September 10, 2002

Justin T. You're Way Off Base!
Lisa Cooke

Hey Justin. The Elves certainly were NOT taking a back seat to the goings on of Middle Earth as you claim. Go Back and Re-read the Trilogy and then please read The Silmarillion and The Lost Tales. The Elves have been actively trying to aid Gandalf and the rest of the Istari in ridding the world of Sauron since the Evil first took form in Middle Earth. Its true that they were not at Helm's Deep (probably they were still enroute to Rohan), but the Elven Hosts led by Elladan and Elrohir join Aragorn in Rohan on the Pelennor Fields. If the Elven forces hadn't come to Rohan to strengthen the armies of Gondor and Rohan,
then the Orcs would have had a "field day". This is just one instance, there are many more battles that the Elves had played a major part in. Or are you forgetting the War against Sauron when Isildur cut the One Ring from Sauron's hand at the Battle of Dagorlad. Again, the Elven armies were instrumental in the defeat of Sauron and his
Orcs. Let's also not forget that the Elves have provided council to such as Gandalf, Radagast the Brown, and even Saruman in the search for the One Ring. Legolas' people in Mirkwood had captured Gollum and held him in captivity until he succeeded in escaping. And Elves such as those that dwell outside of Rivendell have aided the Rangers in patrolling borders and hunting Orcs and Goblins to keep all of Middle Earth safe.
The reason that you have some of the Elves retreating to the Grey Havens to abandon Middle Earth, is because they know that their time in this land is nigh at hand. It is Man's time to shine. The Elves are disappearing from Middle Earth not because of sauron and the Evil, but because they know in their hearts their time is over. Even Galadrial recognizes this when she says: "I will diminish into the West and remain Galadrial." It doesn't matter to the Elves that even with Sauron defeated and Middle Earth cleansed of the Evil, the lands belong to the free people again, the Elves still feel a keening in their hearts to leave. That is why in the Appendix in the last book "Return of The King" the prologue that follows the friendship of Legolas and Gimli continues with both of the friends leaving Middle Earth together to sail to the Grey Havens.