Things of Middle-earth
Ring of Barahir
Type: Artifacts
Description:"For this ring was like to twin serpents, whose eyes were emeralds, and their heads met beneath a crown of golden flowers, that the one upheld and the other devoured; that was the badge of Finarfin and his house..."
The Silmarillion, Ch 19, Of Beren and Lúthien
The ring originally belonged to Finrod Felagund. When Finrod was rescued by Barahir and his men during the Battle of Sudden Flame, Finrod swore an oath of friendship and aid to Barahir and all his kin. He gave Barahir the ring in token of this vow.
The Silmarillion, Ch 18, Of the Ruin of Beleriand and the Fall of Fingolfin
Barahir was later killed by orcs and his hand with the ring in place was cut off by the Orc captain. Beren pursued and killed the Orc captain and took back the hand and ring.
The Silmarillion, Ch 19, Of Beren and Lúthien
The ring later went from Elwing to Elros. Of all the heirlooms of the royal house from the First Age "Only the Ring of Barahir father of Beren One-hand survived the Downfall; for it was given by Tar-Elendil to his daughter Silmarien and was preserved in the House of the Lords of Andunië, of whom the last was Elendil the Faithful who fled from the wrack of Númenor to Middle-earth."
Unfinished Tales, Part 2, A Description of the Island of Númenor, Note 2
King Arvedui had it with him when he escaped north to Forochel from the Battle of Fornost after the city was lost to the Witch-King. However, he gave it to the Snowmen of Forochel as a gift before he departed and drowned in the sea. Thus it was saved and later on ransomed by the Dúnedain.
Lord of the Rings: Return of the King Appx. A Part I Section iii "Eriador, Arnor and the Heirs of Isildur"
After the fall of Arthedain it was kept at Rivendell with other heirlooms of the northern Dúnedain. Elrond gave it to Aragorn along with information about his true ancestry. Aragorn later gave it to Arwen as a betrothal ring in 2980.
RotK, Appendix B, The Tale of Years
Contributors: Lyllyn 12.08.03
Loquacious 12.25.03
