Not much is known about Arion's early life, except that as a Prince of the Elves he would have been raised in the palace at Arborlon. Prior to the events of the Shannara Chronicles, Arion's brother Aine was killed at the hands of the Gnome assassin Slanter, making Arion the new heir to the throne. His brother Ander, wracked by guilt, turned to alcohol to cope. Ander's relationship with Commander Diana Tilton suffered due to his behavior, and as a result Diana left him and moved on to a relationship with Arion.