Timeline Event
Aragorn of the Dúnedain and Arwen of Rivendell betrothed (approximate date)
Event Type: Genealogical
Age Begins: 3rd Age - The Stewards
Age Ends: 3rd Age - The Kings
Date: June 30, 2980
Description:
Aragorn gives [Arwen] the ring of Barahir, and they plight their troth....
The Return of the King, LoTR Appendix B, The Tale of Years: The Third Age
And on the evening of Midsummer Aragorn, Arathorn's son, and Arwen daughter of Elrond went to the fair hill, Cerin Amroth, in the midst of the land, and they walked unshod on the undying grass with elanor and niphredil about their feet. And there upon that hill they looked east to the Shadow and west to the Twilight, and they plighted their troth and were glad.
And Arwen said: "Dark is the Shadow, and yet my heart rejoices; for you, Estel, shall be among the great whose valour will destroy it."
But Aragorn answered: "Alas! I cannot foresee it, and how it may come to pass is hidden from me. Yet with your hope I will hope. And the Shadow I utterly reject. But neither, lady, is the Twilight for me; for I am mortal, and if you will cleave to me, Evenstar, then the Twilight you must also renounce."
'And she stood then as still as a white tree, looking into the West, and at last she said: "I will cleave to you, Dúnadan, and turn from the Twilight. Yet there lies the land of my people and the long home of all my kin." She loved her father dearly.
The Return of the King, LoTR Appendix A, Annals of the Kings and Rulers: The Tale of Aragorn and Arwen
Notes
The actual date of this event is Mid-year's Day 2980, but that cannot be represented using modern date software. In the Middle-earth calendar, three days fall between 30 June and 1 July in non-leap years; in order, they are: 1 Lithe, Mid-year's Day (Midsummer), and 2 Lithe. A fourth day, Overlithe, occurs after Mid-year's Day in leap years.
Contributors:
Lyllyn 1Jun03
Tanaqui amended date 9May05
Elena Tiriel 25Jul07