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How Old do the Dunedian Women Marry?
http://arwen-undomiel.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=13220		 Page 2 of 2
Author:  Aerandir [ January 16th, 2007, 4:18 am ]
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Thanks, Hanasían--it's been a while since I read that part, so it was rather useful.
Author:  Hanasian [ August 28th, 2007, 10:10 pm ]
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You're welcome! :)

Any other speculation on this?
Author:  Aerandir [ August 31st, 2007, 10:23 am ]
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Well, once again, I think it comes down to personal choice, because by the time of Aragorn, I think the Elvish blood was really faint and weak--and after being immersed in mere human cultures for so long, I think that they would lean towards human customs, too. So I still think it comes down to personal choice on when to marry, etc.
Author:  Ashwise [ August 31st, 2007, 5:37 pm ]
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Aerlinniel ó Eressëa wrote:
^ maybe :P

The Dunedain had elvish ancestors, somewhere, long ago, right?
And in the Laws and Customs of the Eldar essay, Tolkien states that Elves grow slower then humans (pshysically, while their minds were far more mature).
He also said they usually fall in love when they're very young, but only get married when they're adults. Since Elves physically grew slower, wouldn't that mean it took them longer to become adults?

Of course the Dunedain aren't Elves, but they do have some Elvish influences... So could it be that that was why they could fall in love when they were 20, like Aragorn, but not be considered old enough to marry untill they were older?

It's just an idea...


Wow, I can't believe how big it got. The Dunedian were descened from elves, being on Elros's side of the family (probably through his mother Elwing and grandmother Idril).
Author:  Aerandir [ September 1st, 2007, 9:44 am ]
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Well, the point that they were immersed in human culture for so long still stands.

Also, Imhrahil's elvish ancestor(s) lived/died after the Last Alliance. However, the elvish blood in the line of the Dúnedain had over six thousand years to dwindle, during which the Dúnedain were marrying humans and each other--strengthening the human blood and decreasing the Elvish. It's probably possible, if one takes the time, to chart just what the percentage/fraction of Elvish blood would be in Aragorn...but I'm too lazy to do it. :D
Author:  Miriel [ September 6th, 2007, 9:41 pm ]
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Most likely they marry whenever they feel they are ready, I'm sure they're all different, just like regular humans.
Author:  Hanasian [ January 30th, 2014, 1:02 am ]
Post subject:  Re:
On Tue Jan 16, 2007 12:24 pm, Hanasían wrote:

The only reference that comes to my mind on age and marriage of the Dúnedain is in the appendices in the back of the book Return of the King. In Appendix A, Part V titled Tale of Aragorn and Arwen it says:

'Arador was the grandfather of the King. His son Arathorn sought in marriage Gilraen the Fair, daughter of Dírhael, who was himself a descendant of Aranarth (who was the son of Arvedui and the first Chieftain of the Dúnedain). To this marriage Dírhael was opposed: for Gilraen was young and had not reached the age at which the women of the Dúnedain were accustomed to marry.
' "Moreover," he said, " Arathorn is a stern man of full age, and will be chieftain sooner than men looked for; yet my heart forebodes he will be shortlived."
'But Ivorwen, his wife, who was foresighted, answered, "The more need of haste! 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."

In Appendix B - Tale of Years it states that Gilraen was born in the year 2907 and married Arathorn in the year 2929, making Gilraen 22 years old. Aragorn II was born March 1, 2931, and Arathorn was slain in 2933 at sixty years of age. So Arathorn was 56 and Gilraen was 22 and that was considered not reaching the accustomed age to marry. What the accustomed age was is open to speculation.

Of course they could fall in love in the teen years, for Aragorn was only 20 when he was smitten by the sight of Arwen. ;)

I posted this 7 years ago! Have I been around here that long? :closedeyes:
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