[Inziladun]

Originally Posted by Ivriniel

There's something both similar and different to and Elf and a Nazgul. The latter was the mortal, perverted by an Evil Maia, but also the gifting of the Mortal with access to, at least part of, the Spirit World that the Eldar straddled.

Similar, yes, but it only underscores the inherent difference between Elves and Men. Man the mortal was not meant for immortality. As Gandalf noted to Frodo, those sharing in Sauron's immortal fea by submission to his will through his rings only in the end received a "stretching" of the life they already possessed: they did not really gain anything.

Originally Posted by Ivriniel

I remember reading that "...Elves do not fear them" (ringwraiths), though I can't for the life of me cite the quotation and place it to someone, though, I recall encountering the quote when looking up Annatar, the Ost-In-Edhil and history of Elves and Sauron. The nub of it was that Elves--already in two worlds at once--are either immune, or more resistant to the fear effects of the Nazgul--(and this bit we know from many precedents, including what was said about Glorfindel, for example, and what occurred when he assisted Frodo).

Gandalf said to Frodo in Rivendell that Elves who had been in the Blessed Realm did not fear the Ringwraiths, because they were part of both the Seen and the Unseen worlds simultaneously.That seemingly did not apply to all Elves, though I would think them less vulnerable to the terror projected by the Nazgûl all the same, as Legolas was not afraid of the Dead Men of Dunharrow.

Originally Posted by Ivriniel

I've been trying to fathom what, exactly, it is then, that defines the core difference between Nagul in the wraith/spirit world and Elves when they are in that realm. Icy touch, death stares, life draining and so on don't come with the Eldar when they go into their 'fey' form. So, I don't believe the key difference is about 'good versus evil' Spirits, per se, though this is implicated, somehow.

Those Elves who were part of both worlds were in their natural element. The Nazgûl were not. That is why dwelling in the other side meant a "death" for the keepers of the Nine. It was unnatural, a place they were never meant to inhabit. They were there as part of Sauron's spirit, and had to as a consequence exude his coldness, his hate, and most of all his ultimate emptiness as a being spent in evil.

And welcome to the Downs! A great beginning.