The End: so where are the Ringbearers off to???

[Vronsky]

Can anyone explain me where the Ringbearers are off to at the end of part 3? The Dark forces have been overcome, the bad times are over, 'all is well that ended better'.
So why do they depart?

Cheers!

[Dunadan]

To Eldamar, in the West (which is inaccessible to normal mortals) where they can live the rest of their lives in peace, without suffering from the wounds which were caused by the Ring

[durin's bane]

Well, as far as I know, Frodo and Bilbo went to the Grey Havens to finally escape from their stressed lives as Ring bearers. And Sam, I think, stayed home to be with his family.

[Sister Golden Hair]

They went to Tol-Eresea.

[Lefty Scaevola]

I think the elves on Tol Erressa got Sam and Frodo in a petting zoo for the Elf children. :D

[durin's bane]

Lol! "Pet the funny furry-footed creatures! $2.00 $5.00 for a food cup"

[Keith K]

They left by choice. The Powers granted them the grace to live the remainder of their lives in the Undying Lands in recognition of their deeds and to render such healing as could be found for their wounds.

[markedel]

And Gimli?

:p

[Sister Golden Hair]

Originally posted by Keith K
They left by choice. The Powers granted them the grace to live the remainder of their lives in the Undying Lands in recognition of their deeds and to render such healing as could be found for their wounds. Tol-Eressea was outside of the Undying Lands, but had received at one time the light of the Two Trees. It was in the Bay of Eldamar, and here the first flowers bloomed outside of Valinor.

[Sister Golden Hair]

Originally posted by markedel
And Gimli?

:p Gimli also went to Tol-Eressea.

[Millane]

that has always got to me... i thought that only mortals and ringbearers could go to the undying lands... so why Gimli???

[Keith K]

Originally posted by Millane

that has always got to me... i thought that only mortals and ringbearers could go to the undying lands... so why Gimli???

why not Gimli? After all he was part of the fellowship. You see, it is all in who you know that gets you into paradise. ;)

[Keith K]

Or maybe they snuck him over in the hold as a sort of "stunted stowaway"!;)

[Renille]

A stowaway...interesting.:p
But I took it that since Gimli was an elf-friend in the company of Legolas, he could go anywhere, even to Tol Eressea, without being questioned.

'Cause like they say...It's not what you know...it's who you know.

Betcha Gimli had the whole thing planned out before he even went on the quest!:D

[Novbariel]

not only because Gimli was an elf-friend, maybe also because he desired to see the beauty of Galadriel and since Galadriel was considered mighty among the Elves, he was given the permission - according to the appendix in The Return of The King. JUST MAYBE...

[Artanis]

As a mortal, Gimli needed permission from the Valar to go to Tol Eressea. Galadriel had not the authority to give such permission, but we may assume she put in a word for him with the Valar.

[Wayfarer]

seven out of the nine die, and the other two (gandalf and legolas) plan to bum around in valinor until doomsday.

[Renille]

But I thought Frodo and Gimli, as elf-friends/ ringbearers as the case might be, go to Valinor too. So only Aragorn and the 3 hobbits die.Which I don't think is fair. I mean, Aragorn did so much more than Gimli. Couldn't they find any way for him and Arwen to be immortal after all? It just isn't fair. OH Well.

[Artanis]

Originally posted by Renille
But I thought Frodo and Gimli, as elf-friends/ ringbearers as the case might be, go to Valinor too. So only Aragorn and the 3 hobbits die.Both Frodo and Sam, and probably Gimli, sail West, Frodo together with Elrond, Galadriel and Gandalv, Sam many years later, and later again Gimli with Legolas as the last from the Fellowship. Frodo and Sam probably got permission from the Valar through Gandalv. But even if they are permitted into the West, they do not become immortal. They receive healing, and die.

[Eowyn of Rohan]

Yes! Sam sails West after Rosie dies.

It's in Appendix B - Later Events Concerning the Members of the Fellowship of the Ring:

"1482 - Death of Mistress Rose, wife of Master Samwise, on Mid-year's Day." Sam rides to Tower Hills where he delivers to Elanor (his daughter) the Red Book. Elanor adds to the Red Book that "Samwise passed the Towers, and went to the Grey Havens, and passed over Sea, last of the Ring-bearers."

:: sniff sniff ::

[Eowyn of Rohan]

Yes, all of them go! It's in Appendix B - Later Events Concerning the Members of the Fellowship of the Ring:

Sam sails West after Rosie dies. "1482 - Death of Mistress Rose, wife of Master Samwise, on Mid-year's Day." Sam rides to Tower Hills where he delivers to Elanor (his daughter) the Red Book. Elanor adds to the Red Book that "Samwise passed the Towers, and went to the Grey Havens, and passed over Sea, last of the Ring-bearers."
:: sniff sniff ::

In 1541, after the passing of King Elessar and Meriadoc and Peregrin, Legolas builds a grey ship in Ithilien and sails down Anduin "and so over Sea; and with him, it is said, went Gimli the Dwarf. And when that ship passed an end was come in Middle-earth of the Fellowship of the Ring."

[Lollypopgurl]

I always thought it was so funny(not in the haha way) that 5 of the fellowship of the ring eventually went to the Undying Lands..... sniff sniff:( :( :(

[Wayfarer]

You know, I suppose it's too late, but I think you'd have been better off not knowing. It's very depressing.

[Aragorn_iz_cool]

Where does it say that they die. I assumed they became immortal once they went there. Plus gollum got long life from the ring, even after it was taken from it. Wolden't it be the same for frodo + sam + bilbo.


