Chapter 16: To Kill an Elf
“I have been informed that the duty has fallen upon me to reveal to you one of the most important things in an elf’s life.” Haldir hesitated momentarily. By Eru, he was going to hurt Glorfindel and Lord Elrond for making him do this. After all that he had helped the Elven lords with and achieve in their glory days, they repay him by giving him the hardest job in Arda.
“Haldir, is everything okay?” Estel asked the Elf when he noticed his brows furrow together as if in deep thought.
“Yes, I am okay Estel. I just got lost in my thoughts. Your ada has allowed me a great privilege in trusting you to my skill and training. I have known both him and Glorfindel long before your parents were even born, or even your grandparents, but this is by far the hardest thing Lord Elrond has ever asked me to do.”
With a heavy sigh, he motioned for Estel to sit beside him near the river.
“I don’t know how much you have noticed while living in Imladris, but the gift that Illùvatar gave the Eldar is one of immortality. It is called a gift, but to some it is their curse. This means that we do not die, nor do we age, much like the river. And we can willingly give up this gift at any time and become ‘mortal.’”
“There are a few ways that we can be “killed.” Our hearts are the windows to our very being, so if it is damaged beyond repair, then it is possible to die by causing so much grief that it eats away at an elf until they no longer care to be counted among the living. This has happened so few times, that you can count them on one hand. But the most famous tale is that of Luthien and Beren. Luthien was an elf maid who fell in love with a mortal. She gave up her place in the Elvenhome to be with the one she loved. And she stayed by his side until he died. Slowly, her grief became so much that she too passed into legend and song.”
For a brief moment, Haldir had an image run through his head that The Lay of Luthien would be repeated. Only this young human who sat beside him would steal the heart of Elrond’s fair daughter. Haldir was well aware that on this trip, she was not to be mentioned at all to Estel, but one day their paths would cross. Shaking the vision from his head, Haldir continued.
“It is also possible for an elf to die in battle, but that is one of the rare things that will kill an elf, as there have no been any major battles in Middle Earth since the Second Age. Do you understand what this means?”
Estel had let his head drop as Haldir was talking. He knew perfectly well what this meant. As he spoke, he did not look the Elf in the eye, nor did he raise his head. Haldir was barely able to make out what Estel mumbled, “Yes, I do. It means that my brothers and ada and Glorfindel will live forever while I pass away to be little more than a fleeting moment in their memories.”
“Estel, look at me,” Haldir commanded. Estel looked up at the Elf, trying desperately to not the tears that were welling up in his eyes fall. “I am positive that your family and Glorfindel will always remember you, always. For as long as they do live, they will remember you. There is no way they would ever be able to forget you, even if they tried. Yes, the memories will grow dimmer and dimmer as the years pass, but they will never wholly forget. They can never forget.”
“Has Lord Elrond discussed with you the significance of the sea?” Estel shook his head ‘no’, while still trying to stop the tears that threatened him.
“Beyond the sea is our true home, Valinor. Middle Earth is just a temporary place for us. It is said that Eru created the Elves to “create” Arda and to make it beautiful and to teach the Second Born, Men, the ways of nature. Our time will end here, and probably soon. Once we leave, it will be up to Man to make certain that all of the beauty of Arda is cared for. When that time comes, we will travel to the harbors beyond the White Towers and sail to those who have gone before. I Aear cân ven na mar.” This last part Haldir said sadly while looking to the West. He stood up slowly and pulled the young human to his feet.
“Come, let us finish our walk. We shall be late for the mid-day meal. Do not dwell on the unhappiness of what a relationship between men and elves must face. Just make the most of every moment you have with them and cherish them as long as you live. And pass those memories onto your children so that they can teach their children and so the Eldar will not be forgotten when the last has passed over the sea.”
I Aear cân ven na mar The Sea calls us home
“I have been informed that the duty has fallen upon me to reveal to you one of the most important things in an elf’s life.” Haldir hesitated momentarily. By Eru, he was going to hurt Glorfindel and Lord Elrond for making him do this. After all that he had helped the Elven lords with and achieve in their glory days, they repay him by giving him the hardest job in Arda.
“Haldir, is everything okay?” Estel asked the Elf when he noticed his brows furrow together as if in deep thought.
“Yes, I am okay Estel. I just got lost in my thoughts. Your ada has allowed me a great privilege in trusting you to my skill and training. I have known both him and Glorfindel long before your parents were even born, or even your grandparents, but this is by far the hardest thing Lord Elrond has ever asked me to do.”
With a heavy sigh, he motioned for Estel to sit beside him near the river.
“I don’t know how much you have noticed while living in Imladris, but the gift that Illùvatar gave the Eldar is one of immortality. It is called a gift, but to some it is their curse. This means that we do not die, nor do we age, much like the river. And we can willingly give up this gift at any time and become ‘mortal.’”
“There are a few ways that we can be “killed.” Our hearts are the windows to our very being, so if it is damaged beyond repair, then it is possible to die by causing so much grief that it eats away at an elf until they no longer care to be counted among the living. This has happened so few times, that you can count them on one hand. But the most famous tale is that of Luthien and Beren. Luthien was an elf maid who fell in love with a mortal. She gave up her place in the Elvenhome to be with the one she loved. And she stayed by his side until he died. Slowly, her grief became so much that she too passed into legend and song.”
For a brief moment, Haldir had an image run through his head that The Lay of Luthien would be repeated. Only this young human who sat beside him would steal the heart of Elrond’s fair daughter. Haldir was well aware that on this trip, she was not to be mentioned at all to Estel, but one day their paths would cross. Shaking the vision from his head, Haldir continued.
“It is also possible for an elf to die in battle, but that is one of the rare things that will kill an elf, as there have no been any major battles in Middle Earth since the Second Age. Do you understand what this means?”
Estel had let his head drop as Haldir was talking. He knew perfectly well what this meant. As he spoke, he did not look the Elf in the eye, nor did he raise his head. Haldir was barely able to make out what Estel mumbled, “Yes, I do. It means that my brothers and ada and Glorfindel will live forever while I pass away to be little more than a fleeting moment in their memories.”
“Estel, look at me,” Haldir commanded. Estel looked up at the Elf, trying desperately to not the tears that were welling up in his eyes fall. “I am positive that your family and Glorfindel will always remember you, always. For as long as they do live, they will remember you. There is no way they would ever be able to forget you, even if they tried. Yes, the memories will grow dimmer and dimmer as the years pass, but they will never wholly forget. They can never forget.”
“Has Lord Elrond discussed with you the significance of the sea?” Estel shook his head ‘no’, while still trying to stop the tears that threatened him.
“Beyond the sea is our true home, Valinor. Middle Earth is just a temporary place for us. It is said that Eru created the Elves to “create” Arda and to make it beautiful and to teach the Second Born, Men, the ways of nature. Our time will end here, and probably soon. Once we leave, it will be up to Man to make certain that all of the beauty of Arda is cared for. When that time comes, we will travel to the harbors beyond the White Towers and sail to those who have gone before. I Aear cân ven na mar.” This last part Haldir said sadly while looking to the West. He stood up slowly and pulled the young human to his feet.
“Come, let us finish our walk. We shall be late for the mid-day meal. Do not dwell on the unhappiness of what a relationship between men and elves must face. Just make the most of every moment you have with them and cherish them as long as you live. And pass those memories onto your children so that they can teach their children and so the Eldar will not be forgotten when the last has passed over the sea.”
I Aear cân ven na mar The Sea calls us home
