The Ring of Barahir

Frodo had awakened, and appeared to be much like his old self again. He was met with many cheers and greetings, and it took a while before he found the time to speak with Severus. 'I cannot thank you enough,' said Frodo. 'Gandalf has told me the tale of what happened, starting from when we left Hobbiton up till now.'

'You're welcome,' said Severus stiffly, unsure of how to handle the gratitude. 'I believe you have awoken just in time for the feast that's being held in your honour.'

'As is the Hobbit's way,' Frodo laughed. 'I feel I could sing, so beautiful is the place in which we have arrived! Do accompany me at the table, Severus. It would be my honour to have you beside me as a friend.'

The ringing of many clear bells summoned everyone to Elrond's house. Inside they found a long table, and Elrond sat in a great chair at the end upon the dais, accompanied by Gandalf to his left, and Glorfindel to his right. 'I never thought I'd see Gandalf appear this wise,' said Frodo. 'In the Shire, he's mostly considered to be a disturber of the peace – but a welcome one, as he always brings the best fireworks. I do wonder, who is that fair lady sitting beside you? My eyes have never seen such beauty before.'

Severus had only seen her briefly when Strider had gone up to her. He hadn't given it much thought then, but now that he got a better look, it appeared that she was no ordinary Elf. Her long dark hair was woven into braids, and her grey eyes glistered as the stars. Her mere presence was as captivating as a dancing Veela. 'You must be Elrond's daughter,' he said softly.

'I am indeed,' she said to him in a calm and soothing voice. 'I am Arwen, and I have returned from the land of my mother's kin but recent. It is my greatest joy to see such a merry group of People joined here in my father's home. It has been too long.'

As Arwen spoke, Severus' eyes travelled down from her gaze to her gentle fingers, and there he found a Ring he had not seen before. It was fashioned of two silver snakes. Their eyes were made of emeralds, and their heads upheld a crown of flowers that one wore and the other devoured. 'It is the Ring of Barahir,' she said, noticing his interest. 'It was made by Finrod Felagund, who was my grandmother Galadriel's brother, and gave it to Barahir, Chieftain of the House of Bëor, as a reward for saving his life.'

'I have seen this symbol before,' said Severus, and he felt his heart starting to pound in his chest. It was the same image he had seen in the form of a locket, worn around the Dark Lord's neck.

'That may be,' said Arwen. 'This Ring is older, much older, than the four Rings of Power, and has been passed on through many generations and lordships until it reached the Chieftains of the Dúnedain. Along the way, a pendant was fashioned by Soron Rá; a predecessor of the great Dwarven smith Telchar of Nogrod. The pendant was made for a prince who was never meant to be king. It relates to a legend among Elves that my grandmother is very fond of telling.'

'What legend, exactly?' asked Severus.

'It is a long story,' said Arwen, 'and among Elves we call it the Legend of Rowena. Rowena was one of the Elves that dwelled in Lothlórien, and she disappeared over a thousand years ago.'

'Rowena,' Severus repeated. He thought back to how his mother had told him of his ancestry, and the story of how the Prince name came to be. He knew Rowena Ravenclaw was his ancestor, as well as the Bloody Baron. Whether Arwen was speaking of the same Rowena however, he wasn't entirely sure. 'Would you like to share the rest of the legend with me?' he asked.

'It would be my pleasure,' said Arwen. 'Rowena was a dear friend to my grandmother. She held wisdom higher than most, and she had a special gift that she was revered for. She could speak with the birds, and the birds would tell her of all that was happening outside the boundaries of Lothlórien. She had an insatiable lust for knowledge, and she could frequently be found near the borders of the land, turning her gaze far beyond the horizon. One day, the ravens had told her of a woman on horseback, who had set out from Rohan, was approaching the borders. Intrigued, she went to the forest to meet her there. The woman's name was Helga, and she was one of the Rohirrim. They formed a great friendship, and for the first time in the history of Lothlórien, a mortal and her horse had been permitted to enter the woods.'

At Arwen's mention of Helga, it became clear to Severus that she was telling the story of the Hogwarts founders. It made him feel restless, as the history of Rowena was always shrouded in mystery, and that the rumours of her never having been a witch at all were suddenly becoming very real.

