Aragorn's Elfstone

[Salocin]

Were Aragorn's healing hands due to the Elfstone he wore or was it a skill or power of his own? Or a combination?

Although this is an interesting idea, I beleave it was purely his own power as King and a little of his skill. If he did not have the inherent ability as Isildur's heir it would have been difficult to identify him. Remember, the hands of a king are hands of healing as well as of war.

It may be though that the "profesy" was made with the understanding that the King Elessar would have the elf stone and so would have healing powers by possesing it. But then why would King's Foil be called King's Foil? It is an interesting thought either way.

[Lostgaeriel]

Just had a thought as I woke this morning...

Perhaps Aragorn IS the holy graal, the healing green stone of medieval romantic poetry. Then his name "Elfstone" finally makes complete sense - at least to me - as a literary symbol. (Of course this just ties more tightly into Christian imagery.) I had been trying very hard to compare Aragorn to the character Perceval, but it doesn't [i]quite[/i[ fit. (Perhaps I will find another thread where I can post the comparison.)

I really do recommend that Tolkien fans read Perceval, The Story of the Grail by Chrétien de Troyes translated by Burton Raffel, published by Yale University Press, 1999. ISBN 0-300-07585-5 (hardcover) & ISBN 0-300-07586-3 (paperback). It reads very modern - you'll be surprised. Raffel is a wonderful poet.

[narfforc]

"The King has come again indeed," And they named him Elfstone, Because of the green stone that he wore. (The Houses of Healing).

Then Aragorn took the green stone and held it up, and there came a green fire from his hand. (Many Partings).

This Green Jewel (The Ellessar of Aragorn) was thought to be the second such gem. The first, (The Ellessar of Earendil) was supposed to be the most potent, and was said to hold the light of the sun. There is conjecture that the first gem was brought back to Middle-Earth by Gandalf, however it is believed by many that the second gem was a new one. Both were said to have been made by Celebrimbor, though some believe that Enerdhil of Gondolin made the first, this came into the hands of Idril and then to Earendil.