The White Council

Re: Eldarin Fecundity (was Re: In what ways did the Elves use their Rings?)

Tolkien and Inklings Discussion

: : Actually, the Eldar had hordes of children in Middle-earth. : : The descendants of Finwe are an extremely poor example of : : Elvish fertility. The numbers of the Noldor were constantly : : being increased according to Tolkien (in the interludes : : between the devastations of war).

: That may be so, but we have no specific examples of it. (By the : way, 'fecundity' is the word we should be using not : 'fertility.' Fecundity refers to the actual number of children : produced, wheres fertility merely refers to the ability to : produce them).

We know that the numbers of the Eldar increased during Gil-galad's reign. I don't see what you want for "examples". Tolkien did not publish many population numbers, but Gil-galad's people definitely increased in number at the end of the Second Age.

: : Elrond and Celebrian had three children.

: Precisely my point. What I am basically suggesting is that the : Keepers of the Three used their Rings (in the Third Age) in : slightly different ways, thus acheiving ends that they : themselves found desirable. Gandalf used Narya to "rekindle : hearts to the valour of old in world that grows chill." : Galadriel used Nenya to slow the fading in such a way as to : make Lorien a sort of living echo of the Eldar Days. As Tolkien : says: "In Rivendell there was a memory of ancient things; in : Lorien the ancient things still lived on in the waking world : ..." But Elrond, I suggest, used Vilya to not merely slow but : actually to defy the fading, by perpetuating his line. And : ensuring that the bloodline of the Elder Kings flowed on into : the Age of Men.

Tolkien mentioned many powers of the Rings, but this was not one of them. There is no need for such a power, really.

: I guess, we could say, that Galadriel's use of Nenya was : backward looking (to the Eldar days); Gandalf's use of Narya : was present-oriented (to fight the war against Sauron); and : Elrond's use of Vilya was forward looking (What are we Eldar : going to leave behind when this whole Ring Business is over : with?)

I don't see how you are arriving at these associations.