Elrond

Elrond
Aliases	Elrond Half-Elven
Relatives	Eärendil (father) Unnamed (mother) Elros (brother)
Affiliation	Lindon
Occupation	Herald Speechwriter Emissary
Physical description
Species	Half-Elf
Gender	Male
Appearances
Portrayed by	Robert Aramayo
Debut	"A Shadow of the Past"

"It is hard to see what is right, when friendship and duty are mingled."

Elrond to Gil-galad.

Elrond is one of the main characters of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. He is a close friend of Galadriel and herald of High King Gil-galad. Elrond is portrayed by Robert Aramayo, first appearing in the Season One episode "A Shadow of the Past".

Official Description

When given the choice by higher powers to remain either a human or an elf, Elrond the half-elven chose immortality, whereas his brother Elros chose a mortal life and became the first King of Númenor. Greatness is in Elrond’s veins, but he has not yet totally found his place in the world. He must navigate the path between doing what is right for his kingdom and remaining loyal to those he holds most dear.

Biography

First Age

Elrond is a half-Elf, one of the Peredhil, and the son of the mortal Man Eärendil the Mariner, who sailed the Sea to obtain the help of the Valar in the defeat of Morgoth. As a reward, Eärendil was lifted above the bounds of the world to forever carry the Evening Star. As a child, Elrond admired the artistry of Lord Celebrimbor and later saw his share of battle and death. He was friends with Galadriel, Commander of the Northern Armies. At the end of the First Age, Elrond was given the choice of a mortal or immortal life by the higher powers and chose to embrace his Elven heritage. His brother, Elros, was given the same choice and chose a mortal life. Elros went on to become the first King of Númenor. Elrond eventually came into the service of High King Gil-galad in Lindon, serving as a herald and speechwriter.

Second Age

While out one day, Elrond encountered the Dwarf Durin IV, the Prince of Khazad-dûm. Though their recollections of their meeting varied on who told the story, they both agreed that one saved the other from trolls. Subsequently, they shared many memories together. Elrond gifted Durin a sapling derived from the sacred tree of Valinor, which Durin planted in his home at Khazad-dûm. Unfortunately, their friendship waned as time went on. Because Elves experienced time differently, twenty years passed without seeing each other, Elrond didn't realize how long that was for a mortal life span. During this time, Elrond climbed the ladders of the political sphere in Lindon, but struggled to be seen as an equal because of his mixed race.

When Galadriel returned from the northern wastes in her hunt for Sauron, Elrond welcomed her to Lindon and told her that while he understood her desire to continue her search, she had defied the orders of the High King. However, he was choosing to acknowledge her accomplishments rather than dwell on her insolence. After Galadriel was honoured with returning to Valinor, Elrond was given a new assignment by Gil-galad, to work alongside Lord Celebrimbor on a new venture.

Celebrimbor brought Elrond to Eregion where they spoke in his workshop about the tower and forge Celebrimbor wanted to build before Spring. Elrond proposed they ask the Dwarves for their assistance, and brought Celebrimbor to Khazad-dûm. The gatekeeper turned them away as Elves were not permitted within their walls, but Elrond invoked the Rite of Sigin-tarâg who went through the test until he chose to put down his hammer and let Durin win.

Durin escorted Elrond to the gate where he vented his frustrations over Elrond not keeping up their friendship over the years. He felt Elrond had abandoned him and was too selfish to see past his own immortality to see how twenty years was a long time to a Dwarf. Elrond apologized to Durin and wished to apologize to his family as well, something Durin allowed. Disa greeted Elrond with great joy and insisted he stay for dinner and meet their children. He shared the proposal from Lord Celebrimbor, which initially frustrated Durin as he felt used. However, Elrond and Disa convinced him to at least hear out the idea, and the Dwarf sees the potential in working with the Elves for a change.

Celebrimbor commended Elrond for his service, but worried Durin concealed a truth from their partnership. Elrond began to investigate and found discrepancies in Durin's whereabouts for the day. He eavesdropped on a conversation between Disa and Durin and learned the Dwarves had a new expedition in the old mine beneath the Mirrormere. Elrond traveled to the old mine and, after he swore an oath to Durin to keep the Dwarven secrets, learned his friend had uncovered a new Ore called Mithril. The Ore was powerful, seemingly indestructible, but also perilous to mine. King Durin had forbade the excavation, but Durin disobeyed as he believed this was the future of his people. His disobedience backfired as the mine collapsed and nearly killed four Dwarves. King Durin shut down the whole vein which enraged Durin who spoke poorly of the King. Elrond offered wisdom regarding the preciousness of fathers and family, having lost his own father at a young age. With his friend calmed, Elrond extended the offer from Celebrimbor for the Dwarves to visit Lindon.

