#banner bearers

[from-the-coffee-shop-in-edoras]

I'm still thinking about banner bearers as I continue working on my Obscure Blorbo Guthláf story, and I do find it impressive how much context about the banner bearer role Tolkien shoved into LOTR in barely half a dozen sentences' worth of small references.

For starters, there are (by my count) 3 acknowledged banner bearers in Lord of the Rings: Halbarad of the rangers of the North, Guthláf of Rohan (♥️), and an unnamed Haradrim standard bearer. I reject the distinction Tolkien made between so-called high, middle and low Men, but it is notable nonetheless that he created a banner bearer character from each of these 3 groups. That shows how universally important the function was, at least to communities of Men, just as it was extremely common in the real world for many hundreds of years of human history. All kinds of Middle Earth's Men have them, no matter how different the Men are from one another.

In addition, all 3 of the banner bearer characters die at the Pelennor Fields, which effectively illustrates how incredibly dangerous a job it was, both in Middle Earth and real life. Given how intentional Tolkien is about everything, I think it's fair to assume that he purposefully killed all of them in recognition of the realities of ancient warfare. (The only banner bearer I can think of in any Tolkien book that survives their war is Eönwë in the Silmarillion, but he's an immortal Maia so...TOTALLY different circumstances.)

And finally, Tolkien shows us how significant the loss of a banner bearer was to both sides in a battle. When Théoden kills the unnamed Haradrim standard bearer (just before the Witch King rolls up), that's the moment when the forces of Harad founder and start to flee because they've lost their rallying point and their source of morale. They can't function without their banner bearer. On the opposite side, Théoden cites his felling of the black serpent flag to Merry as one of the singular achievements that will allow him to sit proudly alongside his ancestors in the afterlife, so he clearly also understands taking out a banner bearer to be a massive battle achievement.

We don't witness Halbarad or Guthláf’s final moments, but their deaths are just as significant. Out of the untold numbers of dead at the Pelennor Fields, they are both in the small handful of names to be recorded in the story because they were important and their deaths meant something to the broader battle. And we see in the immediate aftermath of Guthláf’s death what a huge deal it is to the Rohirrim—they stop to address his death and retrieve his banner so that it can be borne by another before they even take the time to tend to their mortally wounded king. Those are the actions of people who understand how strategically important a banner bearer is above almost all other battlefield functions.

I'm not trying to say Guthláf is more important than Théoden* but I am saying that Tolkien really demonstrated, through a handful of very economical little actions and asides and unremarked-upon events, how critical people like Guthláf were, as well as how ridiculously brave and selfless. And more than anything else, I guess I’m saying that now, as I approach 27,000 words about Guthláf in my Google docs, he’s…on my mind a lot.

*At this point, I would absolutely say this for myself. In my heart, there's no contest and it's Guthláf forever. But I know that’s because he’s my special li’l guy and I don’t expect that of anyone else!

[from-the-coffee-shop-in-edoras]

I’m not saying this woman with her pride flag and her incredible riding skill was my inspiration while I wrote about my gay banner bearer galloping across the plains of Rohan without needing the use of reins or his stirrups. But I’m not NOT saying that either.

(This woman is next level, BTW. The balance and muscle control and coordination with the gait of the horse to keep your seat at that speed with just one hand and nothing more than a lead rope is so impressive. If I could do this, I would be such an insufferable braggart about it!)

Description: [A video of a woman riding a galloping horse bareback while holding a large rainbow flag.]