'It was within Lothlórien that Helga was the first to receive a vision from Irmo the Vala,' Arwen continued. 'He showed her the Great Sea on the Western shore, and of a ship that would carry her beyond the edges of Arda. She spoke with Galadriel about what she had seen, and it was then that my grandmother named her horse Felagund. Felagund means badger, in the ancient Quenya tongue. Felagund, as I mentioned, was also the honorary name of Finrod, given to him by the Dwarves, which to them meant Maker of Caves. It was a high honour bestowed on Helga, for her horse would now lead her to the place Irmo had envisioned for her. It was not long after Helga had gone to the West, that Rowena became the second to have a vision. Vairë the Vala had spoken to her in a dream. In her dream she walked passed the tapestries of her life, and she saw herself standing beside three other People by the Grey Havens. A ship with high sails was awaiting them there to leave the shore, and she knew in her heart that once she would set foot upon that ship, she would never return. It was after her dream that the ravens came again to her baring great news. Iarwain Ben-Adar, a man you have come to know as Tom Bombadil, was awaiting her in the same place where she had once met Helga. He told her he was to give her a new name; Crabannamma, as he had also given Helga her new name; Heri i Súrë. With this name, she could call upon Gwaihir, Lord of Eagles, to come and take her on her journey.'

'What do the names mean?' asked Severus.

'It is not easy to translate, but Crabannamma in Quenya means corvid talon, or raven claw,' said Arwen, 'and Heri i Súrë means Lady of the Wind. His reasoning for given them their names is unknown to all. After Iarwain Ben-Adar had gone, she called upon Gwaihir, and he came along with his flock to take her on her journey. The Great Eagles were created by Manwë, Lord of the Valar. They act as his messengers and spies, and they can see through all physical matter. It was how Gwaihir was able to find what she was looking for by the East bank of the River Lune. It was there that she found Helga, along with a man she had not seen before. He introduced himself as Hlimbé Lócë, the name given to him by Iarwain, but his true name was Salazar. The second son to the King, and with whose brother he did not share the same mother.'

The Dark Lord's ancestor, Severus thought to himself. It was strange to think about, knowing that the Dark Lord's and his own history were tied to Middle-earth, and he wondered if he was aware of their unusual ancestry. 'A prince who was never meant to be King,' Severus repeated to her. 'Could he speak with snakes?'

'Yes,' said Arwen. 'Through all the long lines of Kings, it is easy to forget the power of our own mothers. So many have gone unnamed, and yet more often we grow into their image instead of our fathers. And so it was also with Salazar, whose own mother was one of the Black Númenórians, and from whom he learnt to speak with snakes. A talent, his brother did not have.'

'Black Númenórians?' asked Severus.

'They became so after Sauron was brought as a captive to Númenor,' said Arwen. 'They listened to his words, for Sauron knew how to reach those who spoke with a serpents tongue. From then on they worshipped the Darkness and its lords, and became slaves to his power. You have met a few of these lords, for some of them have become the Nazgûl. Hlimbé Lócë means exactly that, a slippery snake. He had longed for the Ring of Barahir, which was passed on to his brother instead. And still, there was light in him also. He had formed a deep and lasting friendship with Helga and Rowena, and the Eagles of Manwë carried them over the River Lune and left them at the foot of the Blue Mountians so they could continue their long journey. In these mountains, they were to find one of Telchar's descendants, who was once herald as the greatest of Dwarven smiths. The dwarf Iarwain had named Soron Rá, and he too had received a vision from one of the Valar. Aulë the Smith had shown him the arrival of three People at the gates of his mountain, and that with them he would sail across the ocean to a land with mountains unknown to him. He had been given a task by Aulë, for he was to forge them gifts, three for them, and one for himself, to carry across the sea. For Helga he devised a chalice that would prolong her life if she drank from it. For Rowena, he crafted a crown that would retain her ability to speak with the birds and her connection with the Valar, for she did not want to loose the connection to their wisdom. For himself, he forged a sword so great it could remember the power of that which it was wielded against, and grow stronger with each blow it made. And as for Salazar, for him Soron Rá fashioned a locket in the image of the Ring of Barahir, for despite his jealousy of his brother's inheritance, he held great love for his family also. It was meant to carry his soul, so he would not have to feel the pain for leaving his loved ones behind. After the creation of their gifts, the four travellers made their way to the Grey Havens, where they were met with Círdan the Shipwright. They boarded the ship they had seen in their visions, and from thereon they set sail to a new world. They were never heard from again, and none knew what happened to them – until now.'

'I have seen his sword,' said Severus. 'Godric was his true name.'

