Passing over the sea

[Legolas]

Just as in the case of Tuor, it's not just anyone who does a good deed that gets a passport to Valinor.

Gandalf only appeared to be a man...he was a Maia (1) (a Maia is a servant of the Valar; the Istari [wizards] (2) were Maiar sent in the form of old men to aid the people of Middle-earth in their fight against Sauron) and lived in Valinor with the Valar long before he came to Middle-earth, thus being welcomed back without hesitation. His stay in Middle-earth was never intended to be permanent. He was also a ring-bearer, bearing one of the three Elvish rings of power.

The exceptions were made for Bilbo, Frodo, and Sam because of the extreme importance of their roles in the destruction of the One Ring. Sure, others did important things, but had they failed, all of Middle-earth would've fallen under Shadow.

Gimli was granted the oppurtunity for being such a good friend of Legolas and Galadriel, and because of his role in the Fellowship.

An important note, though, is that these four (Sam, Frodo, Bilbo, and Gimli) were not granted immortality. They were simply allowed to travel to Valinor and reside there until their deaths.

Tolkien confirmed that they died after sailing to Valinor. It was explained in the thread titled 'What happened to Sam?' My reply, along with burra's, are really totally completely very undoubtedly conclusive. [img]smilies/cool.gif[/img]

Letter No. 154:

But in this story it is supposed that there may be certain rare exceptions or accommodations (legitimately supposed? there always seem to be exceptions); and so certain 'mortals', who have played some great part in Elvish affairs, may pass with the Elves to Elvenhome. Thus Frodo (by the express gift of Arwen) and Bilbo, and eventually Sam (as adumbrated by Frodo); and as a unique exception Gimli the Dwarf, as friend of Legolas and 'servant' of Galadriel.
I have said nothing about it in this book, but the mythical idea underlying is that for mortals, since their 'kind' cannot be changed for ever, this is strictly only a temporary reward: a healing and redress of suffering. They cannot abide for ever, and though they cannot return to mortal earth, they can and will 'die' – of free will, and leave the world.

More plainly, Letter No. 246

'Alas! there are some wounds that cannot be wholly cured', said Gandalf (III 268) – not in Middle-earth. Frodo was sent or allowed to pass over Sea to heal him – if that could be done, before he died. He would have eventually to 'pass away': no mortal could, or can, abide for ever on earth, or within Time. So he went both to a purgatory and to a reward, for a while: a period of reflection and peace and a gaining of a truer understanding of his position in littleness and in greatness, spent still in Time amid the natural beauty of 'Arda Unmarred', the Earth unspoiled by evil.

There is no reason to believe that Sam, Bilbo, or Gimli would suffer a different fate.

Letter No. 325

As for Frodo or other mortals, they could only dwell in Aman for a limited time - whether brief or long. The Valar had neither the power nor the right to confer 'immortality' upon them. Their sojourn was a 'purgatory', but one of peace and healing and they would eventually pass away (die at their own desire and of free will) to destinations of which the Elves knew nothing.

1 - If you don't know what a Maiar is, read the first post of the uh.. wots a maiar ???/ thread.

2 - If you want more information on wizards, read the chapter in Unfinished Tales devoted to the Istari only. If you really can't wait and don't want the pleasure and excitement of reading about them the way they were intended to be discovered by the author, there are numerous threads you can read to get an accurate conception. Try a search. Here's one that's good... Wizards. Take note of the posts by Bruce and myself.

[ August 13, 2002: Message edited by: Legalos ]