February 7, 2003

Re: Grey Havens
Danny

To understand the departure of the elves best, you need to have read the Silmarillion. Before the third age of the world, the world was flat. To the west of Middle Earth, the elves could sail to the undying lands where the other Gods dwelt (Valinor.) Mortal men were to sail to near these shores. Sauron deceived the numenoreans and convinced their king to try and conquer the undying lands. Isuldur and his father were among the faithful who fled the kingdom of numenor. Isuldor at this point saved the sapling white tree that is so important in Return of the King. The Gods sunk the Numenorean fleet, and sunk their kingdom into the sea. Only the few faithful Numenoreans who fled the kingdom survived. Even Sauron's body was destroyed and he was forced to flee in Spirit to Middle Earth to regather himself. They also at this time made the world round closing the path to valinor off to all mortals. Tolkien did state however that they still granted the First Born (the elves) the straight road allowing them to still sail west to Valinor.

So when the elves are sailing west it is to go to lands that are immortal like they are. This started long before the time table in LOTR and so those who have remained are a remnant of the people, who no longer have what it takes to preserve their way of life in Middle Earth. At least that is my spin on it.