'Glorfindel knew something was special about you as soon as he saw you,' said Arwen with a smile. 'He could see it in your eyes. You have Rowena's eyes. You came from the place where the four travellers have gone to.'

'I knew Rowena was one of my ancestors,' said Severus, 'but I did not know she was from here until you told me this tale. And an Elf nonetheless, though I don't believe that there is much of that left in me. How did the Ring of Barahir come to you? Does it hold any special powers?'

Arwen did not need to tell him, for Strider had entered the room, and her eyes gazed up at him with love. He had donned his usual Ranger garments, and was dressed in dark green cloth. 'Isildur's heir,' said Severus. 'I know he is, for he told me about the story of Narsil on our journey here, but he has not told me his name.'

'Aragorn, son of Arathorn,' said Arwen. 'The true King of Gondor and Arnor. And as for the Ring for Barahir – it holds the power of that which you believe it holds.'

Before Severus could say anything, the People at the table stood up, and the food on the platter before him was lying entirely forgotten. His mind was once again swirling with information. The story of the four founding members of Hogwarts had suddenly grown much larger than he had ever read about in Hogwarts: A History, and the story of Rowena had put a strain on his mind most of all. He knew his mother didn't know, and perhaps the mystery surrounding Rowena's true heritage had always meant to stay hidden, just how Helga's, Godric's and Salazar's true heritage had remained hidden. Knowing he was a descendant from Rowena Ravenclaw was something he never told Lily about, deeming it unnecessary when she was only trying to figure out what it meant to be a witch herself. He regretted it now, for she had a way to help him untangle the struggles of his mind, and wanted nothing more than to speak to her about all this.

Frodo was still happily chatting away with Glóin as the group of People followed Elrond and Arwen to another room, which Severus learnt was named the Hall of Fire. A single fire burned in the hearth, and soon he realised that the room was specifically made as a place to merely sit and think and for stories to be shared. He saw Aragorn sitting beside Arwen, and under his dark green cloak he revealed to be wearing elven-mail, and a star shone upon his breast. As Bilbo started singing a song about Eärendil the Mariner, his mind wandered off again to the Hogwarts founders. Was there a reason he had been sorted into Slytherin's House instead of Ravenclaw's? He knew that the Prince line had been represented throughout all four Houses over the centuries, and that a House were merely there to help you reach your best potential. He had really wanted to be in Slytherin, mainly because his mother had also been in Slytherin, as had the whole Black line before her. And then there was the whole story of Slytherin's locket and its relation to the Ring of Barahir. Helga Hufflepuff, too, had been a part of it all, as was Godric Gryffindor, who turned out to be a Dwarf rather than a wizard. He had seen the Sword of Gryffindor up in the Headmaster's office. The first time was shortly after the incident with the Marauders in the Shrieking Shack, where he was made to shake hands over the fact that he would never reveal Remus Lupin's dark secret. The second time was right after the first Christmas he had spent as Malfoy Manor, where the Obscurus inside him had been revealed. The last time he had lost count how many times he had been at the Headmaster's office, but he knew the mission Dumbledore had given him was going to leave a mark on his arm he could never return from. The troubles with the Dark Lord seemed so far away, and yet he would trade all that he learnt about Arda and his own history that tied to it, if it meant finding his way back to Lily, and a way back home.

Bilbo was nearing the end of his song, and by the sound of gentle footsteps Severus could hear someone stood before him. 'Come with me,' said Glorfindel, and held out his hand. 'There is a restlessness in you that the merrymaking of Elven-songs cannot help you with.'

Severus took his hand gladly, and followed him out of Elrond's House. The sun had disappeared behind the mountains, and the cool autumn air felt welcoming as it cloaked him. 'You knew,' said Severus. 'You knew about Rowena the moment you looked me in the eye for the first time.'

'The Legend of Rowena holds a special place in all Elven hearts,' said Glorfindel. 'To learn that she had a life after her disappearance is a comfort to us all. So tell me, Severus, what do you know of Rowena's life in your world?'

'I'm not sure if you want to know this,' said Severus, 'for it ends in tragedy.'

'Tragedy is more often the end for us than it is not,' said Glorfindel. 'I do not fear what you are willing to share with me.'

