๐ What if Aman had remained part of Arda?
Sometimes I wonder: what if Aman โ the Land of Undying Light, home of the Valar and the immortal Elves โ had never been taken out of the world? What if the path to the West had never closed? What if legends hadnโt turned into whispers carried by waves at the edge of the sea?
Would it have saved the Elves from fading? Sadlyโฆ no.
๐ฟ Fading is their fate
The Elves are bound to Arda. It is their home โ and their curse. Even in Aman, even under the Trees, even amidst the songs of the Valar โ they would still fade.
Not like Men โ not with age. Their spirits grow brighter over time, but their bodiesโฆ Their bodies belong to a world scarred by Melkorโs marring. And as the world wears down โ so do they.
๐ Aman is no salvation โ only shelter
If Aman had remained, it would have changed many things. Yes, the Elves could have sailed west sooner. Yes, fading would have been softer, gentler โ almost invisible. But not undone.
Tolkien wrote: โThey do not go for healing, but to delay the inevitable.โ
๐ซ Only One can heal
Not the Valar. Not Fรซanor, nor Galadriel. Only Eru can heal Arda. Only Arda Remade โ the world after the end of time โ will bring true peace.
And so they sailโฆ The Eternal West calls. But even in Valinor, form is not forever. Only the soul โ and the stars โ remain until the end of the Music.