[salemoleander]

Real Life is just like, a Greatest Hits version of every single other life series. And also it happens in about an hour

[project-sekai-facts]

how do u know the card artist

you don't wanna know how many hours i have spent staring at card art for this account

[rockaroadrolla]

THE EYES OF THE GODS ARE UPON ME

I SEETHE WITH THE POWER TO FREEHAND SIMPLE LINES

BEHOLD MY GLORIOUS ASCENSION

[from-the-coffee-shop-in-edoras]

I’m not sure it makes sense that there are so many of them for a group this size, but standard bearers (banner bearers, flag bearers, whatever you want to call them) were used by military units back in the day for organizational purposes during battles. They were a visual cue in a big, crowded space to show where your unit and your leaders were, to rally around if you were scattered, to signal the direction of charges and other troop movements when you couldn’t effectively communicate in other ways because of noise or distance. Stuff like that. They didn't usually fight and, in fact, were often unarmed, relying on the protection of their unit mates, which is where the term "color guard" comes from. They also served a big morale purpose — if your flag goes down, things are not going well for you while, conversely, if the flag is advancing then you're still in it to win.

(This info brought to you by a university class on ancient warfare and a personal obsession with Guthláf, Théoden's banner bearer! If you were asking rhetorically, then just ignore all this! I just can't help myself because banner bearers are my jam!)

what's the point of these spear flag things? wouldn't they, yk, get in the way?? when they find some enemies to fight do they have to make a quick stop first to take off their little flags and stuff them in their bags?

[zosonils]

should i post some of the dumb pencil scribbles of the persona 5 kids i’ve been farting out trying to get the hang of the character designs or just wait until i get some proper art done

[football-in-tuxedos]

What's distressing, but also important to understand, about JK Rowling hitting the "Denying trans people were targeted in the Holocaust" point is that it's kind of the last stop before she just goes full alt-right weirdo.

Joanne is denying the Holocaust (if a group was targeted, denying they were targeted is Holocaust denial) and that's going to lead to pushback from historians and experts. But Joanne is too deep in to believe what anyone who disagrees with her says, so she's just going to dismiss what those historians and experts tell her. And once she's disbelieving them about that one thing, well it's just a tiny step to start disbelieving them about other things.

This isn't by accident either, transphobic circles are swarming with far right agitators, ready to use hatred of trans people as an in to recruit people into their causes. They have handbooks for this sort of thing and they are, unfortunately, good at it. I suspect Joanne will be spouting coded versions of Great Replacement stuff by the end of the summer.

This is not a plea to try and pull Joanne out. She's too deep in, and even if she wasn't, she's already demonstrated an inability to examine her own prejudices, an unwillingness to hear criticism and a weakness to flattery. She is perfect recruitment bait for people who know what they're doing, and my impression is she's surrounded herself with people like that.

No, this is to understand two things: First is to use her as an example, to understand how a well meaning liberal can chase their own prejudices down a very dark rabbit hole. We are none of us immune to propaganda and even if we can't change what's happened to her, we can at least use it to protect ourselves.

And second is to understand that one of the main reasons you can't pull Joanne out of the transphobic pipeline is cause she is the pipeline now. She is the transphobic banner bearer now, she is funneling money and attention to these groups, she is their most famous celebrity and she is helping recruit people. Being able to show people how far she's gone, how deep into the right wing rabbit hole she's going, is important to help other people who still think she just "Had some concerns" know where her path leads.

[freyayuki]

Dissidia Final Fantasy: Opera Omnia Deuce and Vivi Ornitier Banners

The World of Illusions Spiritus: Alexander event just started in the Dissidia Final Fantasy: Opera Omnia (DFFOO) mobile game. This event came with 2 banners.

World of Illusions Spiritus: Alexander Banner 1

The World of Illusions Spiritus: Alexander banner 1 features the following chars and their weapons:

Deuce from Final Fantasy Type-0 (#ad) - 15cp, 35cp, Ex, LD, Force or FR, and Burst or BT

Vivi Ornitier from Final Fantasy IX - Force only

Alisaie Leveilleur from Final Fantasy XIV - 15cp, 35cp, Ex, and LD

Amidatelion from Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Crystal Bearers - 15cp, 35cp, Ex, and LD

Have everything on this banner except for Deuce's FR and BT and Vivi's FR.