'She fell in love with a Wizard,' said Severus, 'but unfortunately his name remains unknown, for he died before their daughter was born. Many years later, her daughter, Helena, stole the very crown from her mother that Arwen has told me was made by Godric. Unbeknownst to Rowena, she ordered the one man who held a secret obsession for Helena to go after her and find her. He murdered Helena after she gave birth to their son, and left the boy on Helga's doorsteps. He ended his own life shortly afterwards. The Prince line was born from that boy, for his father was a true prince that was abandoned by the royal family. Not unlike Salazar, who was also a prince who was never meant to be King. As for Rowena, she died of a broken heart after burying her daughter.'

'It is tragic indeed,' said Glorfindel. 'But remember, it is knowledge to see only tragedy, but it is wisdom to to see all moments of love that were involved.'

...o0o…

'No, we're not invited either,' said Pippin with a shrug. 'The Council is being held for Frodo and his Ring. It's of utter importance, and top secret!'

'Definitely not something us mere commoners are meant to be a part of,' Merry added with a nod.

'Keep your voices down!' shushed Sam.

'Hmm,' said Severus, 'that explains why you dragged me out here into a bush – to listen in.'

'Oh as if you're not the least bit interested,' said Merry. 'Lord Elrond is currently telling the Tale of how The Ring came to be when it was forged in the Second Age.'

'Who is that man?' said Severus. 'The tall one with the fur-lined cloak?'

'That's Boromir,' said Pippin. 'He's the eldest son to the Steward of Gondor, and arrived here early in the morning.'

Severus looked around at all the other People that were present. The sons of Kings and great leaders. Wise men and advisors. Those who carried the heavy weight of responsibility upon their shoulders, and Frodo and Bilbo seemed oddly small and out of place among them. Elrond continued the story of how Narsil broke as Isildur cut the Ring from Sauron's hand, and of allegiances of Elves and Men that were diminished. Boromir spoke too, and he spoke of the rising fires that were awakening at Mount Doom and the allies Mordor had formed. More interestingly so, he spoke of a vision that he had had, and his brother also, of an Eastern sky growing dark with thunder, and a pale light lingering in the West.

The idea of visions brought Severus back to the time he had spent up in Dumbledore's office. After meeting the Dark Lord for the first time, Dumbledore had been determined to teach him Occlumency and Legilimency. Visions know many forms, Dumbledore had told him. The visions of the centaurs were not to be equated with the visions of rare but true Seers. There are visions of the past, not only how we once remembered a certain happening, but also how we wished for things to have been. Looking inside the minds of people could therefore be altered and untrue – and it took great determination to look through the many layers of one's mind through the means of Legilimency. A way to separate fact from fiction. Symbols from true forms. Future happenings from wishful thinking. Boromir's vision appeared to have been made in riddles, and one by one the words were falling into place as Aragorn showed the broken sword before him, and Frodo brought forth what was named Isildur's Bane.

'You can sense its very darkness from here,' huffed Merry.

Severus had to agree. It was as if a dark cloud lingered above the Ring. A feeling that made you want to be as far way from it as possible, and yet it also drew you in in a way you could not tear your eyes away from it. He listened attentively to Bilbo's retelling of his adventure with the Dwarves, and how he had come to find the Ring in the hands of a creature named Gollum. It was then Frodo's turn to tell the tale of the journey he had taken from Bag End to Rivendell, and left no details spared when it came to their encounter with the Black Riders. Gandalf rose, after that, and he told the tale of his encounter with Saruman the White, and how his cloak had turned the other way.

It intrigued Severus to hear about an important Wizard having turned into a turncloak, especially after learning how important the words of the Valar were not to rule over the Peoples of Middle-earth. Even those who were old and wise were not liberated from the temptation of power, and for a brief moment he wondered if Lily even knew there were Wizards roaming these lands.

'Ash nazg durbatulûk, ash nazg gimbatul, ash nazg thrakatulûk, agh burzum-ishi krimpatul.'

The sky darkened as Gandalf spoke the words in Black Speech that were carved into the Ring. Through a small opening in the bush he was hiding in, he could see Gandalf's pale blue eyes gazing towards him. 'One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them, One Ring to bring them all and in the Darkness bind them,' said Gandalf, and turned his gaze away.

You cannot keep forcing me out of your mind forever, Severus.

Severus heard Gandalf's voice echo through his mind, as well as hear his voice talk about the creature Gollum to the Council, and how Gwaihir the Lord of Eagles had taken him to Rohan.

I'm rather proud of my ability to keep the voices out, Severus thought back.

The carvings on the One Ring speak of binding the Four Rings of Power to its will, said Gandalf. You must understand, Severus, that you have merely scraped the very surface of all that is bound to head our way, and to you – especially.

