Does anyone know what might have happened to these three? They were Eärendil's companions, sailing with him at the time of the Third Kinslaying (and therefore winding up landing in Aman alongside him -- but they, unlike Elwing, don't set foot on the ground and are eventually set in a new ship and blown away (after Mandos passes judgement on the happy couple) by a wind from the west.
I can't seem to find another reference to them, which is okay -- they're once-off followers of a significant figure. That being said, I'm a little baffled because ... if they're Elves, then Mandos almost immediately summons them all back, doesn't he? So why blow them away? But if they're men who have landed on the shore (albeit they haven't touched the shore, which is the point at which Ar-Pharazon's doom is sealed, it seems) I'm surprised that they are allowed to return living to Middle-Earth (especially since such a big deal is made about Eärendil's exceptionability).
Nobody happens to have further references to them, in the Professor's other writings? I haven't been able to track any down, but my quick-research skills are a touch rusty.
Falathar, Erellont, Aerandir
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Interesting @Androthelm
The only reference I'm familiar with is from The Silmarillion which you have already mentioned. I would think they were Men since they were sent back East and presumably returned somewhere in Middle-earth. Perhaps what made them different from Ar-Pharazon's landing on Aman, is they weren't seeking immortality. They simply were companions of Earendil and Elwing. As Earendil leaves his companions:
'Here none but myself shall set foot, lest you fall under the wrath of the Valar. But that peril I will take only on myself alone, for the sake of the Two Kindreds.' The Silmarillion: Of the Voyage of Earendil
It would seem their act of staying put and waiting, sets them apart from Ar-Pharazon's intentions and why they did not meet the same doom.
The only reference I'm familiar with is from The Silmarillion which you have already mentioned. I would think they were Men since they were sent back East and presumably returned somewhere in Middle-earth. Perhaps what made them different from Ar-Pharazon's landing on Aman, is they weren't seeking immortality. They simply were companions of Earendil and Elwing. As Earendil leaves his companions:
'Here none but myself shall set foot, lest you fall under the wrath of the Valar. But that peril I will take only on myself alone, for the sake of the Two Kindreds.' The Silmarillion: Of the Voyage of Earendil
It would seem their act of staying put and waiting, sets them apart from Ar-Pharazon's intentions and why they did not meet the same doom.
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All I could find in an evening of rushed research was them being mentioned in the one passage where they were named as Earendils companions. They appear for just a moment and just as sudden they are blown away again (quite literally). It is implied that the wrath of the Valar will not rest upon them if they do not set foot on the undying lands. "And Earendil said to them: 'Here none but myself shal set foot, lest you fall under the wrath of the Valar. But that peril I will take on myself alone, for the sake of the Two Kindreds.'"
In combination with the doom of Ar-Pharazon and Mandos' words later in the story, I have always read them as being Men. "Mandos spoke concerning his [Earendils] fate; and he said: 'Shall mortal Man step living upon the undying lands, and yet live?' But Ulmo said: 'For this he was born into the world. And say unto me: whether is he Earendil Tuor's son of the line of Hador, or the son of Idril, Turgon's daughter, of the Elven-hous of Finwe?' And Mandos answered: 'Equally the Noldor, who went wilfully into exile, may not return hither.'"
However, their names are Elven. Now, I don't know how much significance this has, necessarily, because my lore is quite rusty at this point. If their elven names indicate them being elves, than the next question would be whether they are Noldor or not. For Mandos says that the Noldor may not return, because they wilfully went into exile, but that would not be the case for the Sindar necessarily. The Sindar never went into exile wilfully, they just sort of missed the boat, because their lord had fredegared off to fall in love with a Maiar.
But the three mariners being Sindar (and thus possibly not under the doom of the Noldor) would cause their fate of being driven off with a great wind to make no sense: there would be no wrath of the Valar (unless I'm missing something there). So these seafarers should be either Noldor or Men, who are both explicitely prohibited from setting foot on the undying lands. And in that case I suppose you are still right, doesn't make any sense if they are elves (which is rather likely, because the end of chapter 23 speaks of an Elven-folk by Sirion and the sea, not of Men)! The only argument I could give is the fact that the elves are only allowed to come (back) to Valinor after Morgoth has been defeated. The hour was simply not yet come. Seems like a feeble argument, yet it being the right hour for something is a motive in Tolkiens writings. And the end of chapter 23 we are told that Ulmo pleaded for the forgiveness of the Elves. "But Manwe moved not; and of the counsels of his heart what tale shall tell? The wise have said that the hour was not yet come, and that only one speaking in person for the cause of both Elves and Men [...] might move the counsels of the Powers; and the oath of Feanor perhaps even Manwe could not loose, until it found its end, and the sons of Feanor relinqished the Silmarils..."
