Sharkû,
Prophesy, given. But prophesy, as opposed to fortune telling, always carries with it an applicability with the present. Elrond’s prophesy clearly includes an injunction with the words “you shall neither have a wife, nor bind…”
Elrond’s prophesy immediately affected the present, as is clearly seen by Aragorn taking leave of Rivendell and going into the wilds for thirty years to labor in the cause against Sauron. He then returns to Rivendell and Arwen then gives her choice to ply her troth with Aragorn.
Elrond then prophesizes again:
Quote:
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“Arwen Undómiel shall not diminish her life’s grace for less cause. She shall not be the bride of any Man less than the King of Gondor and Arnor.”
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Once again Elrond’s prophesy is not mere fortune telling, for it induces Aragorn to once again go forth “to danger and toil.” Of course, the events of the War of Ring take place, and the terms of Elrond’s prophesy are fulfilled. No matter how you look at this, however, there is an injunction against Aragorn taking Arwen for his wife, until the terms are fulfilled.
On this forum there is a continual catch phrase: “… is a movie image” or “…is from the movie and not the books.” Perhaps the movie went too far in showing Elrond’s injunction and not enough of the prophesy that went along with it. But to say that the Elrond of the books did not in any way hinder a relationship between Aragorn and Arwen is simply erroneous.
Edit: corrected my rather annoying tendency to spell Rivendell, Rivendale
[ January 18, 2003: Message edited by: Bill Ferny ]