What an interesting topic! In the First Age elves had a LOT to do, since without constant vigilance and constant military preparedness their lives in ME could be cut pretty short, pretty fast. I would imagine that even in Gondolin a good part of everyone's time was spent making sure the hidden city stayed well hidden. I was wondering the other day about the elves' nostalgia for the FA - frankly, Beleriand sounds like a frightening, dangerous place to be - but now that I have read through this thread, I am thinking that they are nostalgic in part for the very "aliveness" that constant danger brought them.. Weaving and ropemaking and boat carving and even crafting amazing jewelry has got to get dull after a few thousand years. Being a TA elf does sound a little, ah, boring. Except for those days when it's your turn to move the privy...
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