Half-Elf/LotR

The **Half-elves**, or ***Peredhil**,* were people of Middle-earth whose name primarily applied to Elrond and Elros in the Second and Third Age, but also to Eärendil and his wife Elwing before them. They were called so because of their mixed Edain (Mannish) and Eldarin (Elven) blood. At the end of the First Age, they were given a choice to be Elven and immortal, or to be counted as the race of Men and receive their gift, mortality and death.

Others considered Half-elves were Elrond's sons, Elladan and Elrohir, and his daughter Arwen Undómiel. Like other Half-elves before them, they were given the choice between mortality and immortality.

## Contents

* 1History
	+ 1.1The First Age
* 2Choice of the Half-elves
* 3Etymology
* 4Named Half-elves
* 5Line of the Half-elves
* 6In external imagination
* 7Translations
* 8References

## History

### The First Age

Two important marriages in the First Age of Middle-earth resulted in the mixing of Elvish and mortal Edain blood.

The first of these was between the mortal Beren of the House of Bëor and half-Elf/half-Maia Lúthien, daughter of the Elf Thingol, the King of Doriath, and Queen Melian the Maia. Beren died in the quest for the Silmaril, and in despair, Lúthien's spirit departed her body and made its way to the Halls of Mandos. Mandos allowed them a unique fate, and they were re-bodied as mortals in Middle-earth, where they dwelt until their deaths.

Their son Dior was thus one-quarter Elvish by blood, although since he was born after their embodiment, the nature of his mortality is quite unclear. He died young in any case, when the Sons of Fëanor attacked Doriath.

Dior's wife was Nimloth, a Sindarin Elf, and with her he had three children: Elwing, Eluréd and Elurín. During the Sack of Menegroth by the Sons of Fëanor, Elwing escaped to the Mouths of Sirion while Eluréd and Elurin were seized by servants of Celegorm and abandoned in the forest to die. They were never found and were presumed to have perished in the forest.

The second marriage of Men and Elves in the first age was between Tuor of the House of Hador and Idril of the Ñoldor and Vanyar. Their son was Eärendil. After the fall of Gondolin, Eärendil also escaped to the Mouths of Sirion, and married Elwing. They had two sons, Elrond 'Half-elf' and Elros.

## Choice of the Half-elves

After the conclusion of the War of Wrath, Manwë determined that the surviving Half-elves would have their choice of fates: to be counted among Elves, and granted eternal life in the Undying Lands; or to be counted among mortals, and granted the ineffable Gift of Men. This choice could be delayed, although not indefinitely.

Eärendil would rather have chosen the kindred of Men, but he chose the Elves for his wife Elwing's sake, who also chose the Elves. Eärendil would thereafter forever sail the heavens in his ship Vingilot, the Silmaril of Beren and Lúthien on the prow. In Middle-earth, he was seen as the evening star, and the light of his Silmaril was captured in the Phial of Galadriel. Elwing built a tower in the Shadowy Seas and often met him on his return.

Elros chose to be counted among mortals, and became Tar-Minyatur, the first King of Númenor. He finally took his death at the age of five hundred years. The heirs of Elros were not given this choice, but their lifespan was enhanced many times that of normal Men, and they had the freedom to take death when they willed. In later times the Kings of Númenor, descendants of Elros, regretted their forefather's choice, and this helped lead to the Downfall of Númenor.

Elrond chose to be counted among the Elves, serving the household of Gil-galad until the end of the Second Age, and founding Rivendell. He married the Elf Celebrían, daughter of Celeborn and Galadriel, and sailed into the west at the conclusion of the War of the Ring.

The children of Elrond and Celebrían were also given free choice of kindred, and therefore Arwen could choose to be counted amongst the Edain even though her father had chosen to be counted as Elven. She exercised this option, marrying Aragorn II Elessar, King of the Reunited Kingdom, and himself the sole remaining descendant of Elros, finally dying at the age of 2,901 years. Their son Eldarion and their daughters were not counted as Half-elves, but rather as Dúnedain.

It is unclear whether Elladan and Elrohir chose to be of the Edain, or the Eldar; this information is not given in the books. After the books were published, however, Tolkien did have this to say, "The end of his sons, Elladan and Elrohir, is not told; they delay their choice, and remain for a while". Letters, #153. "Since most felt that their choice was expressed by whether they would follow their father to Valinor at the time of his own departure, and they were described as remaining in Rivendell, they are often said to have chosen the Edain". On the other hand, some believe that the twins were allowed to delay their decision for a time.

Tolkien also considered giving the children of Elros; Vardamir Nólimon, Manwendil, Atanalcar and Tindómiel, the choice of the Half-elves, so that the children of Elros would match the children of Elrond. Whether he actually adopted this idea or not is unclear.

It was a tradition in Dol Amroth that Imrazôr the Númenórean had married an Elf, and therefore the Princes of Dol Amroth were of Elven descent. Legolas of Mirkwood believed as much upon meeting Prince Imrahil, but the matter remains unclear.

## Etymology

The Elvish form of ***Half-elves*** is ***Peredhil*** (singular *Peredhel*), which is a Sindarin word.