Middle-earth Journeys
Tolkien Studies
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May 27, TA 3019
27 May 2006 18:23:34The escort of Arwen leaves Lórien.
"Cerin Amroth" by Alan Lee
- The journey of Arwen and her people continues. The timing here is interesting, for Arwen's journey is one of faith: Elessar has yet to find the sapling of the White Tree and is not yet sure that his hopes will be entirely fulfilled. (And why is it that finding the sapling is the sign of things to come? Whose sign? We'll leave those questions until later!) Yet the Elves begin the journey before the sign is given.
Arwen and Elrond spend a week in Lorien. We can only imagine how they spent their time there. For while this is a journey of faith and hope, it is also the Elves' Farewell Tour: the One Ring is destroyed. Whatever else that might mean, the Three are changed and they must know that Rivendell and Lothlorien will never again be the same. We must imagine that they told all the old stories and sang all the old songs and took the same walks to all the old places, like Cerin Amroth. They probably went through the family heirlooms and jewels to make the proper bequeathals. We have to imagine that Galadriel had Arwen's wedding dress made, since Elrond and his half-elven sons would probably have been useless in that regard. Did Arwen wonder if this was the last time she would sleep in a tree? Did she grieve that?
Tolkien's experience of war taught him that all gains involve loss and his religious faith taught him that all loss might be viewed in hope as gain. Is this a wedding journey or a wake?