Elves and the Elements

[Inziladun]

Originally Posted by Andsigil

So, what are we to make of the elves' journey across Helcaraxë and all of the elven casualties, then? Is it reasonable to assume that there was supernatural cold to which the elves succumbed, or were all of the deaths due to shifting ice and drowning, polar bears, killer whales, etc?

I think "supernatural" enhancement might indeed have been a factor.

In ROTK Appendix A we are told of a race of Men who live in the far north of Middle-earth and appear to live like the Arctic Inuit, the Lossoth. They lived on the Cape of Forochel, and were said to be

....a strange, unfriendly people, remnant of the Forodwaith, Men of far-off days, accustomed to the bitter colds of the realm of Morgoth.

Morgoth, representing the opposite of the Fire of Ilúvatar, would have had more affinity for cold, and indeed the cold could have been a strategic weapon itself, making his stronghold more secure. The Lossoth, even after millenia, apparently still connected the cold of the area with evil, and even gave the Witch-king some credit for contributing to it.

[Belegorn]

Elves had greater control over their bodies which were hardier than Men's especially so as time went on.

It is said in Morgoth's Ring that, "in their earlier days death came more readily; for their bodies were less different from the bodies of men, and the command of their spirits over their bodies less complete." [p. 218] The dominance their spirits had over their bodies increased through time and they became a memory held by their spirits, they became deathless.

The Elves seemed to be nevertheless effected by different elements in Arda, like those introduced by Morgoth, such as death absent of violence to their physical bodies, see Míriel.