> > Hang on. I just remembered that Aragorn grew
> >up in Rivendell and therefore probably put the
> >sword on display himself.
>
> Except that if I remember correctly, the prologue to Fellowship shows Elrond picking up the broken sword after the fight with Sauron, strongly suggesting that the elves, not the decendents of Isildur, have had the sword the whole time.

I was re-reading Fellowship and there is some interesting stuff in the Council of Elrond chapter about the sword. Chiefly: after Isildur perished, the sword was returned to Imladris/Rivendell because Isildur's heir was a child. So it seems reasonable that the sword stayed either in Rivendell or at the very least in what remained of the northern realm of Arnor (the realm of Men founded at about the same time as Gondor).

What's also important is that the Men of Gondor don't seem to know about the sword at all! Consider Boromir recounting the dream he and Faramir had:

"In that dream I thought the eastern sky grew dark and there was a growing thunder, but in the West a pale light lingered, and out of it I heard a voice, remote but clear, crying:

Seek for the sword that was broken:
In Imladris it dwells;

. . .

Of these words we could understand little, and we spoke to our father, Denethor, Lord of Minas Tirith, wise in the lore of Gondor. Theis only would he say, that Imladris was of old the name among elves of a far northern dale, where Elrond and Halfelven dwelt, greatest of lore-masters."

The implication seems to be that neither Boromir nor Faramir know what Imladris is or what the sword is. In fact, Boromir seems surprised to learn that the sword in his dream is the sword of Elendil. That Aragorn has a sword which he claims is Elendil's seems to impress Boromir less than the fact that Elrond confirms Aragorn's identity. In this regard, simple possession of the sword would seem to prove very little about Aragorn's claim to the throne.

In "Return of the King," Aragorn's claim is established by a few things other than just having a sword. In the chapter "The Battle of Pelennor Fields" Aragorn makes a stunning entrance, sailing on a ship with a standard that beared the White Tree of Gondor, and above it a crown made of mithril. In the next chapter ("The Houses of Healing"), Aragorn fulfils a minor prophecy by healing Faramir. When Faramir awakes, "a light of knowledge of and love was kindled in his eyes" and he recognizes Aragorn immediately as king. Eomer already recognizes him as such, and since by this time Faramir is the Steward of Gondor, it seems there is no real contention to Aragorn's claim. This is without his having to present the sword.

I think that even if Aragorn doesn't carry the sword with him, his claim as Isildur's heir is a pretty strong one.

Stephen