Fear in the Paths of the Dead

[Khamûl]

From The Return of the King:The company halted, and there was not a heart among them that did not quail, unless it were the heart of Legolas of the Elves, for whom the ghosts of Men have no terror.As I understand this, Legolas was not afraid of the ghosts because he was an elf. Why were Elladan and Elrohir, the sons of Elrond, afraid since they were also Elves and were in the company?

[Lefty Scaevola]

They are part elf, part man, meaning they ther spirit has a blended aspect. Elves normaly would not have a horror at spiriits bound to a place on earth, because their spirit is so bound to the earth. Men spirits are suposed to leave the earth when after death. Thus a human, or perhaps part humun were be dismayed by the unatural condition of a human ghoast bound to the earth.

[Khamûl]

Thanks. That makes sense. I had forgotten that they had Numenorean blood.

[Snowdog]

Yes, I was going to say they were half-elven and as such, they had some fear, though maybe less than the other 30 or so Dúnedain Rangers, and Gimli. Yet all their hearts remained true and they all came through it well.

I always was interested in what I assume is Baldor's remains clutching at a door...

[Gwaimir Windgem]

I always thought that since Elrond was made one of the Firstborn that his children were also pretty much true Elves; am I wrong about this?

[Iron McFist]

I believe how it works is that even if a Half-Elf chooses Elf-kind, he still passes the Half-elveness onto his kids? Correct me if I'm wrong. Or maybe his kids were born before he chose?

[Lefty Scaevola]

I do not believe their was any natural principal involved in the choices of Elrond, Elros, and Elrond's Children. There was the Judgment of the Valar and a grant of power to them by Eru to make it so. The Judgment was that each of Elros & Elrond should chose. If he Chose mortality, so would his dscendents be. If he chose Quendi, then his Children would have the choice, to be made when he left Middle earth, and their choice at that time would bind their descendents (because if they chose Quendi, they must leave Middle Earth with their father and go to Eldamar.) Elronds choice was made some Centuries before he was married and had children. It is not stated anywhere what would happen if Elrond went to the imortal lands earlier and had children thereafter, by I would assume that since the immortal lands and not an appropriate local for mortals, that they would then have no choice, but must be Quendi.

[Lady of Rohan]

I have a question about being half evlen. If your half elven then are you still imortal (if you choose to stay imortal with the elves and not go human) and can live for ever and not get sick or are you imortal but can still get sick? Or is it neither of the 2?:confused:

[Lefty Scaevola]

They age like an elf until the choice is required of them to chose between the kindreds.

[Lady of Rohan]

Oh okay! Now I get it. I was always wondering what would happen if you where half elf. Thanks.:)