I don't understand, said Severus.

Time will tell, said Gandalf. For now, let what is coming to be a wise lesson to all.'

The lengthy conversation that had taken place till noon had diminished. Many proposals on what to do with the Ring had been unearthed and reburied, and a sense of dread lingered on all who were presented with the Ring.

'I will take the Ring,' said Frodo after a great stillness, 'though I do not know the way.'

The three Hobbits around Severus gasped for air. 'Did he truly just volunteer to take the bloody thing to Mordor?' squeaked Merry.

'Well, he is the only one standing,' said Pippin.

'Out of my way!' said Sam suddenly. With a rough push he shoved Severus and the other Hobbits to the side, and jumped out of the bush. 'For sure, he will not walk this treacherous road alone!'

...o0o…

'What brought you out here, on this fine evening?' asked Elrond.

Severus had found a secluded terrace, and sat on a bench gazing up at the stars. 'Today is an important day for my people,' he said without looking away. 'I met Lily on this day, and for the eight years that followed we have not failed to spend this day together – until day.'

'Is it sorrow in your heart I see?' asked Elrond as he sat beside Severus.

'I don't know if it's sorrow,' said Severus, 'or whether I'm just reminiscing in the memories. It's this particular star up there,' he said as he pointed up at the sky, 'that made me recall.'

'Are you willing to share with me what it means to you?' asked Elrond.

'Perhaps you can help me shed some light on something that has been on my mind for a very long time,' said Severus. 'Where I'm from, at school, we have Astronomy lessons. We learn all about the heavenly bodies and their names. Lily and I have found ourselves quite often at the top of the Astronomy Tower, looking up at the stars, trying to recall their names in order to memorise them for our lessons. We did so, during our first year at school on this particular day, and were met with a shower of falling stars. By tradition, we made silent wishes to ourselves.'

'And did any of your wishes come true?' asked Elrond, who seemed to be intrigued by the story.

'I asked for Lily to be by my side, always,' he said. 'I never told her, as it is said that wishes don't come true if you tell on them. I think it's more superstition than anything else, but we never shared what we wished for to each other. And I made another wish, that I wanted to be far away from everything. As far as possible from it all. Things were, and probably still are, not well in my home. I wanted to run away from it, and never come back. They're very contradicting wishes, as Lily is very much my home as well. I don't know if I believe in it, but it feels as though the stars have made their choice for me.'

'You have come a long way indeed,' said Elrond, 'but a wish is just a wish until you act on it. And what of all the other years? What makes the star you pointed at so special to you?'

'On this day,' Severus explained, 'during our second year at school, we went into the Forbidden Forest in search of adventure. We were met with a group of centaurs. Do you know what a centaur is?'

Elrond shook his head. 'Enlighten me.'

'They are star-gazing beings,' said Severus. 'They predict the future by the alignments of the stars and planets. They normally don't appreciate people coming into their den, but since we were young they chose not to be violent. One centaur spoke in riddles to what the position of Saturn meant for the two of us, but it wasn't until he pulled me aside and spoke to me alone about something that I did not understand, until I arrived here in Middle-earth. He told me that some day I will gaze upon the stars, and that a star that I cannot see will appear before me when I am in a place far away from home. I know the stars and their place by heart. That star I just pointed at, I have never seen it before, meaning that the star the centaur spoke of has revealed itself to me.'

'It holds a beautiful story,' said Elrond, 'the star we are gazing at. It is known as the Evening Star, and it is the Star of Eärendil the Halfelven, my father.'

'The one Bilbo sang about in the Hall of Fire?' said Severus.

'The very same,' said Elrond. 'Bilbo sang the story of my father's life, and how he came to sail into the sky on his ship named Vingilot after he slayed Ancalagon the Black, the greatest dragon that ever lived. The lantern on the ship is a Silmaril, which he got from my mother, Elwing, who had inherited it through her grandparents, Beren and Lúthien. He is there, on his ship with the Silmaril, to guard the Sun and Moon.'

'I'm familiar with their story,' said Severus. 'Beren and Lúthien, I mean. Strider, or perhaps I should say Aragorn, has told us about them on our journey here. How strange must it be, to know that it is your father up there.'

