Oh, I could write an essay on this one... perhaps I shall, one post at a time.
Let's start with Aragorn. He had his desires: marry Arwen, reign as king in Gondor. But first: he roamed the countryside anonymously for decades, just Doing Good: guarding those who needed guarding, protecting those who needed protection, hunting the enemy wherever he found darkness. THen the hunt for Gollum. Then back to guarding hobbits. Then escorting the hobbits to Rivendell... THen departing from Arwen (yet again) to head for Minas Tirith and glory: but because of losing Gandalf as they passed through Moria, choosing to cross the Anduin with Frodo, and forsake all that. THen when Frodo slipped away with Sam-- Aragorn went in search of Merry and Pippin rather than go to Gondor as he had planned. Self-denial, self-sacrifice. There's one.
Eomer and Faramir and Boromir and yet More to come.
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...down to the water to see the elves dance and sing upon the midsummer's eve.
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