Meldaran

This page is about the eldest son of Isildur, whose true name is Elendur. For the king of Arnor, see Elendur. 

Meldaran
Gender Male Race Man Region Mordor Besieged Area Arandor Location Ram Raedas Map Ref [97.4S, 131.3W]

Description

Meldaran is the eldest of the sons of Isildur, sent to the Ram Raedas in Mordor Besieged with the news of a lost battle. ^{[97.4S, 131.3W]}

Meldaran is not his real name. We find he is Elendur, oldest of Isildur's sons who fought in the war.

Quest Involvement

• [121] Chapter 11.9: All Is Quiet
• [121] Chapter 12.1: The Approaching Storm

• [122] Instance: The Council of Kings
• [122] Instance: A Bad Birthday
• [128] Instance: The Disaster

Biography: Elendur
Birth - Death	Second Age 3299 - Third Age 2
Race:	Man
Gender:	Male
Ancestor(s):	Elendil
Parent(s):	Isildur Valardis*
	Elendur
Info:	Brothers: Tárandil* (foster brother), Aratan, Ciryon, Valandil Died in Battle of the Gladden Fields * Lotro-only characters

Description

Elendur (Quenya for Servant of Elves) was born in Númenor in Second Age 3299, the oldest son of Isildur, grandson of Elendil.

When Elendil escaped the Downfall of Númenor in II 3319, Elendur landed south-east where his father, together with Anárion, founded the Kingdom of Gondor.

It might be said about Elendur that he feared no enemies and he was a valiant warrior in the wars that came, when he fought side by side also with Elves.

Elendur was not present at the final phase of the Siege of Barad-dûr when his grandfather, Elendil, was slain and Isildur, his father, cut the One Ring off the hand of Sauron. However, he knew about the Ring, and that it was somehow connected to the Three Rings.

In Third Age 2 Isildur, his sons, and a strong guard, set out to return to the Kingdom of Arnor by way of Imladris (Rivendell), where Valardis and Valandil waited. However, they were waylaid by a host of orcs tenfold their numbers; this became known as the Battle of the Gladden Fields. When most of the guard was slain, Elendur urged his father to use the Ring and win the battle, but Isildur knew he could not handle its power. Then Elendur urged him to take the Ring to the Keepers (of the Three Rings), as he had sent the shards of Narsil to safety.

"Isildur turned west, and drawing up the Ring that hung in a wallet from a fine chain about his neck, he set it upon his finger with a cry of pain, and was never seen again by any eye upon Middle-earth.! — Unfinished Tales, by Tolkien

These details were told by Elendur's young esquire, named Estelmo, who survived the battle lying stunned by a club, sheltered under Elendur's dead body. And because Woodmen from King Thranduil arrived at the scene his life was spared; they arrived too late for rescue but in time to stop the orcs from their usual mutilation of the bodies.

Thus Elendur died in III 2, 144 years old. He had no known children.

External References

• Unfinished Tales, by Tolkien
• tolkiengateway