"We will not meet again, Elessar"

[MatthewM]

Originally Posted by Knight of Gondor

Somewhat off-track, but don't you find it interesting that Tolkien specifies "never again as living man"? Does this not hint towards a return in another state? I've often puzzled about the end of the world according to Tolkien. It is said that the fate of the elves and the fate of man is separate, but I believe that there was something written about how only the destinations after death were different, but that Eru would one day renew the world, and both kinds would dwell in harmony and peace.

Not sure about seperate destinations after death, but I've thought about the line too. I just always read it and smiled in a bitter sweet sort of way, because it does imply an after life in Middle-earth that you do not read too much of in the narrative of The Lord of the Rings, and although Aragorn does not visit it again as living man, this line implies that in another form he does.