Arwen's Mortality

[Morgoth Bauglir]

I still feel like it wasn't thought out enough. So at first i guess we decided they had to choose (and that wasnt even clear), but now that its decided by Elronds staying or leaving?

[Legolas]

They had to choose for themselves. The choice would simply dictate the action. It was certain that Elrond would leave. His departure date was the tentative "deadline" for his children's choice, though we see that Elladan and Elrohir took a little longer to decide. Appendix A, Lord of the Rings:

To him therefore was granted the same grace as to those of the High Elves that still lingered in Middle-earth: that when weary at last of the mortal lands they could take ship from the Grey Havens and pass into the Uttermost West; and this grace continued after the change of the world. But to the children of Elrond a choice was also appointed: to pass with him from the circles of the world; or if they remained, to become mortal and die in Middle-earth.

I think it was quite well planned. It has a greater purpose within the story. Letter No. 153:

The entering into Men of the Elven-strain is indeed represented as part of a Divine Plan for the ennoblement of the Human Race, from the beginning destined to replace the Elves.

[Raynor]

Originally Posted by Legolas

I think it was quite well planned. It has a greater purpose within the story. Letter No. 153:

I think we can view in the same line the prophecy of Melian, concerning Beren, who was the highly important to the above mentioned ennoblement:

Originally Posted by Of the coming of Men into the West

Now the world runs on swiftly to great tidings. And one of Men, even of Beor's house, shall indeed come, and the Girdle of Melian shall not restrain him, for doom greater than my power shall send him; and the songs that shall spring from that coming shall endure when all Middle-earth is changed.

[A_Brandybuck]

Another question is bothering me. Tolkien made clear, that Elladan, Elrohir and Arwen had to make their choices. They could delay their choice, but not for forever. But what if they don't choose?

Until the end of the Third Age they have (seemingly) lived like Elves. They have owned the youth of the Eldar and didn't age like mortal men. But they weren't Elves, but Half-Elves. They could live like the Eldar for all the time and delay their choice and delay their choice and delay their choice, if there is no force to choose. But what if there don't choose?

Or does their choice is bound to their behavior? I mean, could their choice can automatically derive from their decision to settle down in Middle-Earth or to leave Middle-Earth. The Elves are fading, the time of the Elves ends in Middle-Earth. Leaving Middle-Earth could only mean to choose to be among the Firstborn, but could staying mean to choose to be mortal?

[Elladan and Elrohir]

Well, we simply don't know the answer. The only unknowns, when it's all said and done, are Elladan and Elrohir. Tolkien says in his Letters, and Legolas (the Downer, not the Elf) alluded to it, that just because they didn't go with Elrond, didn't mean they were choosing mortality. They merely delayed their choice.

I would guess that if they remained in M-E past a certain point, that they would indeed become mortal. But what would that point be? Perhaps after the last ship had departed the Havens? But that's mere speculation.

[Raynor]

I was thinking about their choice this same day! Great minds think alike

I really wonder if there are some things that could invalidate such a choice; can you claim that you were drunk (or mad, or under spell, etc) when you made it and then have another go at it? is forced decision a reason to invalidate it? And if you can't invalidate it, can you at least get a second "life" in Middle-Earth, like Luthien & co? I have an evil feeling the answer to all this is no.

[Annatar!]

The whole point of the choice is that it is irrevocable. Elros was a Peredhil who chose to live as a mortal, albeit with a much extended life-span. Elrond chose to be among the immortal. The choice was then only extended into Elronds family. Why; because to choose the mortal path meant death in ME, to choose the immortal meant that at some point in time your life would continue in Aman, whether there was a time limit on your arrival in Aman is mere conjecture. The decision to become mortal is akin to the choice of Luthien; who chose to live a second life as a mortal and to die indeed, leaving the circles of the world forever.