Fascinating thread, Yavanna Kementari. This seems especially difficult for me to answer because Luthien and Arwen were both female, and they are the ONLY ones who choose mortality for reasons of love. Elros chose mortality, but I'm not sure why. Some say that love is stronger than death, and others say that if you have never loved, you have not really lived.
Arwen Imladris, I don't think marriage per se has much to do with this question. We are talking about true love. If I were in Middle Earth and found the one love without whom I would rather die, I think that about says it; I would choose mortality if my true love was mortal. Yes, the loss of family ties would be a great grief, but it would be a greater to be forever separated from that one being with whom I was meant to be ONE. And there is always the hope of reunion beyond the veils of death. I guess this wasn't so hard to answer after all.
Hmm... do you suppose that's why Arwen so quickly gave up her life after Aragorn's death?
[ January 05, 2003: Message edited by: littlemanpoet ]
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