Reclaiming a Throne

[Fingolfin II]

Was Finarfin his superior in lineage? I agree that he is more directly descended from Finwe than Elrond (and for that reason alone he is more eligible to rule in Valinor than Elrond), but Elrond was descended from the Teleri High King and a Maia, so I would have thought that would make him higher in lineage. However, I'm not too sure about what constitutes higher lineage, so I'm probably wrong on that. Anyway, we have seen that you do not need to be the oldest heir to become High King (for example, Turgon becoming High King instead of Gil-galad; besides, Finarfin is much older than Elrond and the rightful High King of the Noldor in Valinor).

Hookbill the Goomba asked:

However that leads on to the question, IF he was offered the kingship and passed it by, would Elodan or Elhohir (Whichever was eldest) take the King ship? I think they would, Perhaps having seen Aragorn in his Kingly light may have made them fancy their hand at being a lord. Or perhaps I am going mad.

As Perky said, we never find out about Elladan and Elrohir's final choice- to stay and die in Middle-Earth or pass over the Sea. However, what is interesting is that according to the Encyclopedia of Arda, Eldarion becomes the ruler of all the Elf-lands in Middle-Earth when Aragorn dies, because of his descent from Elrond. However, Arwen is the youngest child of Elrond, so shouldn't it pass to Elladan and Elrohir, who are the eldest children of Elrond? I have a few alternative theories as to what has happened here-

1) Elladan and Elrohir refused the rule of the Elf-lands in Middle-Earth, thus it passed to Eldarion, the last male heir of Elrond and Elros.

2) Elladan and Elrohir had already died in Middle-Earth, so that there was no question of who was the rightful lord of the remaining Elf-lands.

3) Elladan and Elrohir passed over Sea to join Elrond and Celebrian.

(Note that whether Eldarion's claims to the lordship of the remaining Elf-lands in Middle-Earth are strong enough to make him king of The Wood of Greenleaves - Mirkwood - in place of Thranduil are not taken into account here.)

Celeborn has relinquished the lordship of Lothlorien after he takes up his abode with the sons of Elrond in Rivendell after Galadriel passes West, so he is certainly discounted from the Kingship of the Elves in Middle-Earth (though technically, if he wanted, he could have been High-King of the Teleri, because of his descent through Elmo).

In a more direct answer to your question, Hookbill, I doubt Elladan and Elrohir would have accepted the Kingship if Elrond refused it (if they were still alive, or hadn't passed over Sea), because their father did not want that title, for one reason. Another more important reason is that we have seen that when a father abdicates, usually the claim to his son is also waved (except when the Kings of Men in Numenor and Gondor abdicated to their sons), an example being when Maedhros relinquished his claim to the High Kingship to Fingolfin, it passed from him and any descendants of Feanor (i.e. Maglor and Celebrimbor) that were alive in the Second Age to descendants of Fingolfin (Gil-galad being the last High King of the Noldor in Middle-Earth), so if Elrond refused it, I don't think Elladan and Elrohir would have accepted it. Equally, I don't think they would have allowed a Man to rule over them either, so I think that the third of my theories that I have put forward to you is the most likely to be correct, but we'll never know.

[Kuruharan]

I agree that he is more directly descended from Finwe than Elrond

That would give him superior lineage regarding becoming High King of the Noldor, which was the issue.

Anyway, we have seen that you do not need to be the oldest heir to become High King...Turgon becoming High King instead of Gil-galad

Please allow me to say, "Huh?"

Turgon was born in Valinor during the Chaining of Melkor. Gil-Galad was born in Hithlum considerably later. In this context it seems that you do need to be the oldest heir to become High King of the Noldor for in this case it did not pass directly from father to son.

[Fingolfin II]

Whoops, I seem to have had that the other way around- what I meant was that Gil-galad was the son of Fingon and therefore he should have become king before Turgon, but he didn't as he was too young.

[Evisse the Blue]

Eldarion becomes the ruler of all the Elf-lands in Middle-Earth when Aragorn dies

That would mean that in the Fourth Age all Middle Earth was ruled by him, except for Rohan and the Shire. Freaky, really...
And after he died / relinquished power, did his heir rule over the Elf-lands as well? Assuming there were still Elf-lands to speak of...

[Tuor of Gondolin]

I don't believe Aragorn's rule extended to Rhovannion, or to the far east and south. One can imagine Gondor influence fairly quickly contracting east of the Anduin, with perhaps South Gondor again "a debatable land."

[Voralphion]

Firstly, Elrond could never have become high king as he was descended from Turgon, (and hence Finwe) through a female line, ie Idril. I'm sure I've seen that for the kingship the descent has to be a direct male descent. As to what would have happened in Valinor in respect to Finarfin, Finarfin was never king of the noldor in Valinor, it is just said that he ruled the remnant of the Noldor he never took the title of king.

From what I know of the character of Elrond I do not think he would have. Firstly is he bound by the curse of Feanor

No he wasn't subject to any ban, as he didn't have anything to do with the rebellion of the noldor as he wasn't born yet. Galadriel was subject to a ban because she was prominant in the rebellion.

[Mithalwen]

Don't forget that various previous kings may well have been released from Mandos by that point .....it would have been hard to imagine Gil-Galad being held very long since he was born in Middle Earth wasn't he? And basically spent his entire life fighting Sauron and building links between the Edain and the Eldar.... We know that Finrod "walks with his father" ....... would not Fingolfin's valour have earned him also swift release?