Elvish Mortality

[Gwaihir the Windlord]

So, if there is no evolution in ME...

Are you quite sure there wasn't? How old is Arda supposed to be? I would actually guess at millions and millions of years; the first few chapters in the Sil describe a past -- with Almaran etc. -- that may have existed a billion years ago. The Ainur, of course, could wait it out, and so a billion years of history does not need to be included in the annals.

In this huge timeframe (perhaps not quite a billion but rather less, perhaps more, but surely a very long time), could evolution not have existed? It may well have done. Perhaps some demi-divine intercession on the part of the Ainur was required for it, but it is possible that it did happen.

However, even if evolution is not present, the Quendi still do not fit in with the living world. Whether evolution exists or not, humans are part of a natural world and a cycle of things that Elves are not. Their closeness with nature comes from a love of the earth, of creation and of its beauty rather than an affinity with it.

Tinewelt, yes, all Eldar do have the sea-longing, although it needs to be awakened. Similar, I guess, to the human love of life. The paralell between our own inevitable departure to Illuvitar and the Elvish departure to Valinor is clear. The Elves belong in the Undying Lands, and we, although we have our roots here, belong with Eru.