final leave from him – she had lost hope and expected death. She could not accept his comfort and hope. Instead of her encouraging him, we read that he went away with a heavy heart. After being a pretty good mother, as I see it in above examples, did she desert him in the end?