The Elves - What have they ever done for us?

[Boromir88]

I don't know if I can add much more than what's already been said, but here's a few more things about the Elven involvement in the Third Age.

Sauron had a smart strategy planned. Back at the end of the Second Age and the Last Alliance, Elves and Men combined to be a mighty force and they did overthrow and defeat Sauron. By the War of the Ring in the Third Age Sauron wanted to avoid this from happening again. He figured Gondor was going to be the toughest, plus he hated Gondor. He hated Isildur for taking the Ring from him and he hated Isildur's City. Therefor Gondor was going to bare the brunt of Sauron's attack.

What Sauron's strategy was is quite brilliant, and probably why we don't see Elves come to Gondor's aid in the way they united back in the Second Age. Sauron's strategy was to tie up any possible allies and prevent them from uniting with Gondor. Rohan was probably Gondor's strongest ally so he pulls Saruman to his side, to get Saruman to attack and tie up Rohan. He also sends an Easterling force to siege the Dwarves of Erebor and the Men of Dale. He sends his armies from Dol Guldur to attack the Elves of Mirkwood, and out of Moria comes the armies that would attack Lorien. To prevent Elves and other allies from uniting with Gondor he goes and attacks them and forces them to take the defensive. Definitely a good plan, it didn't work out the way he planned it, but nevertheless a good strategy.

Besides militarily lending aid, the Elves had also lent aid through council, gifts and rest. It was Elrond and Gandalf who did the main planning as far as the formation of the Fellowship and what they were going to do with the Ring.

When the Fellowship got to Lorien they had a much needed rest and were there for 1 month. The Fellowship needed both mental and physical rest. Also Galadriel and Celeborn help out the Fellowship through their gifts. The Elven cloaks, the elven boats, the lembas, the Phial of Galadriel all go to aid the Fellowship (and especially Frodo) through their journey. It was also Galadriel that sent the Dunedain to Aragorn and company:

'They answered a summons, as you heard,' said Gimli. 'Word came to Rivendell, they say: Aragorn had need of his kindred. Let the Dunedain ride to him in Rohan! But whence this message came they are now in doubt. Gandalf sent it, I would guess.'
'Nay, Galadriel,' said Legolas. 'Did she not speak through Gandalf of the ride of the Grey Company from the North?'
'Yes, you have it,' said Gimli. 'The Lady of the Wood! She read many hearts and desires. Now why did not we wish for some of our own kinsfolk, Legolas?'~The Passing of the Grey Company

Eventhough if The Elves were not militarily able to fight Sauron like they had in the past. As many of them had left, or been in the process of leaving Middle-earth. They still aided Men in other ways and in whatever ways they could.

[Mithalwen]

Also, it should be remembered that there were no longer enough high elves to make up much more than a small (although extremely high quality) force such as when Glorfindel made his prophecy about the Witch King having come to the aid of Earnur (?). In the lettes Tolkien makes it clear in the letters that there are few of them left, most having passed over sea after the collapse of Lindon as a realm following the death of Gilgalad. Rivendell is a large household not a kingdom.

The Silvan elves were also diminished - Thranduil lost two thirds of his army and therefore adult male population in Mordor and would have lostt more in the battle opf the 5 Armies.

[Wayland]

Thanks guys. I read through the appendices this weekend and found them very informative. There is so much background information that I almost feel a Lotr re-read is justified.

But I is left feeling a bit lyke Samwise after 'is Lembas; it's got all the stuff you need to keep going, Master Frodo, but don't quite satisfy the appetite, if you know what I mean.

The outline of the Lorien & Mirkwood campaigns was fascinating and I would be interested to discover whether Tolkein ever developed these episodes into a more fleshed-out tale in any of his scattered writings?

You have mentioned works I've never heard of: HOME & the Tolkien Companion (JEA Tyler) and Fosters "Complete Guide to Middle Earth". Is the HOME a Tolkein work? and is the "Complete Guide" a worthwhile purchase?

[Lalwendë]

Originally Posted by Wayland

But I is left feeling a bit lyke Samwise after 'is Lembas; it's got all the stuff you need to keep going, Master Frodo, but don't quite satisfy the appetite, if you know what I mean.

Oooh, careful! That's how you get hooked on Tolkien - because of all those tempting little gaps where you just need to find out more!

Originally Posted by Wayland

You have mentioned works I've never heard of: HOME & the Tolkien Companion (JEA Tyler) and Fosters "Complete Guide to Middle Earth". Is the HOME a Tolkein work? and is the "Complete Guide" a worthwhile purchase?

Yep. HoME is basically a 13 volume (including index) work edited and put toegther by Christopher Tolkien from all Tolkien's notes and drafts. It's an epic work, and a daunting one too at times. It's NOT a story though, so don't expect that - but it's a 'must-have' as you get more into Tolkien's work.

Foster's Complete Guide is an A-Z reference of Tolkien's work and is most definitely worth buying - it's the best, most straightforward guide, is accurate and most importantly, can be got cheap!

[Břicho]

I used to have the Foster guide when I was a kid; it incorporated the Silm as well as TH and LOTR.

Do the new editions cover things from UT or HoME as well, I wonder?

[Lalwendë]

I don't know if there were any new editions. I presume there must be. I'll look that one up. I know davem has a nice hardback copy with colour plate illustrations by Ted Nasmith but I've never checked if it's updated text to be honest! Why? I tend to use my ancient paperback copy - might well be the same one you used, Bricho; it used to 'live' next to the novels as it was so invaluable for reference.

Illustrated version and non-illustrated version . The Lord of the Rings, a Reader's Companion closely mirrors the text of Lord of the Rings and is superb for a close read-through, fully recommended. And once hooked, this is the mother of all guides

Avoid David Day 'reference' books, though, as they're very pretty (well, the Bestiary is, anyway) but not accurate at all.

But if anyone is stuck for cash, just try the Encyclopedia of Arda website.

[littlemanpoet]

But really, Wayland, what you want to read, to get more of Tolkien's Elves, is The Silmarillion. Mind you, it's not a happy tale where the Elves win out, but where heroic Elf after heroic Elf goes down in battle against their evil foe Morgoth; I won't give away the ending. You should also know that reading The Silmarillion is like reading old lore instead of a crackling good yarn. But it's worth it.