Did Any Elves Never Leave Middle-Earth?

In J.R.R. Tolkien's legendarium, some Elves did not leave Middle-earth at the end of the Third Age. This phenomenon is particularly intriguing, as the majority of Elves sought the allure of the Undying Lands. Notably, the most prominent group of Elves who remained behind are the Wood Elves of Mirkwood, led by Thranduil. Additionally, the powerful Valar, Galadriel and Celeborn, initially stayed in Middle-earth until after the departure of the Ring-bearers. However, after significant events transpired, other Elves, such as the Silvan Elves and some of the Dark Elves, made a choice to stay, despite many of their kin already having departed to the Undying Lands.

The Quendi and Eldar

Within Tolkien's Legendarium, Elves are primarily divided into the quendi (those who remained) and the eldar (those who went to the Undying Lands). The Eldar are the Elves who answered the call of the Valar to move to the Undying Lands during the Elven Awakening at Lake Cuiviénen. These Eldar went on to build great civilizations, cities, and states. In contrast, the Avari, who refused the call, lived as more or less hunter-gatherers with rudimentary metalworking skills.

The Noldor and Their Legacy

One notable nation of Eldar - the Noldor - returned to Middle-earth in the First Age to fight the original Dark Lord, Morgoth. Key figures such as Galadriel, Elrond, Gildor, and Glorfindel are all Noldor. While the majority of the Noldor returned to the Undying Lands after the War of Wrath, many preferred to stay in Middle-earth for various reasons. The Valar maintained a wormhole, known as the Straight Road, open to those Elves who wished to return home to the Undying Lands.

The Impending Fate of the Eldar

By the Fourth Age, the majority of the remaining Eldar returned to the Undying Lands. The reasons for this were manifold: firstly, Morgoth had poisoned each and every atom of the matter of Middle-earth, causing Elves to fade and Men to fear death. The corporeal bodies (hrar) of the Elves would slowly evaporate and fade away, leaving only their souls (far). Without the hrar, the fa (the means of existence) would be powerless. Consequently, without the hrar, the fa would lead to the Elves fading into invisible, uncorporeal beings not unlike the Ringwraiths. The Rings of Power had prevented this process for a time, but once the One Ring was destroyed, time was given free rein to consume the Elven bodies, making their departure urgent.

The Significance of the Straight Road

The Last Ship, boarded by Cirdan the Shipwright himself with the last remaining Eldar, left Middle-earth in the Fifth Age, and the Straight Road was subsequently closed. This event marked the end of the opportunity for most remaining Eldar to return to the Undying Lands. In contrast, the Avari, who refused the call, never had the opportunity to use the Straight Road, nor did mortals. They were destined to fade and eventually be forgotten.

Notable Exceptions

However, there are at least two remaining Eldar, both Elrond's sons. Maglor, a significant figure due to being one of the ringleaders of the Noldor rebellion, remains bound to Middle-earth as a punishment. His brother, Daeron, was deeply affected when his secret love Lúthien chose to be with Beren, leading to his heartbreak and departure from the Elven lands, never to return. Additionally, while Thranduil and Glorfindel are not explicitly mentioned as having taken the Last Ship, Celeborn eventually did, uniting with his wife Galadriel and their in-laws, Finarfin and Erwen, in Tirion, the city of the Valar.