[Kurt]

Indeed in their earlier days death came more readily; for their bodies were then less different from the bodies of Men, and the command of their spirits over their bodies less complete.
This command was, nonetheless, at all times greater than it has ever been among Men. From their beginnings the chief difference betwenn Elves and Men lay in fate and nature of their spirits. The fe:ar of the Elves were destined to dwell in Ardafor all the life of Arda, and the death of flesh did not abrogate that destiny. Their fe:ar were tenacious therefore of life 'in the raiment of Arda' and far excelled the spirits of Men in power over that 'raiment', even from the first days protecting their bodies from many ills and assaults (such as disease), and healing them swiftly of injuries, so that they recovered from wounds that would have proved fatal to Men.
As ages passed the dominance of their fe:ar ever increased, 'consuming' their bodies... so that the Elves are indeed deathless and may not be destroyed...

Соответственно, раньше феар эльфов еще не так хорошо управляли телом, и эльфа убить можно было гораздо легче. Отчего и их смерти были гораздо более частыми, похожими на человеческие.

Thus it is that the further we go back in the histories, the more often do we read of the death of the Elves of old; and in the days when minds of th eldalie were young and not yet fully awake death among them seemed to differ little from the death of Men.

(Где в нете найти не знаю. руками набирал.)