What about such an idea?
Elrond and Elros were not the first children born to elven-human couples. The first one was Dior, but as he was Thingol's Heir and married an elven maiden, his 'elven status' wasn't probably doubted. Besides, this marriage isn't named among the Unions of Eldar and Edain.
The "choice" was first offered to Earendil-Elwig family (perhaps because the number of people of elven-human origin was growing [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img] )Or, as for their arrival in Valinor they just couldn't be punished, they had to be rewarded, and it set the trend (I mean Elrond's children).
As for
The Saucepan Man 's question
Quote:
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why should all others of Half-elven descent (including the children of those of Elrond's children who chose to be mortal) be denied the choice?
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it seems the answer is in the quotation you have given. As DEATH is Eru's Gift and it's offered and taken in the family, the gift can't be rejected or taken back (becomes a family heirloom [img]smilies/evil.gif[/img] ). Immortality, on the other hand, isn't a gift and so it can be offered, accepted or rejected. (Am I in error? [img]smilies/frown.gif[/img] Don't kill the one already dead!!! after a night here [img]smilies/redface.gif[/img] )