Their time in Lindon was not without difficulty, as Durin butted heads with High King Gil-galad, which forced Elrond to play mediator. Meanwhile, he trusted Celebrimbor to run tests on the Mithril which had proven Durin's theory of invincibility correct. High King Gil-galad finally confessed that he had arranged for Elrond to contact the Dwarves, as he believed an old tale that the power of the lost Silmarils were infused in the rock beneath the Two Trees of Valinor. Gil-galad shared the truth with Erlond; the Elven race were under threat of destruction with the corruption of the Great Tree spreading rapidly. He believed the Ore could save the race, but Elrond refused to betray the oath he made to Durin by confirming the Ore's existence. He was left to make a decision and ultimately confided the truth in Durin whom, after hearing that he was the sole person who could save the Elves, agreed to bring the matter to his father.

Elrond brought a proposal to the the King of an offer to furnish the city with game, grain, and timber from the forest for the next five centuries in exchange for access to the mithril mines. The King refused Elrond's plea for help as he felt it was going against nature. He didn't approve of the perilous mining conditions. He also forbade Durin's excavation of Mithril. Durin was enraged at his father for condemning the Elves to death, though Elrond took the news with a strong front. He did not say farewell to his friends, but Namárië. As Durin and Disa wept for their friend, they witnessed the miracle of mithril and decided to act against the King's orders to secretly excavate the ore themselves. Durin was prepared to share his secret name with Elrond, but Elrond insisted he save it for the far side. They uncovered far more mithril then they imagined, but were stopped by the King who threw Elrond out of Khazad-dûm.

Elrond returned to Eregion where he reunited with Galadriel, who brought an injured Southlander named Halbrand for the artificers to heal. As the old friends caught up, he told her about their mission to save the Elven race and the Great Tree. They pleaded with High King Gil-galad to grant them more time, though he initially refused until Elrond personally, and privately, appealed to him. With Halbrand's help, plus a few trials and errors, the trio successfully used the power of mithril to forge a power over flesh. Elrond found Galadriel in the Glanduin, nearly drowned, and rescued her. She refused to tell him what transpired between her and Halbrand, instead, she told Celebrimbor they had to craft three rings for balance. As the Lord crafted the rings, Elrond discovered a scroll that revealed Halbrand was not the heir to the Southlands as Galadriel told them. He returned just as The Rings of Power were completed.

The Rings of Power

Now knowing that Halbrand was not who claimed to be, Elrond took the rings and rode for Lindon to inform Gil-galad and counsel him to destroy the rings. Galadriel gave chase, attempting to reclaim the rings. In Lindon, Elrond imparted his knowledge to Gil-galad, and the High King questioned Galadriel about Halbrand's identity. She revealed that he was, in fact, Sauron and had been deceived. Elrond told her that she was blinded by pride, not deceived. Elrond counselled against the use of the rings, fearing their corruption by Sauron as he had been working with Celebrimbor for weeks. Gil-galad believed that using the rings was a risk they must take, as without them, the Elves would be forced to leave Middle-earth just as one of their greatest foes was rising again. He commanded Elrond to give him the rings, but Elrond refused, jumping from the high bluffs into the water below.

Elrond sought out Círdan in the Grey Havens, hoping to convince the oldest and wisest of their race that the rings needed to be destroyed. Círdan questioned the wisdom in destroying something that could lead to the Elves departing Middle-earth and leaving it to its fate; Elrond told him that if it meant playing into the hands of a scheme set forth by their enemy, then it was worth it. As High King Gil-galad and Galadriel arrived in the Grey Havens to apprehend him, Elrond entrusted the rings to Círdan who set out to drop them in the deepest parts of the ocean.

Elrond was taken into custody, and was present in Lindon when Gil-galad intended to announce that the time of the Elves on Middle-earth were over. However, Círdan had not destroyed the rings, instead seeing perfection in them, and brought them to Lindon. The rings, wielded by Círdan, Gil-galad, and Galadriel, restore the Great Tree. Elrond, dismayed at the price they had seemingly paid, left the assemblage.

Powers and Abilties

Elrond was a loremaster, who knew the weaknesses of many enemies. He was skilled both in sword combat--killing many orcs during the Siege of Eregion--and at slight of hand (such as kissing Galadriel to disguise giving her a lockpick). Elrond also had some magical skills, able to see better if he wished, and when using Galadriel's ring Nenya, healing Galadriel alongside Gil-Galad.

Appearances

• Season One
  • "A Shadow of the Past" (First appearance)
  • "Adrift"
  • "Adar" (Mentioned only) (Painting)
  • "The Great Wave"
  • "Partings"
  • "The Eye"
  • "Alloyed"
• Season Two
  • "Elven Kings Under the Sky"
  • "Where the Stars are Strange"
  • "Eldest"
  • "Halls of Stone"
  • "Doomed to Die"
  • "Shadow and Flame"