Which Elf had it hardest?

[Knight of Gondor]

It always seemed to me that both Elven Maidens were content to wait for their future husbands. No wait, I take it back. Arwen was rather content, poor Luthien had to go rescue her man. And Luthien just had a little life afterwards, diminishing and dancin'. Arwen got a kingdom. Of course, we're not told what sadness there was at Luthien's end, whereas we are told about Arwen.

[Elianna]

And interesting thought Hot, Crispy Hobbit.

(I just finished the Tale of Aragorn and Arwen, so it's fresh on my mind.) Aragorn, at their first meeting, jokingly asks if Elrond has kept Arwen locked in his horde. I suppose it might have seemed like that to Arwen, that she was inprisioned in the Hírilorn, but with no esape this time.

[Olorin_TLA]

Hmm, Gwindor may have my vote now :'( He's kind of the Elven equivalent of *I forget the name...the lame woodman who loves Nienor* :'(

I think any Elf who got close to a mortal would be sad though...especially those who knew many...imagine meeting a race. They only live for 1 year. So you get close tothem. They die, You get close to their kids. They die. And this goes on for generations, so by the time you, the human, die,let's say at 80, you will have experienced the deaths of countless close friends.

:'(

[mark12_30]

I tend to feel the most sorry for the elves who end up imprisoned by their own brokenness and despair... forever.

Maglor, singing on the seashore; Daeron, far to the east, sitting by dark waters lamenting his loss of Luthien.

Neither of them were angels and they had plenty to regret. Living with the guilt must make it that much worse.

[Rilwen Gamgee]

I would say Galadriel had it the hardest. She lived a long life and much of it was sorrowful. First of all, her brother, Finrod, died. Also, if I'm not mistaken, she traveled to and from Aman and Middle-earth twice, which is not an easy trip! Next, she bore a Ring for almost all of her life, which put stress on her to keep the land she was the Lady of safe. Her daughter, Celebrían, became overcome with grief, and sailed over the Sea; another family member was gone (however they would reunite after Galadriel returned to the Undying Lands). Next, there was the dilemma of Arwen and her choice of mortality. A quote from "FotR" also describes Galadriel's tragic life:

...a living vision of that which has already been left behind by the flowing streams of Time.

3 (or 2, not counting Celebrían) family members lost and the burden of being a Ring-bearer. Certainly not a life everyone would want.

[symestreem]

What about Finwe? Sure, elf-king and all, but had his first wife die, saw his sons not get along, voluntarily went into exile, and was slain by Morgoth.

[mark12_30]

Okay, Finwe had it rough and then he died. But when elves die, it gets lots better for them; generally speaking, they get re-incarnated in Elvenhome. Not bad.

And although Galadriel was long-lived, and faced many challenges, still, she ended up in Valinor, with kin, forgiven and loved. Celebrian was waiting there for her. She would miss Arwen, doubltless, but here would be others to cheer her, and the beauty of Valinor to enjoy.

On the other hand:

Maglor had a long life, reaching back to the Two Trees. The early part of it was marred by all-out war. The climax of his life was agony, loss, and madness. All his brothers (and father) are dead and gone-- presumably, in Mandos' halls. Maglor is not with them; he's on the beach in Middle-Earth; he had a silmaril in his hand, and couldn't hold it. And he's been wandering alone on those beaches ever since, singing. No Valinor for him!

Daeron betrayed Luthien Tinuviel. How do you EVER live that down? He went East, and it is said he spends his time singing by dark waters lamenting his lost love-- andknowing it's his own doggone fault. Presumeably he is there still. No Valinor for him either!

Ugh! I'd rather die and go to Mandos, and have company and the chance to be reborn!