Aragorn

Strider is the alias of Aragorn, the "king" referred to in the third volume of The Lord of the Rings. The return of the king to Middle Earth is a long-hoped-for event. The decay and other problems facing the land are attributed to people who "had never heard of the king" or had rebelled against his rule.

Strider is chief of the Rangers, and as the foster son of Elrond of Rivendell, sets out on many adventures of knights-errantry under various names. Gandalf left a letter for Baggins to penetrate his guise, but the letter was delayed and the two nearly failed to meet. On old rhyme about All that is gold does not glitter establishes Strider as Aragorn, son of Arathorn.

The land of Gondor was ruled by a long line of stewards in the king's name, and his return was nearly thwarted by the arrogance of the last steward Denethor. He tried to kill his son Faramir and then committed suicide, throwing himself on a burning pyre which he set himself.

The handover of power was accomplished peacefully, upon Faramir's recovery. After Strider's marriage to Arwen, Faramir married Éowyn of the neighboring kingdom of Rohan.