Vardarianna

With the end of the War of the Ring and the coronation of Aragorn II, son of Arathorn II, he proclaimed that the Númenórean Kingdoms in Exile were again reunited and would be once again ruled by one house ... House Telcontar.

From the time of War of the Last Alliance, Elendil ruled as High King of the two Númenórean kingdoms in Exile. With the geological separation of these two kingdoms, Elendil ruled as High King from the City of Annúminas in the northern realm of Arnor. Though the southern realm of Gondor was technically ruled by Elendil, he sent his sons Isildur and Anárion to rule in his stead in Gondor. At the time, communications between the two kingdoms would have been secure through the use of the Palantíri.

With the tragic losses of the War of the Last Alliance, Elendil, Anárion, and two of Anárion's three sons were slain in battle. Only the 2nd born daughter Ambercalimë and last-born son Meneldil remained of Anárion's line. Isildur had proclaimed himself High King of the two kingdoms, but after a few years ruling from Gondor, He decided that he would return to the high seat of his father Elendil in Annúminas. Though three of Isildur's four sons; Elendur, Aratan, and Ciryon were with him, he had decided that Gondor would be ruled by Anárion's son Meneldil.

With the realm of Gondor ordered, Isildur and his sons set out for Arnor. But they would never reach home. Isildur and his sons and the few remaining soldiers of the army of Arnor were waylaid in the Gladden Fields by a large remnant army of Orcs. Isildur's party was overrun and wiped out, but not until after putting up a hard fight. The only survivor was Isildur's young squire Ohtar who had escaped the carnage of battle with the shards of Narsil, Isildur's broken sword. With the loss of most of Isildur's house, the kingship of Arnor was given to his one remaining son, Valandil. Being only a child of five years and in the care of the House of Elrond, the rule of Arnor was in the hands of Regent Bereth until Valandil came of age.

So it was that the two kingdoms became sundered; House Anárion ruling Gondor and House Isildur ruling Arnor. With the coronation of Aragorn II the kingdom was again reunited.

---

Born prematurely in Ithilien when her father Aragorn and mother Arwen were visiting Lord Steward Faramir and Lady Eowyn, Princess Vardarianna was the first-born child to King Aragorn and Lady Arwen. Lady Arwen and Vardarianna stayed with the Lord Steward Faramir and Lady Éowyn in the estate of House Hurin which stood among the wooded highlands of Emyn Arnen. There they remained while the young infant at first fought for her life and began to grow stronger. It was five months before they returned to Minas Anor before the winter came.


House Telcontar: Aragorn Dúnedain and Arwen Evenstar

Children:

• Vardarianna - Daughter born on the 22nd of Yavannië in the year 27 of the 4th Age
• Eldarion - Son born on Tuilérë in the year 30 of the 4th Age
• Eldariën - Daughter born on the 1st of Nárië in the year 35 of the 4th Age
• Silmariën - Daughter born on the 11th of Narquelië in the year 39 of the 4th Age
• Ancalimë - Daughter born on the 27th of Ringarë in the year 44 of the 4th Age

Other Family:

• Paternal Grandfather: Arathorn II
• Paternal Grandmother: Gilraen
• Paternal Great grandfather: Arador
• Paternal Great grandmother: Nóruian
• Maternal Grandfather: Elrond
• Maternal Grandmother: Celebrian
• Maternal Great-grandmother: Galadriel
• Maternal Great-grandfather: Celeborn
• Maternal uncles: Elladan and Elrohir

This is a summary of the story of Vardarianna, an original character created within canon of 4th Age Middle Earth. From my research, the canonical specifics of Aragorn and Arwen's children are that they had three or more. Order of birth is not established, though majority opinion has their only son Eldarion as the 1st born. Knowing that there were at least two daughters mentioned in Appendix A: In the Encyclopedia of Arda, the entry on Eldarion makes a mathematical calculation of his age based on historical ages of the Dúnedain Chieftains of the line of Elendil taking up their duties around age 90. This would mean Eldarion would have been born sometime in the year 30 of the 4th age. I used their estimate for Eldarion's birth year, and have Vardarianna being born three years before in the year 27 of the 4th age. There were younger sisters born afterward. I initially had three younger sisters but haven't developed any of them except for some for the 1st younger sister I named Eldariën.