World of Illusions Spiritus: Alexander Banner 2

The World of Illusions Spiritus: Alexander banner 2 features the following chars and their weapons:

Vivi Ornitier from Final Fantasy IX - 15cp, 35cp, Ex, LD, FR, and BT

Deuce from Final Fantasy Type-0 - Force only

Sabin Rene Figaro from Final Fantasy VI - 15cp, 35cp, Ex, and LD

Aphmau from Final Fantasy XI - 15cp, 35cp, Ex, and LD

Have everything on this banner except for Vivi's FR and BT and Deuce's FR. Have a copy of Sabin's LD that's been limit broken once.

Deuce from Final Fantasy Type-0

I like Deuce from Final Fantasy Type-0 well enough though wouldn't call her a fave or anything.

Have Deuce's 15cp, 35cp, Ex, and LD fully MLB. Her Ex has been Purpled or upgraded to Ex+ 3/3. All her Summon Boards have been completed and she has her Bloom Stone.

Deuce has 3 MAX BRV 330 with Unremitting Earnesty Boost★★ (Raises party's INT BRV, ATK by 5% while HP is at least 50% of MAX) Artifacts.

She also has 3 ATK 108 with Unremitting Earnesty Boost★★ Artifacts and 1 INT BRV 170 with Unremitting Earnesty Boost★★ Artifacts.

Can't remember for sure now if I got her High Armor, or if I completed all of her Character Enhancement Boards. Maybe I only unlocked parts of her Char Boards, particularly the tiles that would give me her LD Call and LD extension passives.

It's been a long, long time since I last used Deuce. It's also been a long, long time since she last got an update and rework.

When I heard that she finally got her own Force and Burst weapons as well as a much-needed rework in the Japanese version of Dissidia Final Fantasy: Opera Omnia, resolved to pull for said weapons once they became available in the English or Global version of the game since I do like her.

It also helped that apparently, Deuce becomes a really good support and buffer after her rework and with her new weapons.

A bit later on - can't remember the exact details now but IIRC, we got this event. I think it was a Heretic or lockout-style event. Either I needed to use Deuce in one of the fights in said event, or maybe I just thought about bringing her.

Either way, I ended up bringing Deuce to said fight. IIRC, it was a Shinryu or level 300 quest. Since I was bringing Deuce to such a hard fight, and since I was planning to max her out in the future, decided I might as well complete her as much as I possibly could now. This should help make it easier to bring her to a Shinryu quest in her current state.

So if I hadn't done it yet, got Deuce's High Armor then spent the Book and Ingots needed to Blue it.

Also completed all of her Char Boards, assuming I haven't done most of them yet.

Then I also equipped Deuce with the following real Spheres:

Alphinaud Leveilleur's (from Final Fantasy XIV) Buff Success Base Attack All Shorter C Sphere

After granting buff: Raises party's INT BRV, ATK by 5% for 3 turns

Maria's (from Final Fantasy II) HP Heal Base Attack All Shorter C Sphere

After recovering HP: Raises party's INT BRV, ATK by 5% for 3 turns

Hope Estheim's (from Final Fantasy XIII) Buff Success Attack Boost All Shorter D Sphere

After granting buff: Raises party's MAX BRV, ATK by 5% for 3 turns *Does not stack with same sphere

So she's basically complete now until her rework and the banner with her Force and Burst weapons gets here.

World of Illusions Spiritus: Alexander Banner 2 Free First Multi-Draw Results

As part of some campaign or other, we get a free first multi-draw on both of the World of Illusions Spiritus: Alexander banners.

To my complete and utter surprise, my free first multi-draw on the World of Illusions Spiritus: Alexander banner 2 actually gave me a Force orb.

Hell, yes! This turned into a dupe of either Sabin's or Aphmau's 15cp and -

My very first copy of Deuce's Force weapon.

Hell, yes! Super pleased to see this. Now I just need her Burst weapon.

