Pedhir of Gondor

Pedhir grew up the son of a merchant in the port city of Pelargir. His father, Gladhedir, was a strict man (despite his namesake) and attempted to instill into both Pedhir and his younger brother, Braegnir, the desire to take up the family business after Gladhedir passed. For his entire life up until he was sixteen, Pedhir was expected to lead their family into further financial security.

It became apparent quite quickly, however, that the elder boy did not have the aptitude for business. Whether it was because he was often prone to simply giving things away rather than make people pay ("Oh for pity's sake, will you fall ill for being parted with a single apple, Father?") or just a general dislike for dealing with other business men ("Yes, Father, the man does have a sizable stock of items that we do not. And? He is an as-"), it was quite clear that young Pedhir's path lay elsewhere.

He had always known that he desired to help others, but it was not until he was sixteen winters did he finally come to his conclusion; he would join the Gondorian military and defend the lands of Gondor and all that lie West. For the next two years, he would train in Arnach to become a longbow man. It was here, strangely enough, that he would truly discover his love for the peace and quiet. He could perform well under pressure, but when all was still and naught could be heard but the wind in the leaves did he truly shine, his arrows singing songs of battles to come. He also found an albeit basic talent for mending injuries, which would greatly benefit both himself and his comrades in the future.

Finally, after two years, he was fully prepared to travel to Minas Tirith and join the city's archers. It was not long, however, that his talents earned him place among the Rangers of Ithilien. After a rather strange encounter, he came into possession his favored bow; an ornate, longbow made of Ipe that had turned to a silver color over the years that he decided to name Annellon.

Years later, he was injured in the Battle of Osgiliath, and was very nearly killed by a poison-tipped arrow. He would spend the next twelve days in the Houses of Healing only to awake to a cheerful air that he could not bring himself to share. His younger brother was there before him, as well as his father, telling him the news that the Dark Lord had been defeated. This sent a wave of relief through the ranger, though he knew there should have been a stronger reaction.

Once he was well enough to walk, he went without a second thought to see the devastation that had been wrought. He looked out across the Pelennor Fields to the ruined city where he had nearly been struck down and where so many of his comrades had lost their lives and then the suffocating weight of it all came crashing down upon him and he experienced his first anxiety attack.

He lived like this for months until it was finally noticed by his new captain. Pedhir was offered a choice; to continue to live in the pain and shadow that he still felt, or to be released of his oath to Gondor and to live out the rest of his days in peace. He chose the latter and was thus released from duty. The once-ranger made his way home to Pelargir to aid its reconstruction, but soon realized that he wished to see more with newly found oathlessness. After being assured by Braignir repeatedly that everything was under control at home now and he would happily take the responsibly of succeeding their father, Pedhir left to go Northwest to the land of Eriador and far away from the battlefield that remained in his mind as the lasting image of what was once his home.