Did the Avari Leave Middle-earth at the End of the Third Age?
The fate of the Avari, the elves who chose to remain in Middle-earth and did not participate in the Great Journey, has always been a subject of fascination and intrigue. Some of them did indeed leave, while others remain in the forests and caves, gradually fading into legend. This article explores the possible reasons behind the Avari's decision and their ultimate fate.
Remnants of the Avari
Based on the works of J.R.R. Tolkien, it is clear that some Avari continued to exist, albeit in a diminished and often hidden state. The The History of Middle-earth and The War of the Jewels provide us with clues about these remnants. They refer to themselves as variations of "quendi," the Quenya name for all Elves, though they are often seen by the Eldar as a slur. These groups have names such as Hwenti, Cuind Penni, Kinn-lai, Kindi, and Windan, all of which stem from the root quendi.
The Fate of the Avari
Tolkien's letters reveal that the path to Aman (Undying Lands) was closed to the Avari. In Letter 152, Tolkien states that after Aman was removed from the circles of the world, “only the Eldar or High-Elves could still sail thither.” In Letter 154, he clarifies that “the option to sail to Valinor still being open to the Eldar but ‘not to other varieties they had long before made their irrevocable choice’.”
The only route available to the Avari after death was to be summoned to Mandos, where their spirits would be kept, eventually embodied again in Valinor. This option was in their eyes a grave denial of their nature as free beings, hence why they did not wish to leave Middle-earth.
Reasons for Not Leaving
The Avari did not partake in the Great Journey due to their inherent terror and suspicion of powerful beings such as Melkor. When Orom? first appeared to the Quendi, many were either frightened or hid, fearing another hunter like Melkor. This fear and mistrust towards outsiders likely played a significant role in the Avari's decision to remain in Middle-earth.
After the awakening of Elves and Men, some Avari did instruct the humans, leading to a notable diaspora among them. However, they generally did not mingle easily with other Elves, as humans were not welcomed into Elven societies. In some cases, Avari did manage to integrate with the Nandor (Wood-elves) and others, forming smaller and more isolated communities.
Some Avari eventually succumbed to a lifestyle of feral existence and others turned to dark paths, becoming Orcs or adopting a feral nature in the wild. Their stories, much like their existence, faded into the legends and folktales of the lands.
The Third Age and Beyond
The Third Age was marked by the declining power of the Eldar in Middle-earth, and during this period, the remnants of the Avari continued to exist in small communities, often in caves and forests. These groups lived in isolation, their numbers dwindling as the ages passed, eventually becoming mere echoes of the glorious past of the Elves.
The fate of the Avari serves as a poignant reminder of the complexities of the Elven psyche and the deep emotional ties that bound them to Middle-earth. Their story is a tragic one, for them and for the lands they inhabited, yet it remains a significant part of the rich history of Middle-earth.