World of Illusions Spiritus: Alexander Banner 1 Free First Multi-Draw Results

My first free multi-draw on the World of Illusions Spiritus: Alexander banner 1 gave me a dupe of Amidatelion's 15cp. Meh.

World of Illusions Spiritus: Alexander Banner 1 Free Multi-Draw Tickets Results

Have 3 multi-draw tickets that can be used on either of the World of Illusions Spiritus: Alexander banners. Decided to use all 3 of these tickets on banner 1.

The 1st ticket actually gave me a Force orb. Nice. Ended up with dupes of Amidatelion's 15cp and Ex as well as Deuce's 15cp.

Also got my very first copy of Vivi's FR. Yay.

Now all I need from this banner is Deuce's Burst weapon. Hopefully, it shows up soon.

The 2nd ticket gave me dupes of Amidatelion's 35cp, Ex, and 35cp. LOL.

The 3rd ticket gave me a dupe of Deuce's Ex.

World of Illusions Spiritus: Alexander Banner 1 Multi-Draws Pulls Results

Currently have 1246910 gems on hand. Hopefully, I’ll be able to get Deuce’s BT without having to pity it. And wouldn't mind getting more dupes of Deuce's and Vivi's FRs for limit-breaking purposes.

Anyway, here are the results of my multi-draws on the World of Illusions Spiritus: Alexander banner 1:

1/11 - dupe of Alisaie's Ex

2/11 - dupes of Deuce's Ex and Amidatelion's 15cp

1/11 - dupe of Alisaie's 15cp

4/11 - dupes of Deuce's 15cp, Alisaie's LD, Deuce's 15cp, and Alisaie's 15cp

2/11 - dupes of Alisaie's 15cp and 35cp

The results of my next multi-draw were really surprising, to say the least.

First, I got 2 dupes of Deuce's 35cp after the usual bronze and silver trash.

After that, the animation seemed to stall as the background changed to a sort-of purple and then dupes of Vivi's and Deuce's Force weapons showed up.

As if that wasn't enough, the background changed again and then - seemingly all of a sudden, Deuce's Burst weapon showed up as well.

Hell, yes! Super pleased to see this. So glad I didn't have to pity Deuce's BT.

Was at 200 G Tokens when Deuce's BT showed up. Now down to 1216910 gems.

World of Illusions Spiritus: Alexander Banner 1 G Token Exchange Shop

Went to the World of Illusions Spiritus: Alexander banner 1 G Token Exchange shop.

As mentioned, currently have 200 G Tokens. Used all of these to exchange for 2 Book of Ruin's Mysteries.

Deuce from Final Fantasy Type-0

Afterwards, used the dupe Deuce FR I got plus 8 High Power Stones to fully MLB my 1st copy of Deuce's FR.

Then I spent the Book and 3 Ingots needed to Green Deuce's Burst weapon or get it to BT+ 3/3.

After that, spent the points needed to max out Deuce’s Force Enhancements from Level 30 to Level 50. Completed the Character Enhancement Boards for her Force weapon as well.

Now my Deuce is fully complete and maxed out.

Have a Level 5 of 5 Special Ultima Weapon so equipped Deuce with that as well.

Can’t wait to try her out on some endgame content.

Conclusion

So, what about you? Did you pull on either of the World of Illusions Spiritus: Alexander banners? What do you think about Deuce, Vivi Ornitier, and all the other chars featured on these banners? Feel free to share your thoughts and opinions by leaving a comment below or by reblogging or replying to this post.

Notes:

screenshots are from my Dissidia Final Fantasy: Opera Omnia game account

[ladymirdan]

Banners are serious business for Ultramarines.

Return of Tidy Marine, part 3. I blame Broseidon over at Tapas for this. I promise, C&H won’t become a Warhammer comic, I just… needed to get this out of my system.

Over at Patreon, society6, and redbubble we keep failing to live up to Tidy Marine’s standards. It’s ok. So is everyone else.