Hobbit food- only 25 five sence foor a handful!
Sam- mmmm mushroom flavored lambas
Elves- WOW!! IT TALKED :D :)

[Ñólendil]

Where does it say that they die. I assumed they became immortal once they went there.

Tolkien makes it clear in several letters that this did not happen. The Valar could not alter the nature of mortals. Tolkien said that Aman was for Bilbo, Frodo, and Sam a taste of paradise before they died. It healed them and allowed them to let go.

[Sister Golden Hair]

I can't recall where I read it, but I remember reading that motals that went into the west died sooner then had they stayed in Middle-earth. Immortality was not possible for them in the west. They would be healed, but would die sooner, than in the mortal lands.

[Aragorn_iz_cool]

Originally posted by Ñólendil
Tolkien makes it clear in several letters that this did not happen. The Valar could not alter the nature of mortals. Tolkien said that Aman was for Bilbo, Frodo, and Sam a taste of paradise before they died. It healed them and allowed them to let go.


What about earendil the mariner?

[Jimmyn Lee]

When will you people learn???
Sam does go to Valinor.
After he is elected mayor of Hobbiton for the fifth time, he gives the RED BOOK to his dauhter Elanor and departs to the Gray Havens.
He bore the ring for a week. Even though that is short, it still affected him.bold red

[Ñólendil]

What about earendil the mariner?

He was Half-elven, his father being Tuor and his mother Idril daughter of Turgon the Hidden King. Like his sons Elrond and Elros after him, Earendil was given the choice of mortality or immortality, and -- as the legend goes -- he chose immortality because that was the choice of his wife Elwing, though his heart was rather with mortals.

[Artanis]

Originally posted by Jimmyn Lee
When will you people learn???
Sam does go to Valinor. Ehh ... this isn't strictly right. He goes to Tol Eressea, which is an island outside the Undying Lands. :)

[Elf.Freak]

i'd always thought only elves could go to the grey havens? sorry if this has already been said, i might've fallen asleep! :rolleyes:

[Sister Golden Hair]

Originally posted by Elf.Freak
i'd always thought only elves could go to the grey havens? sorry if this has already been said, i might've fallen asleep! :rolleyes: The Grey Havens were not in the West, so why would only Elves be able to go there? The Grey Havens were at the head of the Gulf of Lhun and this is where Cirdan dwelt. When Frodo and the others left for Tol-Eressea, in the Last Riding of the Keepers of the Rings, the Grey Havens was where they set sail from.

[Claenoic]

WHAT BECAME OF THE FELLOWSHIP (at least, what I understand)

Frodo: Sailed over to Tol Eressea for healing with Gandalf, Bilbo, Galadriel, and Elrond. Is never seen in Middle-Earth again.

Sam: Serves seven terms as Mayor of Hobbiton, retires. After Rosie dies, gives the Red Book to Elanor and sails off to Tol Eressea for healing, thus ending the Last of the Ringbearers in Middle-Earth.

Gandalf: See FRODO, above.

Aragorn: He reigns over Gondor for 100 years (?). He dies, passing on the rule to his eldest son. Arwen rides to Lothorien, wasting away in grief.

Merry: Becomes the Head of Buckland, marries Estella Bolger (?). After passing on the role to his relatives, he visits Gondor with Pippin. When Aragorn dies, they go to Rohan and spend the rest of their years there. They're laid to rest with Aragorn.

Pippin: Becomes Thain of the Shire, marries Diamond of Long Cleave. They have Faramir Took, who marries Elanor Gamgee/Gardner (Which name?) After passing on the role to his relatives, he visits Gondor with Merry. When Aragorn dies, they go to Rohan and spend the rest of their years there. They're laid to rest with Aragorn.

Gimli: Brings dwarves to the Caves of Helm's Deep, becomes Lord of the Glittering Caves. Some say that he sailed with Legolas to Tol Eressea.

Legolas: (Now this is where I'm very unsure) Brings elves to the Forests of Ithilien, becomes Lord there. When Aragorn dies, he finally gives into sea longing and builds a grey ship and sails to Valinor with Gimli, thus ending the Fellowship in Middle-Earth.

Shniff... sad :(

[Nunc]

Earendil chose the immortal life - but he did not remain in Valinor, instead being set to sail the heavens with the Simaril bound to his brow.

My question is: were any of the Elves returning to Tol Eressea (or, the Undying Lands/sailing over the sea etc etc) permitted to return to Valinor itself?

Remember, those elves to whom the grace of returning over the sundering seas from Middle Earth were the Exiles, most of them Noldori. Before the breaking of Nargothrond by the Valar were not the Noldori doomed to exile, mainly because they slew their kin the Teleri so they could use their boats and so shed blood in the "Holy Land"? Of course, some of them were Teleri, of which no doubt the Wood Elves (Legolas' kin) were some. In which case, would not Legolas be permitted to sail on to Valinor itself?

If the returning Noldori were restricted to staying on Tol Eressea, why would this be so?

Why would Frodo and the others be permitted to sail to Tol Eressea and yet not go on to Valinor itself?

[Artanis]

Originally posted by Nunc
My question is: were any of the Elves returning to Tol Eressea (or, the Undying Lands/sailing over the sea etc etc) permitted to return to Valinor itself? This quote from the Silmarillion suggests the possibility:
And when they came into the West the Elves of Beleriand dwelt upon Tol Eressea, the Lonely Isle, that looks both west and east; whence they might come even to Valinor.I suppose they would be in need of healing after being exposed to the Hither Lands, and had to remain on the Isle for awhile.