On Tue, 5 Oct 2004, Scott Schultz wrote: @> > Glorfindel. And the counterexample of Feanor; he's presented @> > as an exception precisely /because/ he stays in the Halls @> > instead of returning to life, which statement implies that @> > the other elves habitually return to life. @> @> If you can provide a citation that supports this idea, I'd be interested in @> investigating it. It's not ringing any bells for me. Certainly, the history @> of the elves and particularly the Wars of the Silmarils would have proceeded @> rather differently if the spirits of the fallen had merely flown back to @> Valinor to rebuild their physical bodies. I'm still at work, but luckily someone has done the digging for me already. http://www.lotrlibrary.com/agesofarda/taleoftwo.asp @> > the humans pass away and leave the @> > world and never go to the Halls, whereas the elves are stuck @> > with it until it ends. @> @> This is true as far as it goes, but it's true because the Halls of Mandos @> are within the confines of the world. (Inasmuch as any part of Valinor can @> be considered within the confines of the world.)Once your soul enters the @> Halls, it stays there until the end of the World or until Mandos decides to @> let you out. Well, your part needs to go a bit farther too: Mandos will always let you out unless you've done something awful.