[cellurdur]

Originally Posted by Morthoron

They were 29 years old when Elrond and Elros were born. That in no way indicates some kind of swift maturity, particularly when considering that in ancient eras girls bore children while in their early-to-mid teens. There is no indication that the Half-elven's maturity rate sped up and then slowed down, or that they died at all, unless you are referring to those who chose mortality like Elros and Arwen.

I am confused about your argument here. You acknowledge that Earendil and Elwing had children before they were 30 and then you claim there is no evidence that their maturity rate was quicker than elves. Elves only reach full maturity and the age of majority at 50. The Half-elven age like Men do at the early stage as can be seen by the kids they had at a very young age relative to elves. Secondly we know that their aging then slows down, because Elrond and Elros have exactly the same potential in life. Half-elves whether mortal or immortal don't age as we call it nor do they get diseases.

Elrond chose not to have a title that would indicate kingship or lordship, seemingly for political reasons. Although he could claim kingship of the Sindar through direct lineage to Elu Thingol, there was a large contingent of Noldor residing in Rivendell, and their kingship lay vacant since the death of Gil-Galad. Why exacerbate old wounds? Why refer to himself as a lord? He was Master of Rivendell and acknowledged leader of both Sindar and Noldor in that place.

Elrond did have a title that indicated Lordship. He was Lord of Rivendell. It's true he could claim the Kingship of the Sindar, but that seems to be something he never wanted to. With the death of Gil-galad there was nobody available to claim the High Kingship of the Noldor. Galadriel and Elrond, being either female or from the maternal line, were ineligible to claim it. Only direct male descendants from a paternal line could claim the High Kingship.

That being said, there is more to the term Elf Lord, than just being a Lord of the elves. Elrond certainly was a Lord of Elves. The title seems to mean not only a literal Lord of elves, but also an elf with a certain power and heritage. Elrond qualifies for every category except being a full Elf.

Politically astute, really, in the same way Galadriel did not refer to herself as a queen either. Was she an Elvish Queen? By both lineage and power she could certainly make the claim (after all, her father Finarfin was still king of the Noldor in Valinor), and don't believe she hadn't considered it:

"In place of a Dark Lord, you would have a queen! Not dark, but beautiful and terrible as the dawn! Treacherous as the sea! Stronger than the foundations of the earth! All shall love me, and despair!"

Galadriel as I addressed earlier could not make the claim to be the Queen of the Noldor. The Noldor only accepted kings through the male line. After the death of Gil-galad there is a possibility that they could then have accepted Celebrimbor, but that was not meant to be as Mandos prophecised.

By the way, Dior Eluchil was often referred to as Aranel, "The Noble Elf", not "Like a Noble Elf" or "Resembling a Noble Elf" or "Having Half the Appearance of a Noble Elf Half the Time".

This is an interesting point and something I will have to look into, but I cannot at the moment. You may be right, but then the nickname could have been when Beren was not yet a Man.