On the other hand, maybe these three mariners are more symbolic in nature. Aerandir means Sea-wanderer. The other names aren't directly translated, but Falathar may be a combination of Falas (shore) and 'thar' (across), which could mean 'the shore across'. And though Erellont doesn't look like it, apparently it could stem from Ere(b) (lonely) and 'lunt' (ship)? (Note: I am not a scholar in Sindarin) This would cause their names to be very much tied to the deeds of Earendil: a sea-wanderer in a single ship sailing for the shore across the great sea. This could maybe even explain the reason why they are dismissed; they no longer hold relevance. Their only relevance was to be the personifications of Earendils quest, which has now ended, for Manwe deemed: "but they shall not walk again ever among Elves or Men in the Outer Lands." (i.e. no more sailing on the sea for our little sailorboy)
So tl/dr: maybe it's symbolism?
Still, I can imagine that that's not a very satisfying answer.
In combination with the doom of Ar-Pharazon and Mandos' words later in the story, I have always read them as being Men. "Mandos spoke concerning his [Earendils] fate; and he said: 'Shall mortal Man step living upon the undying lands, and yet live?' But Ulmo said: 'For this he was born into the world. And say unto me: whether is he Earendil Tuor's son of the line of Hador, or the son of Idril, Turgon's daughter, of the Elven-hous of Finwe?' And Mandos answered: 'Equally the Noldor, who went wilfully into exile, may not return hither.'"
However, their names are Elven. Now, I don't know how much significance this has, necessarily, because my lore is quite rusty at this point. If their elven names indicate them being elves, than the next question would be whether they are Noldor or not. For Mandos says that the Noldor may not return, because they wilfully went into exile, but that would not be the case for the Sindar necessarily. The Sindar never went into exile wilfully, they just sort of missed the boat, because their lord had fredegared off to fall in love with a Maiar.
But the three mariners being Sindar (and thus possibly not under the doom of the Noldor) would cause their fate of being driven off with a great wind to make no sense: there would be no wrath of the Valar (unless I'm missing something there). So these seafarers should be either Noldor or Men, who are both explicitely prohibited from setting foot on the undying lands. And in that case I suppose you are still right, doesn't make any sense if they are elves (which is rather likely, because the end of chapter 23 speaks of an Elven-folk by Sirion and the sea, not of Men)! The only argument I could give is the fact that the elves are only allowed to come (back) to Valinor after Morgoth has been defeated. The hour was simply not yet come. Seems like a feeble argument, yet it being the right hour for something is a motive in Tolkiens writings. And the end of chapter 23 we are told that Ulmo pleaded for the forgiveness of the Elves. "But Manwe moved not; and of the counsels of his heart what tale shall tell? The wise have said that the hour was not yet come, and that only one speaking in person for the cause of both Elves and Men [...] might move the counsels of the Powers; and the oath of Feanor perhaps even Manwe could not loose, until it found its end, and the sons of Feanor relinqished the Silmarils..."
On the other hand, maybe these three mariners are more symbolic in nature. Aerandir means Sea-wanderer. The other names aren't directly translated, but Falathar may be a combination of Falas (shore) and 'thar' (across), which could mean 'the shore across'. And though Erellont doesn't look like it, apparently it could stem from Ere(b) (lonely) and 'lunt' (ship)? (Note: I am not a scholar in Sindarin) This would cause their names to be very much tied to the deeds of Earendil: a sea-wanderer in a single ship sailing for the shore across the great sea. This could maybe even explain the reason why they are dismissed; they no longer hold relevance. Their only relevance was to be the personifications of Earendils quest, which has now ended, for Manwe deemed: "but they shall not walk again ever among Elves or Men in the Outer Lands." (i.e. no more sailing on the sea for our little sailorboy)
So tl/dr: maybe it's symbolism?
Still, I can imagine that that's not a very satisfying answer.
Last edited by Lychfield Ghoul on Fri Jun 19, 2020 11:05 am, edited 1 time in total.
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@Boromir88 that was my sense as well -- after all, Ar-Pharazon is described to hesitate and almost turn back, and I wonder what would have happened if he had truly repented, even there in full view of the Blessed land.
@Balfur I like your comments, particularly about the potential symbolic meaning of their name in relationship to Eärendil's state of being. That being said, I think you're also right to acknowledge the potential issue raised with the fact that Eärendil is based in the Mouths of Sirion at the time of his sailing, and Sirion is an elven community, being made of refugees from Gondolin. So, unless men (presumably Edain) somehow traveled south and joined them, or were living with Cirdan and Gil-galad perhaps, I don't see a way they could have been men, come to think of it.
@Balfur I like your comments, particularly about the potential symbolic meaning of their name in relationship to Eärendil's state of being. That being said, I think you're also right to acknowledge the potential issue raised with the fact that Eärendil is based in the Mouths of Sirion at the time of his sailing, and Sirion is an elven community, being made of refugees from Gondolin. So, unless men (presumably Edain) somehow traveled south and joined them, or were living with Cirdan and Gil-galad perhaps, I don't see a way they could have been men, come to think of it.
