Why did the Elves go across the sea? Why didn't they stay in Middle-Earth?

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O Elbereth! Gilthionel!

Well that is a hard question to answer since it is such a long story, and I'm not sure how much you know of The Silmarillion or the history of Middle-earth. You could look in The Silmarillion for a more complete answer, but I'll tell you part of it...

In the beginning of the world, after the Eldar awoke for the first time they were summoned to Valinor by Manwe, the Lord of the Valar. They there built cities and lived in perfect harmony with the Valar until Melkor made them distrust the Valar, which is why they went to Middle-earth, East of Valinor. But still, Valinor was always where the elves longed to be after that.

In another aspect of this, the elves are immortal. They can't die of old age or sickness, but when they have lived for thousands and thousands of years they begin to get weary of their time on Earth. So then they can sail into the West to Valinor, to where they feel best at home and where they long to be to find true comfort and peace. They cannot die like any mortal being can, so that is what they do once they are tired of their time on Middle-earth.

Like I said, that was the extremely extremely short version, and there is a lot more to it, but I hope that answers your main question at least somewhat...

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"Hogwarts will always be there to welcome you home."

Thank you . . . So Almaren was destroyed before the Eldar awoke?

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O Elbereth! Gilthionel!

I always thought they were leaving because the 3rd Age was coming to an end....

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Yes Almaren was destroyed before the Eldar awoke...

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[!+~^$#&:;]

That is is part of it, but there's more to it. ArwenEvenstar said it pretty well, so I'll just add to it:
The elves are immortal and after sometime they grow weary of Middle-earth and all it's suffering, and since the men are now growing all the more powerful it is there time to leave, or fade. The elves knew they would have to return someday to Valinor, and that is were there hearts lie. They have the sea calling in their hearts and when they feel it in them they know the must leave. Just a note, Celebrian, the wife of Elrond, left earlier after she had been attacked by orcs because she lost sight of the beauty in Middle-earth.

Can't really think of much to write about now...

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^ Thanks for adding to mine- you said it well.

And also, like you mentioned Celebrian. When you go to Valinor, isn't all of your pain gone?? Like Frodo went so he could be rid of his pain and suffering that he was still going through. I'm pretty sure on this, but can someone confirm it??

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"Hogwarts will always be there to welcome you home."

Hmm... I think that's one the things that Tolkien did not fully explain. It's left vague. There is little we know about the people in Valinor, (but we do know alot about how it looks because of the Silm) I think that since Valinor is outside of the world, and it is not bound to time and memory, it may have a certain air about it that we as mortals do not really know. Freedom so to speak...

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Yes, I guess that that would make sense. I've always compared Valinor to Heaven, really, I was just wondering if it actually said anything of the sort anywhere.

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"Hogwarts will always be there to welcome you home."

Same here! I think of it as heaven too, but then it gets kind of controversial because, don't the elves cease to exist when the world does? But there was also something metioned about how Illuvatar has something planned at the end of all things for both elves and men when they will all meet again outside of the cirlces of the world?

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I'm pretty sure that it says that the fate of elves and men after "The Great End" was hidden from everyone, even the Valar- only Iluvatar knew. So, sadly, we'll never know. *sob*

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"Hogwarts will always be there to welcome you home."

Yeah. That's what I mean. But I don't think that Valinor could be heaven because then it would be were men go as well. I'm confused...

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I know.... Tolkien left far too many blank spots.

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"Hogwarts will always be there to welcome you home."

Yeah, Another reason I think Valinor is not heaven- is because it is only for elves, very few of other races are allowed there, and only by premission of the Valar.

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i knew why Celebrian left but thanks for explaining about the other elves.

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No prob Aranel.

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