Author's note five to The Athrabeth Finrod Ah Andreth has some interesting stuff. In the following, fear is the plural of fea, roughly translated by "spirit".
"Whereas their own fear, being designed to remain in Arda to its end, imposed long endurance on their bodies; for they were (as a fact of experience) in far greater control of them*" [note 5]
"They were thus capable of far greater and longer physical exertions (in pursuit of some dominant purpose of their minds) without weariness; they were not subject to diseases; they healed rapidly and completely after injuries that would have proved fatal to Men; and they could endure great physical pain for long periods. Their bodies could not, however, survive vital injuries, or violent assaults upon their structure; nor replace missing members (such as a hand hewn off).
On the reverse side: the Elves could die, and did die, by their will; as for example because of great grief or bereavement, or because of the frustration of their dominant desires and purposes. The willful death was not regarded as wicked, but it was a fault implying some defect or taint in the fea, and those who came to Mandos by this means might be refused further incarnate life."
And some of that is perhaps open to interpretation, for example, how rapidly, or how much longer. Or something. Some folks bring up Maedhros here, especially when they learn (through the Annals of Aman) the possible window of his torment until being rescued by Fingon. In Quenta Simarillion Tolkien notes that Maedhros in time was healed, and describes the reasons why, yet even so, according to the Annals, Maedhros was hanged before Sun Year reckoning, so we mortals are struck that, even if an Elf survived for "only" one Valian Year, for example, that alone would be more than nine Sun Years!
That said, we don't get very many details about this, possibly including, for instance, Morgoth keeping Maedhros alive somehow, if in agony.
|