The conventional wisdom is that Dior, the offspring of Luthien and Beren, is considered to be an Eldar, but after reading the gestational period of an elf-child in the Nature of Middle Earth, I am beginning to question whether that is actually the case.
It seems to me that there is a rule in the Legendarium that if an "person" of mixed heritage choose to be numbered among the Atani, that decision binds all of that person's descendants (e.g.: Elros and Arwen). However, if that person choose to be numbered among the Eldar, his/her descendants retain the ability to choose to be numbered among either as an Eldar or Atani (e.g.: descendants of Elrond). I can sympathize with the later kings of Numenor complain about why the decision of Elros binds them, while to decision made by Elrond did not bind his descendants. Perhaps Eru views the Gift of Men to be of supreme importance that Eru did not want to deprive a "person" of mixed heritage the ability to accept that gift. Or it might be a more mundane and biological explanation to it in that because the Celebrian, the mother of the offspring of Elrond is an Eldar and could therefore gestate her offspring in the manner of an elf-child, while the mother of the offsprings of Elros is mortal and could only gestate her offsprings in the manner of a mortal.
Returning to the question of Dior, because he was begotten AFTER Luthien and Beren return from Mandos and Luthien haven chosen to be mortal, following the rule above, would Dior be mortal because he is offspring of two mortals?!
Any thoughts and comments on this will be greatly appreciated.
It seems to me that there is a rule in the Legendarium that if an "person" of mixed heritage choose to be numbered among the Atani, that decision binds all of that person's descendants (e.g.: Elros and Arwen). However, if that person choose to be numbered among the Eldar, his/her descendants retain the ability to choose to be numbered among either as an Eldar or Atani (e.g.: descendants of Elrond). I can sympathize with the later kings of Numenor complain about why the decision of Elros binds them, while to decision made by Elrond did not bind his descendants. Perhaps Eru views the Gift of Men to be of supreme importance that Eru did not want to deprive a "person" of mixed heritage the ability to accept that gift. Or it might be a more mundane and biological explanation to it in that because the Celebrian, the mother of the offspring of Elrond is an Eldar and could therefore gestate her offspring in the manner of an elf-child, while the mother of the offsprings of Elros is mortal and could only gestate her offsprings in the manner of a mortal.
Returning to the question of Dior, because he was begotten AFTER Luthien and Beren return from Mandos and Luthien haven chosen to be mortal, following the rule above, would Dior be mortal because he is offspring of two mortals?!
Any thoughts and comments on this will be greatly appreciated.