The Relations of Men to Elves

The Elves are known as the Eldar, or the "First Born of the Children of Eru (Iluvatar)." Those of the Edain are the "Second Born of Eru." To each was given specific traits and gifts by Iluvatar, as outlined in the Silmarillion:

The Elves shall be "the fairest of all earthly creatures...and they shall have the greater bliss in this world." They also are given 'immortality' in the sense that "the Elves die not till the world dies, unless they are slain and waste in grief; neither does age subdue their strength, unless one grow weary of ten thousand centuries; and dying they are gathered to the halls of Mandos in Valinor, where they may in time return."

To men was given another fate--which often seemed a grievance to them, but which was regarded by Iluvatar as a 'new gift.' This gift is outlined in the Silmarillion as well:

"Therefore he willed that the hearts of Man should seek beyond the world and should find no rest therein; but they should have a virtue to shape their life, amid the powers and chances of the world, beyond the Music of the Ainur.....Death is their fate, the gift of Iluvatar, which as Time wears even the Powers shall envy....(for) Men shall join in the Second music of the Ainur...."

These differences, while making an undeniable distinction between the races, has not kept them from friendships or interactions, and while the Elven kings "set regions apart where Men could live their own lives, and appointed chieftains to hold these lands freely," both Man and Elf ally often in war under their own leaders, and in some cases some of the Edain dwell among the Eldar as long as it is acceptable to the latter--a few even entering into the service under those Elven kings. Examples of this include Barahir's entering into the service of Finrod, and Hador to Fingolfin. When men first came into the west, "Fingolfin...sent messengers of welcome to them; and then many young and eager men of the Edain went away and took service with the kings and lords of the Eldar."

The frequent and amicable dealings of men and elves is furthermore illustrated in the cases of the Eldar offering lands to the Edain to dwell in. King Finrod Felagund aided the Edain in finding lands upon which to settle when the Green-Elves of Ossiriand were loathe to let them live in their borders. King Fingolfin sent welcome to the travelling Edain, and allowed Marach's people to settle the lands of Hithlum. Caranthir, too, showed mercy to Haleth and her followers after they had been driven from their lands by the yrch and offered them safety in the lands northward, though the daughter of Haldad refused the offer, pressing westward.



The Haladin and Their Interactions with the Eldar

While significant divisions (such as the Girdle of Melian) limit the Haladin's day-to-day interactions with the elves of Doriath, interactions have and do occur. Especially in times of war with the yrch, the Haladin have banded with the Eldar to fight, and in some cases, defeat the enemy. Examples of this can be seen throughout the First Age, but one of the more notable instances includes the Fords of Brithiach, wherein Lord Halmir of the Haladin and Beleg Strongbow of Doriath joined their people in arms to not only rally against but soundly defeat the yrch in such a way that "...the black tide out of the North was stemmed in that region, and the Orcs dared not cross the Teiglin for many years after."

And while interactions do occur between the elves of Nargothrond and those people of Haleth, with travel, trade and feasts included, the Haladin--as following the Lady Haleth--are a proud people, and thus have not been as open to outside influences, preferring to stand alone and live out their lives in quiet independence.

Edain

Elves

Elves woke before the sun or moon rose and were known as the Firstborn, created in the image of the Valar. They were the eldest, fairest and noblest of the speaking races of Middle-Earth.
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