Halfaeron: "Hidden-Spirit"

The following section only details the history of Halfaeron's family dating back to the Second Age, and is not directly relevant to his story:

Halfaeron, unlike a good number of the northern Dúnedain of the Third Age, does not come from noble stock but a middling one. His family were originally peasant colonists from Andúnië in Númenor to the port of Vinyalondë (later Lond Daer), in Minhiriath. They logged the forests on the banks of the Gwathló during the reign of Tar-Telperiën. They never participated in the Battle of Gwathló, not even as militia levies, though for a long time their descendants mistakenly insisted they must have due to their physical and historical proximity. 

In any case, over the course of millennia their fortunes waxed and waned until SA 3320. While many of the Númenórean colonists on the coast of Minhiriath belonged to the King’s Men and repudiated Elendil’s rule, Halfaeron’s family mostly remained Faithful and welcomed the founding of the northernmost Realm-in-Exile, Arnor. The King’s Men eventually fled the wrath of the Faithful fleet borne by the waves of the Downfall of Númenor northeast into what would become Angmar, sundering Halfaeron’s family as a third of it departed with them. The remaining Faithful of his family greeted Elendil’s retinue north of Lond Daer and in return for confirming their service to him, were granted knighthood and a small estate in the new kingdom. 

Their fortunes continued to wax and wane over the centuries as Arnor’s did, but their estate fell into ruin after the Great Plague of TA 1636 devastated Cardolan. A cadet branch of the family survived after fleeing the sack of Dol Ernil to the north, and settled in Arthedain. Forced to start over, they were reduced to laborers, brewers, and charcoal burners. One of their number served King Arvedui as a man-at-arms and was haplessly slain during the siege of Fornost in TA 1974 by a stray ballista bolt, never even getting to fight the hated Enemy.  

The rest fled over the River Lhûn, and returned over the river with Aranarth after the destruction of Angmar by Cirdan and Eärnur’s hosts. Eventually, like most of the others, they settled in the Angle of Mitheithel and lived there ever since. Some joined the ranks of the Rangers over the centuries, proving their worth but suffering as much misfortune as ever.

Halfaeron's background before the War of the Ring:

Among the Northern Dúnedain in TA 3018-3019, Halfaeron is known as the youngest son of Ortheldir, another Ranger who usually patrols old Cardolan far south of the Great East Road. His mother, Iruieth, still lives in Tornhad in the Angle with other family, including Halfaeron's oldest brother Halron, who was badly maimed in a skirmish with hillmen in TA 3017. His uncle Iorthon and his cousin Gwahaenir died of illness in TA 3016.

Halfaeron has had a reputation among the northern Dúnedain for being a prankster, joker, and slacker with little reverence for his duty since he was a child, and did little to disabuse anyone else of that notion since becoming an adult. The only mark of his competence came from his mentor, Faeron, who believed him ready for his oath.

During and after the War of the Ring, rumors circulated among the Rangers that he would have been released from his oath by the elders for incompetence and negligence. It never happened, but the young man has become persona non grata among the Wardens of Annúminas, and is little loved by the rest of his kin as news traveled south and east among them. Most Rangers, if they heard the news, have heard that Halfaeron let another Ranger die while watching the western gate of Annúminas, which allowed Angmarim reinforcements into the city. Those inclined to a more forgiving version of the narrative may believe that he was ill and indisposed, or cracked under the pressure, or simply wasn't ready for any responsibility. Those inclined to harshness may believe that Halfaeron was and continues to be a useless, feckless lout who abandoned his post and his brother-in-arms to catch butterflies. Very few believe that the incident was intentional or an act of treason.

Regardless of how one interprets Halfaeron's motivations at the time, few save one or two childhood friends and his own mother hold him in high regard, and he has become a living stain on his family's reputation after the war in late TA 3019. His mentor, Faeron, has unwittingly evaded criticism by virtue of continuing to serve the King's interests in Gondor and Mordor.

Other Details

The young man has an interest in woodworking and whittling, though if he has any talent, it is certainly latent. His woodcarvings were distressingly crude in his youth, and only the ones wrought after the War of the Ring are maybe passable in quality.