The Halls of Mandos and the Return of the Elves!

[Cazoz]

What is known about the time period of Elven rembodiment after they've spent time in the Halls of Mandos? Would the period of time spent 'dead' differ depending on the way they had died, and how they had conducted themselves when alive?

For instance, I guess that Feanor and to a lesser extent, his sons, might have been in the Halls for longer than an Elf with a valiant death, say Ecthelion. How about Elves who'd maybe made bad choices and committed crimes, but not deliberately and personally against the Valar, like Eol for example?

Are there any chronologically documented examples of this? How long did Glorfindel spend in pergatory? Didn't he return to ME at about the same time as the Istari? But how long might he have been embodied before sailing East?

This was bugging me in bed last night, thanks.

[ March 31, 2003: Message edited by: Cazoz ]