Like his forefathers, he was raised by Elrond in Rivendell while his father Arador dwelt in the wild. He returned to Taurdal, one of the Dúnedain's largest villages in Eriador. At that time, his father mentored him on how to become a ranger and a noble chieftain. Sometime during the Dark Wars, Arathorn led a group of rangers to assist a huge number of refugees that were besieged by orcs. That was when he met Gilraen, who helped fight the orcs off which impressed him.