Concerning Elf-friends

[HerenIstarion]

Well, how people do acquire title of an elf-friend?
General requisite is to be, well, friendly and of use to elves. In the first age title is applied to the whole peoples (three kindred of elf-friends), as well as in particular cases for those who were of great valour in prooving their friendship. In the second age the picture is much the same, but criteria is slightly different. Now we have particular p0ersons, who rended some service to elves, and whole peoples, who, maybe, haven’t seen an elf in their whole life, yet are considered elf-friends for the mere knowledge of the elven tongues: for the first case:

Long I have owed you thanks, for you have so many times sent to me your son Anardil Aldarion: the greatest Elf-friend that now is among Men, as I deem

that is Gil-Galad in his letter to Tar-Meneldur concerning latter’s son Aldarion.
but, as was said above, the knowledge of Noldorin (or even Sindarin) is sufficient in the case:

If she came through the settled lands of Gondor," .they said, "she would not be molested, and might receive help; for the Men of Gondor are good, and they are ruled by descendants of the Elf-friends of old who can still speak our tongue, after a fashion; but in the mountains are many unfriendly Men and evil things."

stress falls on ability to talk elven tongue, and in Gondorin case it is Sindarin allright.

And sometimes the title is even name for a political party, i.e “elendili” of Numenor

But the most fully the requisite of language is expressed in FoTR

. ‘I thank you indeed, Gildor Inglorion,’ said Frodo bowing. ‘Elen síla lúmenn’ omentielvo, a star shines on the hour of our meeting,’ he added in the high-elven speech.
‘Be careful, friends!’ cried Gildor laughing. ‘Speak no secrets! Here is a scholar in the Ancient Tongue. Bilbo was a good master. Hail, Elf-friend!’ he said, bowing to Frodo. ‘Come now with your friends and join our company! You had best walk in the middle so that you may not stray. You may be weary before we halt.’

this is the first time Frodo is named Elf-Friend, and here it’s not stressed, goes without solemnity, somehow there is a feeling it just slipped off Gildor’s lips unconsciously. Next time he does it on purpose:

Courage is found in unlikely places,’ said Gildor. ‘Be of good hope! Sleep now! In the morning we shall have gone; but we will send our messages through the lands. The Wandering Companies shall know of your journey, and those that have power for good shall be on the watch. I name you Elf-friend; and may the stars shine upon the end of your road! Seldom have we had such delight in strangers, and it is fair to hear words of the Ancient Speech from the lips of other wanderers in the world.’

He applies Elf-friend to Frodo as a title, but again because it is fair to hear words of the Ancient Speech from the lips of other wanderers in the world

So, thechnically, even evil person knowing Noldorin can acquire such a title? I think not, for, decency is required too:

I beg of you," said Bilbo stammering and standing on one foot, "to accept this gift!" and he brought out a necklace of silver and pearls that Dain had given him at their parting.
"In what way have I earned such a gift, O hobbit?" said the king.
"Well, er, I thought, don't you know," said Bilbo rather confused, "that, er, some little return should be made for your, er, hospitality. I mean even a burglar has his feelings. I have drunk much of your wine and eaten much of your bread."
"I will take your gift, O Bilbo the Magnificent!" said the king gravely. "And I name you elf-friend and blessed. May your shadow never grow less (or stealing would be too easy)! Farewell!"

Bilbo is rewarded with the title for his honesty and kindness, and it’s not clear does he know elvish already at the moment, or this knowledge comes to him later on, as well as whatever is said before this of Thranduil’s greed and his love of “white gems”, he cannot be bribed so easily, can he?

As a conclusion: term “elf-friend” has two possible meanings:

1) somehow political, expressing general outlook of the person bearing the title.
2) inner, expressing state of his fea

in the former sense title may be applied by the person himself, and even without any elf nearby, i.e Faramir and Eomer both fight against Dark Lord, But Faramir is an elf-friend, and Eomer is not, though neither is seen to have connections with elves (up to a moment)
in latter sense the process like to a kind of initiation, the title is applied by an elf, usually is expressed by the verb “to name” and written with capital E (I name you an Elf-friend), and, most interesting of all, title in such sense implies change of inner state of a initiatd person. For Frodo, after being “elffriended” by Gildor, is described thus:

Welcome!’ she said. ‘I had not heard that folk of the Shire were so sweet-tongued. But I see you are an elf-friend; the light in your eyes and the ring in your voice tells it. This is a merry meeting

That’s Goldberry in Bombadil’s house welcoming Frodo. Still more, the Change is noticed by more sensitive kind of folk only, for Pippin, Merry and Sam don’t notice any new ring in the voice or light in the eyes of Frodo