Lonely Wanderers and the Tales That Almost Were - Page 9
© Michael Martinez
For her part, Mithrellas may not have been as disposed to leave Middle-earth as Nimrodel. Despite the awakening of the Balrog in Khazad-dum, and the destruction of the Dwarven civilization there in 1980-1, not all of the Elves of Lorien wanted to leave Middle-earth. Amroth seems to have undertaken the journey only for the love of Nimrodel. He was certainly a brave and noble warrior, a king beloved by his people. So it is not unreasonable to suggest that Mithrellas herself only reluctantly left the woods of Lothlorien, and did so out of love for Nimrodel.
A reluctance to leave Middle-earth may have disposed Mithrellas to fulfill a special destiny. Although the Silvan Elves may have had different customs from the Eldar, it seems unlikely they would have been less likely to choose a single husband or wife. The sad history of Finwe and his two marriages, as well as Finduilas' love for both Gwindor and Turin, implies that Elves could indeed love more than one person. But Mithrellas probably had no lover prior to meeting Imrazor. Otherwise, that lover would have at least earned a passing mention, and perhaps would have introduced a complication to the story.
Mithrellas nonetheless was a tragic figure. Having left her home in the north, she became separated from both her people and from her mistress. Eventually she reached Belfalas, but apparently only after Amroth's death and the departure of the last ship. So at best we can only say that Imrazor and Mithrellas met sometime between the years 1981 (the year of Amroth's death) and 2004 (the year of Galador's birth).
The only events of significance which occurred in Gondor during that time were the death of Pelendur (1998), the Steward who had rejected Arvedui's claim to the crown of Gondor in 1944, and the fall of Minas Ithil (2000-2). Earnil II remained King of Gondor, and Adrahil, father of Imrazor, was probably still alive (and most likely did not die until around 2025). The fall of Minas Ithil to the Nazgul may have been the event which triggered the marriage of Imrazor and Mithrellas.
If we assume that Imrazor and Mithrellas met soon after Amroth's death, say 1982, then she may have accepted his family's hospitality in Belfalas. But her grief over Amroth's death and her hope to meet up with Nimrodel would have been fresh. Also, Imrazor would still have been quite young. Over the course of the next 20 years, Imrazor and Mithrellas would have become close friends, and he would eventually (or quickly, as seems to happen often in these matters) fall in love with her. Mithrellas' own feelings for Imrazor would lead her into doubt. Occasional opportunities to leave Middle-earth must have arisen, for though Edhellond itself was now deserted, the Silvan Elves still had the grace to depart over Sea.
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