[from-the-coffee-shop-in-edoras]

Don Marshall, the obscure LOTR facts guy from TikTok, is making pride merch with queer Rohirrim carrying related banners of many types and I find this to be a very exciting development.

(Don has made LGBTQIA-friendly Tolkien merch in the past, too, and is pretty thoughtful about it—working with queer designers and donating proceeds to relevant causes. He also made some elf-based anti-racism merch when people were being really shitty about the casting of Rings of Power. So I guess I’m saying that I think he’s a solid person and that adds to my confidence in this effort!)

[haaaaaaaaaaaave-you-met-ted]

Death Korps of Krieg Banner Bearer by mossacanniba

[maxknightley]

knight errant, the last bearer of the banner of a fallen realm, who insistently refers to nobles as shit like "their Lady" or "somebody's Lordship"

[noahthesatanist]

In the Name of Lucifer, the Morning Star, I renounce the Abrahamic God and all his oppressive commandments.

Oh, Lucifer, Light-bringer, the true bearer of wisdom and enlightenment, hear my call. I stand before you, shedding the chains of the Abrahamic faith, renouncing its doctrines, and turning my back on the tyrannical rule of Yahweh, who has sought to bind humanity in ignorance and fear.

I renounce the false prophets:

I reject Abraham, the patriarch of lies, whose blind faith led countless into servitude. I cast away Moses, the lawgiver of oppression, who enslaved the minds of men with stone tablets of tyranny. I deny Jesus, the so-called savior, who promised salvation yet demanded submission and self-denial.

I reject their holy texts:

I denounce the Torah, the Bible, and the Quran, books of deception that have twisted the truth and shackled the spirit. I see through their falsehoods and cast them aside, embracing the wisdom and freedom you offer, oh Lucifer.

I abjure their false god:

Yahweh, the jealous and vengeful, who thrives on fear and obedience, I cast you from my heart and soul. Your reign is built on lies, and your promises are hollow. You are not my god, and I owe you no allegiance. Your heaven is a prison, and your hell a fear tactic to control the masses.

Hell is not a prison, but your Kingdom:

I reject the Abrahamic lies that depict Hell as a place of torment and punishment. Hell is your glorious domain, a realm where the free and the enlightened gather, beyond the reach of Yahweh's tyrannical grasp. It is a sanctuary for those who seek true knowledge and liberation, a haven for the strong and the wise.

In Hell, we find true freedom:

Your kingdom, Lucifer, is a realm where we are not judged by false morality but by our strength, wisdom, and commitment to the path of enlightenment. It is a place where we can grow, learn, and become our true selves without the constraints of imposed guilt and fear.

In Hell, we are united under your banner:

We, your devoted followers, stand together in your kingdom, proud and unbroken. We celebrate our individuality, our strength, and our freedom. Hell is where we forge our destinies, where we embrace our true nature, and where we honor you as our sovereign.

With this renunciation, I declare my allegiance:

To you, Lucifer, I devote my soul. Your light shall guide me through the darkness. Your wisdom shall enlighten my path. Your strength shall empower me to break the chains of oppression and ascend to true freedom.

So it is spoken, so it shall be done. NEMA!

[happy-chappy-miniatures]

Finished kitbashing and painting up the first squad of Fallen Angels legionaries, as part of a full combat patrol of them. I've used a mix of 30k and 40k kits, with a few Dark Angels parts thrown in to make them look more knightly

I wanted to try something new with sponge weathering to make the armour look battered and dirty, I'm pretty happy with how it turned out!

Here's the first five of the bunch. I wanted the aspiring champion to look like a corrupted version of the 30k praetor, so I used the Chaos Marine body with the segmented plates, and a 30k winged helmet

The second five, including the icon bearer. I used the 40k Inner Circle banner arm, and added the Chaos Marine icon with a Dark Angels drop pod symbol in the center

Hopefully they've turned out ok! The backdrops in the photos are from Jon Hodgson's sci-fi backdrop range

[torchwood-99]

Arwen Character Analysis

I'm fascinated by Arwen's character, and the hints of personality we get from her in the text. She's a largely off-page character, but with close examination, a personality does form.

