Passing over the sea

[Ravenna]

If an elf is killed or dies of grief ; [/QUOTE]and dying they are gathered to the halls of Mando in Valinor, whence they may in time return.[/QUOTE]
Men however;

But the sons of men die indeed, and leave the world.

The above quotes from the Silmarilion would seem to indicate that elves and men cannot communicate after the human is dead, and that the elves do not know where the spirits of dead mortals go.
However the same passage also states that

Yet of old the Valar decalared to the Elves in Valinor that Men shall join in theSecond Music of the Ainur; whereas Illuvatar has not revealed what he purposes for the Elves after the worlsd end , and Melkor has not discovered it.

Implying to me that death is not quite so final for mortals as it would appear.

Hope this makes sense.

[ August 14, 2002: Message edited by: Ravenna ]

[ August 14, 2002: Message edited by: Ravenna ]