Summary
The Nature of Eldar Marriage and Morality
Highlights
The Permanence of Eldar Unions
The Eldar wedded once for all. While many histories reveal that Elves could become estranged from good due to the shadow upon Arda, leading to pride, malice, or greed, there is no record of any Elf taking another’s spouse by force. Such an act was *wholly* against their nature, as a victim of such force would reject bodily life and depart to Mandos.
The Impossibility of Deception
Guile or trickery regarding marriage was virtually impossible among the Eldar. Even if one were inclined to attempt such a deception, the Eldar possess the inherent ability to discern at once through the eyes and voice of another whether that individual is wed or unwed.
Recently Summarized Articles
Original text
The Eldar wedded once for all. Many, as the histories reveal, could become estranged from good, for nothing can wholly escape from the evil shadow that lies upon Arda. Some fell into pride, and self-will, and could be guilty of deeds of malice, enmity, greed and jealousy. But among all these evils there is no record of any among the Elves that took another’s spouse by force; for this was wholly against their nature, and one so forced would have rejected bodily life and passed to Mandos. Guile or trickery in this matter was scarcely possible (even if it could be thought that any Elf would purpose to use it); for the Eldar can read at once in the eyes and voice of another whether they be wed or unwed.