Is there a character you're obsessed with?

[William Cloud Hicklin]

Why should we believe Nellas even survived the First Age? Most of Doriath's population was eradicated, given the Dwarven sack and the 2nd and 3rd Kinslayings. The Silmarillion says that the community at the Mouths of Sirion was "a mere gleaning" of the people of Doriath and Gondolin- the implication is that only a bare handful survived, like Elendil's refugees from Numenor - and that was before the Sons of Feanor rolled through.

[Huinesoron]

Originally Posted by William Cloud Hicklin

Why should we believe Nellas even survived the First Age? Most of Doriath's population was eradicated, given the Dwarven sack and the 2nd and 3rd Kinslayings. The Silmarillion says that the community at the Mouths of Sirion was "a mere gleaning" of the people of Doriath and Gondolin- the implication is that only a bare handful survived, like Elendil's refugees from Numenor - and that was before the Sons of Feanor rolled through.

Not saying she did! Just that of all the named, canonical characters, she is the only real possibility for Legolas' mother. I'm nearly positive Tolkien didn't envisage the role for her.

hS

[Urwen]

Originally Posted by Huinesoron

Not saying she did! Just that of all the named, canonical characters, she is the only real possibility for Legolas' mother. I'm nearly positive Tolkien didn't envisage the role for her.

hS

[mindil]

If we're back to speculating about the Queen of Mirkwood, what's the vote on her being higher status to Thranduil vs lower?

All Tolkien's known couples have the wife upstatus whenever possible (Dunadain chieftains and kings of Gondor had nowhere to go up but elves, and they couldn't all do that). Any reason to think otherwise here?

Does that explain why Elladan and Elrohir stayed single? They couldn't find higher status elves to marry? (I know the "time of strife" theory, but there were long peaceful times in the 3rd Age.) Same question about Legolas, though for all we know he might have been married, and Gimli too (ducking tomatoes from fangirls).

[Urwen]

This is not about that. It's about characters we're obsessed with. Simply state who it is and why.

[Galadriel55]

Originally Posted by mindil

Does that explain why Elladan and Elrohir stayed single? They couldn't find higher status elves to marry? (I know the "time of strife" theory, but there were long peaceful times in the 3rd Age.) Same question about Legolas, though for all we know he might have been married, and Gimli too (ducking tomatoes from fangirls).

Well, unlike Men, Elves also wouldn't be in any particular hurry to look for the right someone, and they don't settle for an imperfect fit. Maybe they just didn't meet their better halves yet. Who knows, maybe a couple millenia later, in Valinor, they will get married too.

[Formendacil]

Originally Posted by Galadriel55

Well, unlike Men, Elves also wouldn't be in any particular hurry to look for the right someone, and they don't settle for an imperfect fit. Maybe they just didn't meet their better halves yet. Who knows, maybe a couple millenia later, in Valinor, they will get married too.

Maybe they delay their departure, not because of concern for Arwen or out of any doubt about which kindred they will choose, but because Celebrían's last words before sailing west were that "I'll be waiting with some nice girls to settle down with."

[mindil]

Originally Posted by Galadriel55

Well, unlike Men, Elves also wouldn't be in any particular hurry to look for the right someone, and they don't settle for an imperfect fit. Maybe they just didn't meet their better halves yet. Who knows, maybe a couple millenia later, in Valinor, they will get married too.

Considering that elves don't play around, and they think highly of "personal relations," it's no surprise that JRRT said they tried to marry young. Elladan's and Elrohir's multi-millennial bachelor lifestyle is very odd, by ME standards.

Maybe their constant chasing orcs is because they are frustrated for not having a married life?

Apologies, Urwen - this is part of my obsessing about all the missing female characters. I'm sure many of them were really there, and I'd love to know more about them. I wouldn't be surprised if Gimli was married, for example. Would be nice to know about her, too.