Gandalf a "steward?"

[davem]

Isildur AND Anárion were Kings of Gondor. Possibly, it would have been most proper and correct for Gondor to have remained a Dual Monarchy. After all, there were two thrones set side by side under the Dome in Osgiliath. Although Pelendur makes a good case for the Line of Isildur having forfeited its rights as Kings of Gondor, this is not demonstrably provable from the texts we have in the Appendices, Unfinished Tales, and elsewhere. All that we can DEFINITELY see is that Isildur didn't neglect his inheritance of Arnor.

As I said, 'Not Proven'. Hence, to be decided - & not by the Heir of Isildur, Gandalf, Manwe or Illuvatar, but by the Council & people of Gondor. Do you see Gandalf being able to impose Aragorn on the people of Gondor if they didn't want him? He could only become king when the people accepted him. And I have to say that if Arvedui had turned up in Gondor, with the history of Arnor behind him, I'm not sure the Gondorians would have welcomed him with open arms. The Arnorian kings were just not all that impressive a prospect. For all Pelendur's arguments I think he was just stating the simple truth in a roundabout way - the Arnorians weren't wanted. I can see that Pelendur's arguments are maybe not watertight, but I can also see a good reason for the Gondorians to want to keep the Arnorian kings away from sharp objects not to mention the Throne of Gondor....