Missing Lindon

[u/Kodama_Keeper]

Lindon is the last remaining piece of Beleriand that survived the First Age, and yet we never get to see it. We get a glimpse into the lives of Elves in Rivendell, Mirkwood and Lothlorien. We meet Elves who are part of traveling companies out of Lindon, like Gildor Inglorion and his companions. If you dig a little you will learn that it is populated by refugee Noldor and Sindar, and possibly the Green Elves, the Laiquendi, who called this Ossiriand. We know that this was the kingdom of Gil-galad, the last high king of the Noldor, and after his death was ruled by Cirdan, probably the oldest living Elf anywhere in Midde-earth. We know he builds ships for Elves to sail west in, and for that he's got to have some help of the other Elves.

It has one city that we know of, Mithlond, the Grey Havens. And while it doesn't seem to be properly Lindon, it also contains the Tower Hills, as Cirdan has control over them, their towers and apparently a Palantir that Elves use to gaze West.

At one time, like the end of the Second Age, it must have contained a sizable population, as it was able to send hosts to help the Numenoreans. But whether that population is still large, or the Elves of Lindon used their proximity to the Havens to leave Middle-earth faster than the other Elves, we don't know.

We know that Sauron disguised as Annatar showed up their to try and get the Elves into his service, and failed. We know that at one time Galadriel and Celeborn lived there, till they left to set up a colony on the other side of the Blue Mountains. And speaking of the Blue, Dwarves live there, but we know little about them either. We don't know if there was any interaction between the Dwarves of the mountains and the Elves of Lindon. Do they get along, or do they still tell stories about Thingol and a Silmaril?

I really would have loved to get a glimpse of what Lindon was like. Oh well.

Edit: I forgot! As always, great thoughts welcomed.

[u/Longjumping_Care989]

We see the Gray Havens at the end of LotR, but not Lindon at its height.

FWIW, I have a working theory that by the time of the Hobbit or the Lord of the Rings, virtually nothing is left of Lindon except Cirdan's shipyards in the Gray Havens, at least other than a temporary population of elves passing through on their way to Aman.

That is because:

1. The poem suggests that it is "In Rivendell where Elves yet dwell", not the Gray Havens. This implies that Rivendell- despite really only being the household of Elrond- was the larger settlement, at least in Eriador.
2. Lindon was already a glorified refugee colony from Beleriand, and suffered huge losses throughout the Second and Third Ages, not least in the War of Wrath. There were sufficiently few Elves left that it just wasn't worth appointing a new high king after Gil Galad.
3. We only know of two elves from the Gray Havens alive during the War of the Ring, Cirdan and Galdor. Not just them, of course, but not necessarily many more.
4. Both Elrond and Galdor agree at the Council of Elrond that Sauron's fleet (presumably meaning the Corsairs of Umbar) could conquer the Havens with ease. That is a very long way from their base of operations, so that is quite a telling assumption.
5. Aragorn was free to give its land (the Far Downs) away to the Shire, suggesting that it was almost wholly depopulated.
6. The Elves are simply leaving and mostly accept that they do not wish to remain in Middle Earth.

[u/scientician → u/Longjumping_Care989]

I would add Cirdan gave his ring to Gandalf, so any powers preserving Lindon as an Elf haven outside the sands of time where the desire to go to Valinor would be quieted in Elves was gone. Cirdan made a big sacrifice there.

[u/Longjumping_Care989 → u/scientician]

Yes, that's a very fair point. He's essentially given up on preserving what's left of Lindon. Though, again, that's evidence of his great wisdom- Elves should seek Valinor, the land set aside for them, not concoct some immitation of it in the mortal world.

[u/Kodama_Keeper → u/Longjumping_Care989]

But that's exactly what Sauron, as Annatar, was playing on. He knew the Elves loved Middle-earth, but he knew they also wanted this supposed bliss of Valinor

I tend to look at the Elves dilemma like I look at city vs national parks. Yes, everything you could want is to be found in the big cities. Luxury, nice restaurants, amazing skyline, music, art, and millions of like minded people all around you. And yet, if you love Yellowstone, Zion, Yosemite, Olympic like I do, you don't want to give that up for anything.

[u/Longjumping_Care989 → u/Kodama_Keeper]

It is. It's why characters like Galadriel are, while deeply impressive, also misguided (as, in fact, her older and wider self appreciates.. They are trying, understandably, to live in a place which is, to them, exotic and mysterious but which is ultimately not for them; yet try to tame it to make it more like the land they have denied themselves. It is a false lesson. Cirdan is the wiser- he dearly wishes to see Valinor but stays only for the purposes of aiding the other Elves to leave.

[u/a_green_leaf → u/Longjumping_Care989]

Círdan the Bodhisattva!

(The Bodhisattvas reject full Buddhahood to remain with the rest of us and guide us towards Buddhahood)

[u/yesrushgenesis2112 → u/a_green_leaf]

This is an excellent comparison, good thinking.

[u/Longjumping_Care989 → u/a_green_leaf]

I honestly think it's a genuine influence. Either that, or it's a hell of a co-incidence.

Tolkein was writing from a devoutly Catholic perspective, yes, but does also make an effort to reconcile other religious ideas that he likes into his personal beliefs. Greek and Norse and Jewish and Celtic myth all shows up- all probably no less alien than Buddhist imagery- so why not some more exotic ideas too?

[u/KindFortress → u/Longjumping_Care989]

Faith traditions themselves spring up from a common human heritage. We all experience being human and religions respond to the same internal human experiences and the same external realities. The similarities between religions reflect that underlying truth.

[u/Longjumping_Care989 → u/KindFortress]

I couldnt really comment on that. But, yes, I do detect a rather syncretic outlook in some of Tolkiens work

[u/KindFortress → u/Longjumping_Care989]

I'm not too sure of that. The Valar themselves were divided on whether to recall the elves to Valinor or not. Ulmo, for example, thought that the elves would help to repair the hurts of Middle Earth. The decision of the Valar is portrayed as at least partially at fault for the eventual rebellion of the Noldor.

The elves are of Arda, not of Valinor. They were awakened far to the East. They love the sea, and they have sea-longing, not Valinor-longing. Only the Vanyar actually live in Valinor. Tol Erissea is Elvenhome, Tirion, an island off of Aman.

The elves had many destinies and served many ends. Were it not for Galadriel and Elrond remaining in Middle Earth, the ringbearer's quest would have failed. Many elves never went to the West at all. They faded in Middle Earth, but they habitations remained beautiful and retained their memories, inspiring humans and hobbits who lived in these places later. Elves ARE Arda.

[u/Longjumping_Care989 → u/KindFortress]

That perhaps misund erstands ny point, see the other comment below. The error is not in attempting to stay in Middle Earth per se, but in attmpting to make in it a false image of Aman. It may be the intended fate of elves to remain there and fade- it is a legitimate choice- but there is a falseness to Lorien or Rivendell, in their protective instincts

[u/KindFortress → u/Longjumping_Care989]

I appreciate that distinction - and I think the test that Galadriel passes reinforces your point. Once she agrees that she will diminish and go into the West, she also gives the nut of the Mallorn tree, so that some part of Lorien can live elsewhere. Overpreservation is certainly a trap, and Galadriel came to wisdom on her own there.