The Hypothetical Baby: Tauriel and Kili's Unfulfilled Promise

In J.R.R. Tolkien's legendarium, Tauriel is a character introduced in Peter Jackson's film adaptations of the Hobbit trilogy. However, Tauriel is not a canonical character in Tolkien's writings. She exists only in the films, where she is a female elf from Mirkwood, who forms a brief but significant relationship with Kili, the dwarf prince from the Iron Hills.

Hypothetical Scenarios and Fates

Given the films, it's natural to ask what might have happened had Kili, a key character in the Battle of the Five Armies, not perished. If Kili had survived, could Tauriel and he have had a baby?

Unfortunately, such scenarios are purely hypothetical. In the books, Kili dies during the Battle of the Five Armies, meaning such a relationship would also be non-canon in Tolkien's original texts. However, for the sake of scholarly exploration, let's imagine that both Tauriel and Kili could have had a child. Yet, even in this hypothetical scenario, we must consider the limitations and rules that Tolkien had established within his universe.

The Biologically Unfeasible Reality

The first question one might ask is, could an elf and a dwarf reproduce? In Tolkien's writings, alternative scenarios allow for certain exceptional cases. For example, Elrond's son Elros was granted the choice to become mortal like Men or immortal and to dwell in the Undying Lands. These special cases are, however, rare.

Tolkien explicitly states in his works that Dwarves and Elves have separate origins. The Dwarves were created by Aul?, the Vala, while Angels, Elves, and Men were created by Ilúvatar. According to Tolkien's The Silmarillion, Dwarves are not descendants of Ilúvatar but rather a creation of Aul?. It's clear that Aul? did not have the power to give Dwarves the ability to produce offspring; this capability was granted by Ilúvatar.

The Physical Side of Things

From a biological standpoint, the creation stories in Tolkien's world strongly imply that elves and dwarves are fundamentally different in their natures. While in modern biology, similar species can often interbreed, this is not the case in Tolkien's world. The biological and spiritual divergence between races like elves and dwarves is a key theme in Tolkien's works, emphasizing the unique and persistent qualities of each race.

Specifics in Tolkien's Universe

A prime example is the case of Half-Elven. Children like Elrond could potentially become mortal or immortal, reflecting a blend of both races. This scenario is based on the specific permissions granted by Ilúvatar. While a clear rule exists that Dwarven and Elven lineages remain separate and biologically incompatible, the absence of any similar agreement or biological scenario for elves and dwarves would suggest sexual reproduction between these races is impossible within Tolkien's universe.

The product of such a union, were it to be possible, would also be nigh impossible to conceive or describe. References to the portrayal of such offspring in The Hobbit visual media, such as Weta Workshop, only serve to emphasize the emphasized gap in conceptualization between the races.

Conclusion: A Tale of Impossibility

Theories of Elven and Dwarven relationships, including the potential for a baby, are largely impossible within Tolkien's established lore. Kili and Tauriel's hypothetical child is a product of both the films and fan imagination, grounded in the constraints of the characters' natures and physical limitations.

While the world of Middle-earth is vast and filled with many possibilities, the separation of the races in Tolkien's universe means that certain scenarios, including the existence and breeding of an elf-dwarf hybrid, remain firmly within the realm of impossibility.