Frodo's Temptation; Aragorn's Resistance
Faithful of Numenor and the chief mark of royalty for the kingdom of Arnor was withheld. Aragorn had yet to earn the right to possess this heirloom.
His chance to show his mettle was at hand. For it was in this same year, 2951 of the Third Age, that Sauron declared himself openly and gathered power in Mordor. For thirty years following the revelation of his true heritage and his birthright, Aragorn "laboured in the cause against Sauron". To aid him in his travails, Gandalf the Grey, bearer of Narya, befriended him and strengthened his heart and his resolve to put right the troubles of Middle-earth. As Gandalf's companion, Aragorn grew in wisdom and skill in crafts and lore. Under the name of 'Thorongil', the Eagle of the Star, he rode with the Rohirrim and fought for the Lord of Gondor, Echthelion II, doing valiant deeds of arms against the men of Harad and the Corsairs of Umbar. When Gondor's victory over these foes was assured, rather reveal himself as Isildurs' heir and claim his kingdom, Aragorn traveled alone deep into the south and east to learn of the machinations of the Enemy in those lands, even braving to enter and reconnoiter the Land of Shadows, Mordor, which the Enemy had begun, once more, to fill with his thralls.
Aragorn II had been groomed since childhood by the Wise to assume the role he would undertake in adulthood as the heir of Elendil and the hope of all the free peoples of Middle-earth. He had been schooled by Elf-lords in both letters and arms. He came to know intimately all three bearers of the Elven rings of Power. Indeed, Elrond and Galadriel were members of his foster-family and Gandalf was his friend and mentor. Aragorn had full-knowledge of his doom and his duty. He was no shirker who feared his fate. He was the King-in-exile seeking with all his strength, wisdom and moral character to end the reign of Sauron and, by doing so, regain the throne of his forefathers. Taken altogether, Aragorn's resistance to the pernicious power of the Ring is not surprising. Rather, it is the most natural, logical result of his character and his upbringing.
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