Bloodlines

[NightKnight]

Originally Posted by Dûrbelethwen

I have noticed that it seems like Aragorn is second in command to Gandulf in the company of the Ring. Even above Legolas. I wondered if it had anything to do with his Maian ancestry?

I think it was rather his ancestry from Elendil/Isildur and the kings of Arnor and Gondor than his maian ancestry. But most of all I think it was that he was an experienced ranger, and he had walked in the Wild for many years. Legolas was of a royal family, just like Gimli (more distant though) and Boromir (in a way), but I think that it was his experience that gave him the lead. Also, when Legolas and Gimli are talking to Merry and Pippin in Minas Tirith about the Paths of the Dead, one of them (Legolas, I think) says that it was the Grey Squadron's love for Aragorn that kept them going. He was definately a leader, so why not.
Faramir wondered why Aragorn led the company, and not Boromir. But he also answered it: Boromir must have acknowledged who Aragorn was, the rightful king of Gondor and Arnor.