Middle Earth "afterlife"

[Gothmog]

OK Legolas, it's a question of what one mean by "choose mortality". I agree that it's not something every elf can do or are allowed to do, all I meant was that there are exceptions where it has happpened. So one can say yes, sometimes under very special conditions elves can choose mortality. Or one can say no, elves (as in ordinary/most elves) can not choose mortality. Let's leave it with that...

Half-elves are mortal by default - Manwe had previously made a decree that any being with any mortal blood was mortal

Shouldn't that mean that for example Elwing was mortal? Beren was 100% man and Luthien half-elven, half-maia and became mortal, so their son Dior should be half-elven. He married Nimloth (100 % elf) and that would make Elwing 1/4 man (of course she was 100% woman, but you know what I mean ) and by that mortal blood she would become mortal. I've always considered her an elf!