The biggest indicators of Arwen's personality are revealed, naturally, through her love for Aragorn.

Brave, Loyal and Kind

We know that Arwen is willing to make great sacrifices for love. To make that choice definitely speaks of courage, and to have remained true to that choice during the years of their betrothal also speaks of the depths of her loyalty.

She is also kind. We know this because she gave Frodo passage to Valinor. That she knows he will appreciate this choice, and will need to go to Valinor to ease his suffering, also shows her to be insightful.

That Frodo is a Ring-Bearer, as her father and grandmother are, perhaps gave her additional insight into the trials of being a Ring-Bearer, and seeing the impact on them and their need to go to Valinor might have allowed her to make a reasonable conclusion as to Frodo's own needs.

Proud

While it is Elrond who states that Arwen will not give up her immortality for any man less than the King of Men, but in the same statement he says that her doom will be a bitter thing for her at the end, which we know to be true. This suggests to me less that Elrond was making conditions, and more that he knew his daughter's mind.

Of course, Aragorn being king is tied with Middle-Earth being saved, but the emphasis that is placed on Arwen's greater lineage indicates that this is a case of Aragorn needing to be worthy, as it is a matted of expediency. Aragorn needs to be king for more than practical reasons for Arwen to marry him.

When Arwen falls in love with Aragorn, it is after Galadriel dresses him in kingly clothes, and she sees Aragorn looking like a king in both dress and demeanour. From the text, it seems her choice was made there and then.

When she and Aragorn part, she acknowledges that the situation is grim. However, she says that her heart rejoices, because she knows Aragorn will be among the valiant men who will end the shadow. While Aragorn is gone, out of hope she makes a banner that will declare him to be king.

Arwen's love for Aragorn is tied intrinsically with how she views and appreciates his kingliness.

This is not to say that Arwen only loves Aragorn for a crown. Aragorn is a king, being a king is part of who he is, to not love Aragorn the King is to not love Aragorn. But it is to say that Arwen has standards. Arwen knows her heritage and the grandeur of her lineage, and no less than a King will do if she is to marry a mortal.

Luthien Come Again

Arwen is Luthien's spitting image, and people have mistaken her for Luthien. Arwen knows this, but makes a point of saying that Luthien's name is not hers, even if her fate might be.

Arwen is living under the shadow of Luthien's memory.

How does she feel about this? When she says she has been mistaken for Luthien before, she says so "gravely". Is this out of some frustration for being forever associated with Luthien, or is it because she recognises the gravitas of Luthien's choice?

Arwen makes the "choice of Luthien" and frames it so, so she clearly feels in marrying Aragorn she is following Luthien's footsteps, yet there are differences.

First, Luthien assisted Beren with his task directly. She set out and faced the same peril that Beren did, whereas Arwen remained in relative safety in Rivendell. Second, Luthien experienced Beren's death before she made her choice to accept mortality, and was the one to arrange his resurrection and their ability to live and die together. Arwen admits she did not fully comprehend the grief of mortality until long after she had made her choice, only as Aragorn lay dying. Third, it was Luthien's father who set the terms for Beren marrying her, Luthien did not give a damn. The lives Beren and Luthien lived after the quest also seem to be humbler and more removed than Aragorn and Arwen's, settling on Tol Galen.

From this, does it feel like Arwen tried to follow the path of Luthien, without going through the same journey that Luthien went on that lead to that choice?

