The Dúnedain Reunited?

"On the death of Ondoher and his sons, Arvedui of the North-kingdom claimed the crown of Gondor, as the direct descendant of Isildur, and as husband of Fíriel, only surviving child of Ondoher" (p. 329, The Return of the King). However, his claim was rejected by Gondor  This sentiment was led by Pelendur, the Steward of King Ondoher. Essentially, Gondor's stance was that their crown would only be given to descendants of Anarion, Isilidur's younger brother. They claimed Gondor was given for possesion of Anarion (and therefore his descendants) by Isilidur when the older brother moved North. In addition, the claim was made that the crown was reckoned through sons only in Gondor so the lineage of Fíriel made little difference.

"To this Arvedui replied: 'Elendil had two sons, of whom Isildur was the elder and heir of his father. We have heard that the name of Elendil stands to this day at the head of the line of Kings of Gondor, since he was accounted the high king of all the lands of the Dúnedain. While Elendil still lived, the conjoint rule in the South was committed to his sons; but when Elendil fell, Isildur departed to take up the high-kingship of his father, and committed the rule in the South in like manner to the son of his brother. He did not relinquish his royalty in Gondor, nor intend that the realm of Elendil should be divided forever. Moreover, in Númenor of old the sceptre descended to the eldest child of the king, whether man or woman. It is true the law has not been observed in the lands of exile ever troubled by war; but such was the law of our people, to which we now refer, seeing that the sons of Ondoher died childless" (p. 330, The Return of the King).

Gondor did not responded by giving the crown to Earnil who had won the victory of the Battle of the Camp and saved Gondor. Furthermore he was of royal lineage. "Arvedui did not press his claim; for he had neither the power nor the will to oppose the choice of the Dúnedain of Gondor; yet the claim was never forgotten by his descendants even when their kingship had passed away. For the time was now drawing near when the North-kingdom would come to an end" (p. 330, The Return of the King). Looks like the goodwill initially forged between the Northern and Southern Dúnedain did not come to fruition after all. Indeed, Arvedui would be the last King of the North as prophesied by Malbeth the Seer at his birth who foretold that Arvedui would be the last if the Northern and Southern kingdoms did not unite. "'If not, then much sorrow and many lives of men shall pass, until the Dúnedain arise and are united again" (p. 330, The Return of the King).

Middle-earth timeline: Third Age, circa 1944
Today's reading comes from: The Return of the King, pages 329-330