Morwen, I'm really not clear what point you're trying to make about Celebrían's "death". Whether or not she
could have died, the fact remains that she... you know...
didn't.
elbenprincess– regarding the bit about "rape = death for Elves". This is a "rule" that's puzzled me for a while. It's very often cited (especially by fan-fic authors attacking each others' work
), but anyone know the source? Was it a lasting element of Tolkien's legendarium (that I've never picked up), or just something he scribbled on the back of an envelope? The only reference I know of is the
first draft of "Laws and Customs of the Eldar" (Note 5 to the main text in "Morgoth's Ring"):
Quote:
|
But among all these deeds there is no record of any among the Elves that took another's spouse by force; for this was wholly against their nature, and one so forced would have rejected bodily life and passed to Mandos.
|
In the next version Tolkien revised this passage to:
Quote:
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Even when in after days, as the histories reveal, many of the Eldar in Middle-earth became corrupted, and their hearts darkened by the shadow that lies upon Arda, seldom is any tale told of any deeds of lust among them.
|
No mention of "rape = death".
So, if
that's where it comes from, it's pretty clearly a passing idea that the author soon rejected.
Or is there another, more authoritative source? Anyone know?