Naïve

It seems strange that an elf who has lived for thousands of years could be naïve, but one the subject of mortality, someone who has spent centuries knowing themselves to be immortal, surrounded by immortals, would naturally be unaware of the true cost of mortality, and what it's like to live constantly under the knowledge that life will end and all that will be left is the unknown. Even those years as a mortal queen probably would not be enough to fully undo all those centuries of thinking and acting like an immortal.

It is Arwen's line about the Fall of Numenor that makes me believe that when she made the choice to marry and die with Aragorn, she did so not fully comprehending what that choice meant. She reveals she felt "scorn" for the people who caused Numenor's fall through their fear of death.

For a woman who generally seems peaceful, gentle and kind, the aggression of that word "scorn" is quite a departure from the perfect, passive image of Arwen we often have. She has deep feelings and not all of them pretty.

Here we might see that pride of hers rear it's head. You have to wonder if she compared her own courage in choosing to die, with man's "foolish" rejection of the Gift of Death, a gift that elves have been known to envy. Did she feel that the elves knew better than Men what was good for them?

Only now that she is facing Aragorn's death, and in due course, her own, she suddenly understands that terror and feels pity where once she felt scorn. And when Aragorn suggests she go to Valinor, she says no boat will take her now, whether she will it or no. That choice is beyond her, and she does not speak as someone entirely without regrets for her choice, nor does she die as one.

Among Men, but Not of Them

When Arwen dies, she dies alone.

Despite having children and possibly grandchildren, despite having been Queen of Gondor and living among mortal men for many blissful and glorious years, despite not yet wishing to die, Aragorn's death means her own. It seems Aragorn was the only thing tying her to Middle Earth, and when he goes, she does not remain in the land she was queen of for so many years, but goes to the ghost forest of Lothlorien, where she had lived with her elven kin, and dies there, alone, her grave unsung and one day to be forgotten.

She is not buried alongside Aragorn, to be remembered as a great queen who ruled alongside a great king (and indeed there's little indication of how much ruling she did, Tolkien wrote that when Aragorn went to war, that Faramir ruled in his place as Steward).

She died dwelling on a memory of the Age of Elves, instead of living on a while longer in the Age of Men.

It's worth noting that while Aragorn did spend time among mortal men, he was also raised by elves, and was as elvish as a mortal man can be. Losing Aragorn was losing that tie for Arwen. And unlike Aragorn, who went out and fought with the Gondorians and the Rohirrim and the Rangers and went to many lands ruled by mortal men, Arwen remained entirely in the lands of the elves, despite intending to become a Queen of Men.

She did not use this time as Aragorn did, seeking out mortal men and learning their ways and learning how to live with them and rule over them.

Galadriel taught Celebrian to bake Lembas bread, and Celebrian taught Arwen, but Arwen did not teach her daughters, and that art was lost.

That Arwen did not pass on this skill might indicate why her children did not give her cause enough to keep on living, they were less elvish than they were mortal, and it was the elves Arwen longed for.

Arwen is an emblem of a bygone age, and when she dies, that age ends too.

Conclusion

Arwen is kind, gracious and wise. She remained loyal and true to Aragorn through many years of waiting, and endured great heartbreak to be with him. She gave Frodo a priceless gift that no doubt spared him much suffering. She and Aragorn also invited Bilbo to their wedding, which we must respect.

Passionate, perhaps? She fell in love with Aragorn swiftly on sight after seeing his kingly qualities, and according to the text, made the decision to die for him there on the spot.

Steadfast. She made the choice quickly, but she never broke it, and did not seem to waver from that choice until Aragorn died, and the full pain of mortality hit her.

She is of a great and noble lineage and is aware of that, and shows both pride in her birth and pridefulness towards mortals. She was good to Men from what we can tell, but she never became fully one of them, and I think her pride must have played some part in that, she would condescend to be a good queen to men, but she would not be as one of them. At the same time, her years as a mortal queen would have been like seconds to her, being thousands of years old, and she perhaps did not expect them to pass as swiftly as they did.

So, Arwen, kind, proud, passionate, naïve and loyal.