Vardarianna is quite head-strong, and it is believed she got this trait from both her mother's elven line, but also akin to Isildur of old. She attempts to convince her father to instate the old Númenórean law of succession in the new reunited kingdom of Arnor and Gondor. He considers it, but after much thought, decides that Eldarion is the rightful heir to the kingdom. Vardarianna, finding herself losing her father's ear on succession, saw that she would not become ruling queen, and though his decision hurt her deeply, she veiled it well, and she acceded to her brother in word. Vardarianna however did not fade away into the background. She worked tirelessly for her father, and he awards her with the position of Crown Emissary to Arnor.

Though it seemed to Vardarianna's friends and supporters in Gondor that the elder princess was being exiled to the north, Vardarianna saw it differently and she assured them that it was a good outcome. Many accompanied her north when the time came for her to travel north to take up her appointed position. Vardarianna would afterward only return to Gondor when summoned by her father for official business, or to attend the marriages of her siblings. She did much to restore the northern realm in the name of her father, overseeing the rebuilding of the city of Fornost Erain, and the reclamation of the deserted city of Annúminas.

When Aragorn reached his last year of reign, he recalls her to Minas Tirith where they spent the time together as a family. When the coronation of her brother Eldarion as King was done, he affirmed that his father's policies would stand, and affirmed that his elder sister Vardarianna continues to be the Crown Emissary of Arnor, and that his younger sister Eldariën be the Crown Emissary of Gondor. These positions of title basically made his sisters 'King's Hands' in each of the geographical parts of the kingdom.

Within the first years of Eldarion's reign, it became clear that his preference was to spend most of his time in the south. This was an advantage for Vardarianna, for though she had acquiesced her desire to be ruling queen of the whole kingdom long ago, she had early-on set upon a surreptitious campaign in the north and had long nurtured and developed her ruling status there. She was well-loved by much of the northern Dúnedain; and still had some support in Gondor. Her diplomatic ways also fostered better relations to former enemy clans of the Ettenmoorian Hillmen of Rhudaur, and the northern clans of Dunlandings that had migrated north into the vales of the Misty Mountains of Eregion.

Vardarianna would bide her time, and when the time deemed right, she formally declared Arnor to be its own kingdom.

(I am currently working on the story of the 'Secession of Arnor' and the resulting '2nd kinstrife'. More to come.)

A Tentative Timeline

4th Age Dates
• 27 - Vardarianna was born on the 22nd of Yavannië in the House of Hurin in Emyn Arnen. She was two months premature.
• 29 - Súlimë 15 - Vardianna and Arwen journeyed from Emyn Arnen to East Osgiliath, then took a ship to Minas Tirith.
• 30 - Tuilérë - The birth of Eldarion, 1st son.
• 33 - Víressë 3rd - The family journeyed north to Arnor to survey the old kingdom cities of Fornost and Annuminas, and visited Rivendell.
• 34 - Narquelië 11th - Aragorn returned to Gondor while Arwen planned to stay in Rivendell with Vardarianna and Eldarion until spring. After Aragorn left, Arwen discovers she was with child.
• 35 - 1st of Nárië - Birth of Eldariën, 2nd daughter. Arwen and Eldarion return to Gondor while Vardarianna convinces her mother to allow her to stay in Rivendell another year.
• 36 - After learning much in Rivendell from her uncles Elladan and Elrohir, she returned south to Gondor with the company of some former Rangers of the North, arriving in Minas Tirith on the 27th of Nárië in time for the Loëndë Mid-Years Festival.
• 36 to 38 - Lived in House Hurin with Faramir and Eowyn and their children in the hills of Emyn Arnen in Ithilien. Eowyn and Faramir were like her 'other parents' since she was born in their house.
(more to come)