Malbeth the Seer and his prophecy

[Imbefana]

In RotK, Aragorn cites an old prophecy made by Malbeth the Seer and proves that he is its fulfillment as king of the Dúnedain. This is the quote from the Appendices (from A I'm pretty sure) in which Malbeth says to Araphant at his son's, Arvedui's, birth.

Arvedui you shall call him, for he will be the last in Arthedain. Though a choice will come to the Dunedain, and if they take the one that seems less hopeful, then your son will change his name and become a king of a great realm. If not, then much sorrow and many lives of men shall pass, until the Dunedain arise and are united again.”

From the outcome of the Battle of Fornost (in which the kingdom of Arthedain and consequently Arnor were destroyed and the heirs of Elendil became a wandering folk) and Aragorn's fulfillment of 'the Dúnedain arise and are united again', it's clear they chose at the time the more hopeful road which led to their ruin. I remember reading I think in FotR where someone says a prophecy never makes sense until it is already fulfilled, but what could have been the choices presented to the Northern Dúnedain?

What did they choose between? Any thoughts?

Oh, and one more thing. Who or what was Malbeth? Was he a man with the gift of foresight (thousands of years ahead of his time), or some type of Maiar? I don't believe he's mentioned after his prophecy of the destruction of Arnor, but are there any thoughts? Thanks,


*I just looked over a thread about two years old (here) concerning this same topic, and it was a very interesting read. Yet they assume that Mabelth's prophecy was concerning Gondor's refusal of Arvedui's claim to its throne, and discuss the repercussions of that act and not other possibilities of the prophecy's meaning. Is Malbeth mentioned in the UT or some other source other than LotR? My original question still stands, yet is a bit modified: are there any other possibilities for the meaning of Malbeth's prophecy besides the uniting of the Dúnedain as one under Arvedui?*