One Silmaril

[Sister Golden Hair]

This thought comes from another topic at another place, but it got me thinking. Could Yavanna have brought back the Two Trees if Feanor had granted her just one Silmaril? Would the light have been enough with just one?

[Eagle of the Star]

I often wondered the same thing, especially the first time I was reading the Silmarillion and came to Earendil's voyage. I would conclude from the results of that episode, that either it couldn't be done, or for some other reason the Valar didn't want to restore the Trees yet.

[Kirinki54]

Hi guys!

I see no reason why Yavanna could not have healed the Trees with only one Silmaril. Sure, Feanor made three, but he never removed a significant portion of the Light, and so one or three they might only have worked as a catalyst anyway. And I think there was no apparent difference of the three Silmarils so that two Silmarils missing would disable the healed Trees in any way. Perhaps there is info I have missed, but this is my guess.

[Elvellon]

Welcome Eagle of the Star!

Eagle of the Star wrote:

“I was reading the Silmarillion and came to Earendil's voyage. I would conclude from the results of that episode, that either it couldn't be done, or for some other reason the Valar didn't want to restore the Trees yet.”

By the time of Earendil’s voyage the trees were already dead….

As for Sister Golden Hair original question, I don’t know, but the Silmarillion seems to imply that all three were necessary.

[Bacchus]

By the time of Earendil’s voyage the trees were already dead

Yeppers. It was specifically stated that Yavanna felt that she could revive the Trees before the roots died fully given the light of the Silmarils. When Feanor refused, Yavanna and Nienor coaxed one last fruit each from Laurelin and Telperion, which became the Sun and Moon. The Trees then died.