Where did you get that from? Counter-arguments:
Your counter-arguments are moot points. Why? Because
Elrond EXPLICITLY told
Aragorn that she would not marry him unless he became king and he EXPLICITLY agreed. Pretty explicit huh?
Tolkien may have been against pre-determinism but he was also against breaking promises-Aragorn was not one to break promises, especially ones as important as this and Elrond was not one to allow such promises to be broken. What you saying goes against the logic of the
books on a whole.
Beren and
Lúthien stayed together? So?
Arwen was either going to go West with Elrond or stay in
Middle-Earth with Aragorn-the condition being that Aragorn became
king of Gondor, if he failed in that condition then Elrond would not allow the marriage, neither would Aragorn who promised to obey the commands of Elrond. Beren did manage to get the Silmaril-that is the point, he didn't deliver it to
Thingol but he managed to get the Silmaril nonetheless-a feat whole
armies couldn't achieve.
As for Aragorn simply re-marrying. I somehow doubt it. It was Arwen or nobody.
Well, is it or isn't it a question of time? You don't seem pretty sure about the subject.
Actually I do-what I meant was that if Aragorn saved
Minas Tirith in battle it would mean he a) defeated
Sauron's armies in a battle or b) drove them back, or defeated one of Sauron's armies, as he did in the Pellenor
Fields. Hence the words respite-respite in that he drove back one of Sauron's armies, effectively saving
Gondor for a while, which he did do and hence his claim was legitimized, though it was also legitimized because
Denethor and
Boromir were dead.
Gandalf himself said that no army could be a match for Sauron's force, so what drastic thing was up to the Dunedains to do? Their last attack on
Mordor was a suicidal one in intention, is that what you had in mind? Or do you believe that Gandalf would have sacrificed himself in such an attack just to give Aragorn a chance at the throne?
I know that. I have said that Sauron could not be defeated in battle several times in this thread.
To me, this "political situation" is a joker card to you... first you say the political situation didn't allow the ascendants of Aragorn to become king, how come it changed? Can you explain?
For me you seem to be so wrapped up in your own conclusion that you neglect to look at other factors which might have influenced Aragorn's decision in not contesting the kingship early. Read the books, in fact read the passages regarding Aragorn's kingship. Read the passages regarding Denethor’s character; he would have contested Aragorn's claim-hence the political situation is unfavourable and there would have been a schism. The political situation favouring them would be a very unlikely scenario; again it was more theoretical than practical. A political situation which favoured them would mean that there was a unhostile steward who was willing to give up his stewardship.
Is there anything besides destroying
the ring a possible cause for Sauron's defeat? Gandalf himself recognised that he cannont defeat Sauron even as
the white.
The "defeat of Sauron" was merely given as a pardigm, nor a reality, the point was more theoretical than anything else.
Most of your message can be dismissed as unacceptable in logical and historical terms. Maybe you can rephrase what you intended to say.
How can most of my message be dismissed in logic and history when logic and history support my message? If it was so easy to become king then why didn't Aragorn’s forefathers do so? The ruling
stewards "had the power of
kings" and "hardened their hearts" against the hopes of some who wished for the return of the king via the line of
Isildur. "So it was that no claimant could be found who was of pure blood, or whose claim would allow;
an all feared memory of the kin-strife, knowing that if such a dissension arose again, then Gondor would perish" "It is scarcely wise when bringing the news of the death of his heir to a mighty lord to speak over much of one who will, if he comes, claim the kingship." "I am steward of the House of Anárion! I would not step down to become the dotard chamberlain of an upstart! Even were his claim proved to me, still he comes but of the line of Isildur. I will not
bow to such a one, last of a ragged house bereft of lordship and dignity." But
Éomer said "Already you have raised the banner of the kings and displayed the token of
Elendil's house. Will you suffer these to be challenged"
"No" said Aragorn, "But I deem the time unripe; and I have no mind for strife except with the enemy and his servants." "Your words, lord, are wise..." said Imrahil
Also note the description of the stewards from
Ecthelion, Denethor's father.
As for historicity- Arvedui acknowledges the self-determination of Gondor. They were allies, not dual-kingdoms.
I aplogize if I sound rude at times, it is just the way I write.
I have dealt with the issue of stewardship
here if you wish to take a look, I also deal with the issue elsehwere, it is a topic that interests me, being a politics student.