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Kibbitzer — Gimli s Tomb
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Published: 2014-08-20 19:20:14 +0000 UTC; Views: 44824; Favourites: 2636; Downloads: 0
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Immortality is a bad thing :cDo mortals die in the undying lands? nice question! I always thought YES but now I'm not sure.
Christopher Tolkien has divulged some of his father’s letters and they said this:
"the mythical idea underlying is that for mortals, since their ‘kind’ cannot be changed for ever, is strictly only a temporary reward: a healing and redress of suffering. They cannot abide for ever, and though they cannot return to mortal earth, they can and will ‘die’ of free will, and leave the world.”
SO....they have lived longer, not forever! OR NOT? perhaps there is no one right answer .___.
I want to resurrect Tolkien to have a CLEAR ANSWER XD
on tumblr too-->kibbi.tumblr.com/post/95242122…
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Comments: 242
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“Immortality doesn’t mean living forever. That’s not what it feels like. Immortality is watching everyone else die.”
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Actually Tolkien stated quite clearly that mortals who went to Valinor did not become immortal. It's not the place itself that makes it the "Undying Lands" but those who live there - the Ainur and the elves. In fact, Tolkien said that the intense vitality of those lands would cause the lives of the mortals who go there to burn out even faster, though they do find peace and healing in the process before their deaths.
(There was only one possible exception - Tuor - and he might have been made immortal not because he went to Valinor per se but it could have been given to him as a gift of the Valar because he was married to elven princess Idril.)
On the bright side, though Legolas would have lost Gimli, he would have found peace and healing himself in Valinor - and reunions with all those elves like his grandpa and maybe his mom who were killed in Middle Earth and reborn in Valinor.
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It's a good thing this never happens as Gimli travels to the Undying Lands with Legolas.
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No, it still happens. Mortals journeying to Aman doesn't make them immortal. Tolkien specifically explained it about Frodo.
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Hold Up!!! Read the Appendix in the books! Legolas tells Galadriel to pull some strings and Gimli goes with Legolas to the undying lands.
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Life is only precious because it doesn't last forever.
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OH SWEET YAVANNA, NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! TOO MUCH EMOTION, TOO MUCH SADNESS, TOO MUCH, TOO MUCH, ABORT MISSION THIS IS OUT OF MY EMOTIONAL PAY GRADE
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I've been wondering that myself for quite a while, and despite the lovely comments people trying to explain, I still don't get it...
At any rate, it's a beautiful picture, but why do you do this to us
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Alas, Tolkien was a mortal like us.
But perhaps the better so for his creations - they are more like us for it 
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Elves can die of grief, so Legolas probably died right then and there
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Beautiful, elegant and sooo sad D:
*the feels!*
...but I love it
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My feels are bleeding, my soul is bleeding... I feel like I'm gonna die right now. It's so painfull, really.
I hate to think about Gimli's death, because it's the most horrible, terrible and worst thing in reality and in the Middle Earth. And when I think about Gimli's death, then come the end to the both fucking worlds..
But I love your sad Legolas. С:
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I wondered this myself for such a long time that after a while I did some looked into it.
There is a book called 'The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien' which go into further details and explain much of the finer things in his works. One of these letters 325 it says:
'As for Frodo or other mortals, they could only dwell in Aman for a limited time — whether brief or long. The Valar had neither the power nor the right to confer ‘immortality’ upon them. Their sojourn was a ‘purgatory’, but one of peace and healing and they would eventually pass away (die at their own desire and of free will) to destinations of which the Elves knew nothing.'
Hope that clears it up
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just love the subtle colors. such a powerful story in one solitary image too. great work!
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Whoa, Legolas has been sitting there a really long time. O.o
That or someone artistically arranged vines around him.
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This really makes me sad 
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The way I understand it is that first every mortal who enters Aman - be it human or dwarf - will die after a rather long lifespan (and lots of fun). I don't know where the dwarves are supposed to go after death but the humans (including hobbits)simply move on.
However: It has been foretold by Mandos that in the Final Battle, Dagor Dagorath, the alliance of Valar, Maiar, good humans, dwarves and elves - in short "the good guys" fight the last and biggest fight against Evil ( namely Morgoth and his countless underlings) and win (Yay!) with Turin Turambar finally slaying Morgoth for good. And afterwards all elves, dwarves and humans are revived and it's one big party on earth
So in the very end I think they'll see each other again. Like the ultimate Happy End, if you will
And I think this is a great picture, too!
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Based of what i understood of it, living in the undyingd lands means living and dying without suffering, kinda like being on morphine 24/7...
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well, it doesn't sound so bad, is kinda like living in a dream till you die, sounds actually kinda cool...
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DEM FEELS!!!!! WHERE DO I PUT ALL THESE FEELS????!!!! DAMMIT; Y U DO DIS?!
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NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NOno NON ONO NO NO NO NON NONONONONONONONoooooo
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