Why I Love…{Arwen Undomiel}

"And she was called Undomiel, for she was the Evenstar of her people."

No, in case you were misled by the quote, I am not well-read in the Lord of the Rings books.  (I'm sorry, I'm sorry!  I plan to read them all, and I've started them before, but they're SO gigantic and can be slightly hard to follow.  But there are parts of them that I already love, and like I said, I'm going to read them eventually.  I will!)  I just happen to have read that quote, and love it.  Know why?  Because (apart from its obvious poetic power), it describes one of my favorite people.  Know who she is?  You're right!  Arwen Undomiel!  *gasp*  How did you guess??;)

Now, as to why.  Why do I love Arwen so much?  Sure, she's beautiful, but to some people, she doesn't even have a real purpose in the trilogy.  (For the record, this is my reaction when I hear that - )

Don't mess with my Lord of the Rings, peeps.  I will get ugly;)  Anywho.  Arwen.  (That gif is really distracting me right now!)  Arwen is beautiful, but inwardly as well as outwardly.  She possesses a heart deeply committed and deeply loyal.  I have heard that she met Aragorn when she was younger (though, of course, we must keep in mind that she is an elf and therefore immortal.  So young really doesn't mean young.).  I don't know anything about their early story, all I know is that they fell in love and it's a love that concretes immovably deep in Arwen's heart.  'T'would appear that Arwen's the type who falls in love and stays in love forever.  Seriously.  Never during the course of the trilogy is there any mention (that I know of) of Arwen ever wavering in her love for Aragorn.  Ever.  Even though her father temporarily persuades her to abandon Middle-earth and flee to the Undying Lands, Arwen, midway to the Gray Havens, regrets her decision and returns to Rivendell to await Aragorn's return, come what may.  

"And she took a white gem like a star that lay upon her breast hanging upon a silver chain, and she set the chain about Frodo's neck.  'When the memory of the fear and the darkness troubles you,' she said, 'this will bring you aid.'"

In addition, Arwen gives up her place on the last ship sailing to Valinor and gives it to Frodo.  (That's from the book, which is interesting 'cause I wondered about that.) 

Now, other things I love about Arwen (more shallow - sort of).  

"In the middle of the table, against the woven cloths upon the wall, there was a chair under a canopy, and there sat a lady fair to look upon, and so like was she in form of womanhood to Elrond that Frodo guessed that she was one of his close kindred.  Young she was and yet not so.  The braids of her dark hair were touched by no frost; her white arms and clear face were flawless and smooth, and the light of stars was in her bright eyes, grey as a cloudless night; yet queenly she looked, and thought and knowledge were in her glance, as of one who has known many things that the years bring. Above her brow her head was covered with a cap of silver lace netted with small gems, glittering white; but her soft grey raiment had no ornament save a girdle of leaves wrought in silver.  So it was that Frodo saw her whom few mortals had yet seen; Arwen, daughter of Elrond, in whom it was said that the likeness of Luthien had come on earth again…"

I love the way Arwen carries herself with such "grace and poise";).  She's such a marvelous example of femininity (not too girly, but not too tomboyish either).  And her clothes, peoples!!!  What could there possibly be not to love??  (Well, except for the fact that a couple of the necklines almost dip a little.)

I just - I can't -

I don't think that on that I need to do any expounding;)  

Okay, last point.

"After the War of the Ring, Arwen married Aragorn on Midyear's Day, TA 3019. She lived blissfully as Queen of Elves and Men for 120 years, and it was not her lot to die until all that she had gained was lost. But in FO 120, the days of glory came to an end and Arwen felt the bitterness of her choice: Aragorn felt the approach of old age at last, and knew that his days were numbered. He had the gift of a lifespan thrice that of Men of Middle-earth, but he also had the grace to return his gift. He died on March 1st of that year. Arwen said farewell to her children and all those whom she had loved, and passed into Lothlorien. All the Elves of Lorien were gone, and the land was silent. When winter came, Arwen laid herself to rest upon Cerin Amroth, and of the passing of Evenstar no more is said." (Taken from www.arwen-undomiel.com)  Um, that's epic.  Just sayin'.  So tragically beautiful, in a way.  To think of Arwen, picturing that part in The Return of the King where she is walking through dark, bare forests in Elrond's prediction.  To think of Arwen, the beautiful Evenstar, utterly alone in her last days, almost breaks my heart.  (Okay, clearly, I am waaayy too attached to this trilogy and this character.  That's pathetic.)

So thank you, J.R.R. Tolkien, for creating this beautiful trilogy and this hauntingly beautiful character.  And thank you, Liv Tyler, for capturing her in your brilliant portrayal.  Oh, and thank you, God, for inspiring Tolkien and Liv Tyler, and allowing me to be a ridiculous fangirl sobbing her internal eyes out over fiction.