Aragorn Survived a Deadly Fall in ‘Lord of the Rings’ — Book Fans Know the Secret

Peter Jackson offered viewers a scary moment in ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers’ where it appeared that Aragorn might not make it out alive.  They were assaulted by Orcs on wild animals known as Wargs while they were journeying to Helm’s Deep with Legolas, Gimli, and the Rohirrim.  After defeating the Warg commander, Aragorn’s arm became entangled in the saddle, causing the unruly beast to jump off a cliff and drag him into the river below.  After that, his friends, thinking he was lost, sadly carried on with their voyage.

But Aragorn’s tale wasn’t over yet.  In his delusion, he saw his beloved Arwen as he washed up on the coast, frail and injured.  Her words of protection and optimism seemed to reassure him before he fell back into oblivion.  He was eventually located and taken to safety by Brego, the devoted horse he had previously rescued.  Understanding Tolkien’s world-building helps us comprehend how Aragorn may have survived, even though this dramatic scene wasn’t in the original novel.

Image Courtesy: CBR

The Valar, the gods of Middle-earth, were called upon by Arwen’s benediction.  Ulmo, the lord of waters, had a history of assisting and defending individuals in danger, which suggests he might have contributed to Aragorn’s survival even though they rarely meddled in mortal affairs.  More figuratively, Aragorn was inspired to keep fighting by Arwen’s love.  Despite the overwhelming obstacles that lay ahead, he was inspired to continue by the shared vision of the future.

 In addition to providing action, Jackson crafted this scenario to strengthen Aragorn’s character, heighten the tension, and strengthen his relationship with Arwen.  Despite departing from Tolkien’s story, the fall increased the emotional stakes and demonstrated Aragorn’s fortitude and fate as a leader in the struggle against evil.

–Farheen Ali