'I remember very little of him,' said Elrond. 'My brother Elros and I were raised by Maglor, the second son of Fëanor, who found us and captured us in the Havens of Sirion shortly before the Second Kinslaying. He raised us as his own, and once we were old enough to be on our own, we left him to travel to Lindon. He remained by the sea, lamenting the loss of another Silmaril he had cast into the ocean. He has then since faded from memory, but it is said that his song can still be heard in the waves that crash against the shore. As for my father, up there, it has been prophesied in the Second Prophecy of Mandos that he shall return from the sky for the love of the Sun and the Moon that Melkor would fade out from the sky, and that he shall fight in the Dagor Dagorath. The Dagor Dagorath is the Battle of all Battles, or more simply put – The End. I can only hope to meet him there.'

'What an extraordinary life it must be to be an Elf, and to live so long,' said Severus.

'If my daughter has taught you well on the Story of Rowena,' said Elrond, 'then in your heart you must know what it means to be an Elf.'

'I have grown to understand that I am many things,' said Severus. 'I am a Wizard, above all. But I am also a Muggle, English and Indian, a Prince and an Elf. I am made of up half things that form a whole, and yet I don't feel whole.' For the first time he tore his eyes away from the silmaril in the sky and looked at Elrond, who appeared to be holding two silver goblets in his hands.

'We are never whole, when we feel we are alone,' said Elrond as he handed Severus a goblet, and stood up from the bench. 'I shall leave you to your own thoughts. Enjoy your drink, as it is the very first pour of the season. I bid you a good night.'

Severus watched Elrond walk away, and his mind drifted off to the Hallowe'ens he had spent with Lily. Being served all they could eat and more by the House-elves in the kitchens of Hogwarts. The Hebridean Black they had encountered during their fourth year, and how she had rested her head against his chest so peacefully before they were brutally disrupted. Their fifth year, and how determined he was to teach her all the defensive spells he knew and more, knowing that the Dark Lord was on the rise and Werewolves were roaming the castle. And then there was their sixth year. Hiding in the Room of Requirement, and yet he had brought up two goblets of pumpkin juice because he couldn't shake the feeling that he was going to meet with Lily before the end of the day. He had thought of her before entering the Room, and for the first time he was met with the Mirror of Erised. He understood what the words engraved above the mirror had meant, as he saw himself standing there with Lily without her being present in the Room. He had shed tears at the sight of it, and it wasn't long after that that the real Lily appeared behind him, just as he had expected. He had cupped her face into his hands, and as much as he had wanted to kiss her on her lips, it would only shatter his heart had he done it.

He felt the tears rise up in him again, and took a sip from the goblet Elrond had handed him. As soon as he tasted the pumpkin juice, he couldn't help but start laughing. Cheers to you, Lily, he thought to himself, and raised his goblet up to the sky, and happy Hallowe'en.

A/N The gathering at the Hall of Fire happens on the 24th of October 3018 and the Council of Elrond is held on the 25th of October 3018. Contrary to what the movies made it seem, the official company of the Ring is not formed until December 18th, and the Fellowship does not leave Rivendell until December 25th.

A/N Galadriel is Arwen's grandmother (the movies didn't make this very clear). Elrond married Galadriel's daughter Celebrían, whose background story I will elaborate a bit more on in another chapter.
As for Finrod "Felagund"...if you read chapter 18, you may remember that the name was mentioned before. Felagund was an honorary name given to Finrod by the Dwarves, which to them meant Maker of Caves.

A/N Ring of Barahir line: Finrod (In the Years of the Trees) → Barahir → Beren → Dior → Elwing → Elros (mortal twin brother of Elrond) → Tar-Amandil → Tar-Elendil → Silmariën (a princess of Númenór) → Lords of Andúnië (19 generations) → Kings of Arnor (27 generations) → Kings of Arthedain (15 generations) → Chieftains of the Dúnedain (15 generations) → Aragorn II Ellesar (16th Chieftain) who gave the Ring as a promise of betrothal to Arwen.
Aragorn and Arwen are technically related, as Aragorn is a very (very very very) distant relative to Elrond's brother Elros. Aragorn therefore has a drop of Elf blood in him.

A/N It's not canon that Rowena created the Room of Requirement, but since Slytherin made the Chamber of Secrets and Helga made the kitchens, I'd like to believe the founders all left their personal touch inside the castle. The fact that her crown was hidden there makes it even better and somewhat plausible.

A/N Food is the first of the five Principle Exceptions to Gamp's Law of Elemental Transfiguration. This is why the goblets filled with pumpkin juice could not be summoned inside the Room of Requirement, and in canon it's why Neville had to have a secret passage to the Hog's Head.