the line of elros ◈ chieftains of the dúnedain ◈ headcanon disclaimer
Argonui was the son of Arathorn I, and the thirteenth Chieftain of the Dúnedain. After his father was slain by a rogue band of orcs, he dedicated his rule to hunting down their kind and preventing them from regaining a foothold in the North. He was often away from home on these missions, leaving his wife Theriel to lead the Dúnedain in his absence. In his old age, Argonui endured the Fell Winter, when white wolves became a greater threat than orcs; yet little relief would be found when spring at last arrived, when the thawing ice led to great floods devastating Enedwaith and Minhiriath. He died from chills that never left him after that long, harsh winter, and was succeeded by his son Arador. Assuming leadership in a time of low morale, Arador was faced with the difficult task of uniting the Dúnedain in the face of scarcity and destruction. He welcomed refugees from the long-dwindling city of Tharbad, now fully depopulated, and worked tirelessly to reestablish hope among his people. He and his wife Malríneth could often be seen working the fields and delivering meat and grain to the poorest among them, seeking to prove they were no better than the least of Men, and that all deserved kindness and support. After a rule of only 18 years, Arador was slain by hill-trolls in the Coldfells while out searching for good stone for his masons. His heir, Arathorn II, would likewise rule only briefly, his life cut short by violence.