Hiligan was born to a normal family of the rohirrim- his father was a farmer/soldier-at-need and his mother a house-wife, and both were hard-working. Shortly after Hiligan’s younger sister, Rynwyn, was born, (he was eight years old) his father went to battle and never returned. Reports came back that he had fallen, and his body burned on the field of battle. Hiligan took his father’s place as guardian of the house and became a very able warrior, teaching his sister how to use a sword. Years passed, then during one fateful battle, his small batallion was overcome by orcs and his arm was hewn off. Afterwards he fell into a depression, convinced that he was useless, and going so far as to give up his father’s sword to his sister.

Finally Rynwyn managed to convince him to stop moping, and he began to practice once again, learning to fight with only one hand to him. He is still an able warrior, but he didn’t take back his father’s sword, still too ashamed to call himself the house’s guardian.

When his sister fell in love with an elf, Hiligan was not approving. The elf (Glorfindel) proved to be a great friend, though, and so Hiligan relented in the end.