"Darkness will march over the face of the Earth. It will be the end not just of our people, but all peoples."
Gil-galad to Elrond.
High King Gil-galad is one of the main characters in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. He is the High King of the Elves. Gil-galad is portrayed by Benjamin Walker, first appearing in the episode "A Shadow of the Past". Ruling from the Elven capital of Lindon, Gil-galad was the highest authority of the Elves throughout Middle-earth, and both the High Elves and the Silvan Elves obeyed his commands. During the Second Age, realizing that the time of the Elves was waning, he set Elrond and Celebrimbor to the task of arresting and reversing their fall.
Official Description[]
High King Gil-galad is a powerful, pragmatic, and wise Elven warrior and king. Ruling from the Elven capital in Lindon, he strives for a bright future for all elves – but harbors a great secret that threatens both his people, and all of Middle-earth.
Biography[]
High King Gil-galad ruled the Elves in Middle-earth from the capital of Lindon.[1] He was acknowledged as the King of the Elves of the West as he was the last heir of the Noldor kings in exile.[2]
Second Age[]
Centuries after the fall of Morgoth, Gil-galad honoured Galadriel and her company with a return to Valinor, despite her defiance of his orders. She had been hunting for Sauron, but after centuries, no trace of him had been found. Gil-galad also declared the days of war to be over, leading to the disbanding of Elven outposts in the Southlands.[1]
Once Galadriel's ship had sailed from the Grey Havens, Gil-galad tasked his herald, Elrond, with a new venture working with Lord Celebrimbor. That night, a comet streaked across the sky; as Gil-galad watched it, a leaf fell into hand. Turning it over, he watched as a corruption spread across it.[1]
Elrond returned to Lindon with the Dwarf Prince Durin IV whose alliance with Celebrimbor allowed the forge to be built. Gil-galad was curious about the Dwarves sudden increase in mining activity, which caused friction between the pair as Durin wanted to keep Dwarven matters secret. To appease the Dwarf, Gil-galad gifted him their dining table under the belief it was made from a rare Ore. After their feast, Gil-galad finally confessed 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. He shared a sacred truth truth with Elrond; the Elven race were under threat of destruction as the corruption of the Great Tree spread rapidly. He believed the Ore could save the race, but Elrond refused to betray the oath he made to Durin with confirmation of the Ore's existence.[3]
Elrond tried to convince the Dwarves to provide more mithril, but they refused his offerings and cast him out. He went to Eregion to tell Gil-galad he would not longer be a King, for their would not longer be a Lindon.[4]
Gil-galad retuned to Eregion to counsel with Lord Celebrimbor and Elrond on their progress. They shared how they had little to go on, but believd they could stretch the mithril to create a golden crown that Gil-galad would wear. He initially refused to give them more time on the shores. He commanded them to return home until Elrond reminded him that hope wasn't meager. Gil-galad granted them three months to craft a power that could save their people. They ultimately created the Elven Rings of Power.[5]
The Rings of Power[]
Gil-galad received Elrond and Galadriel, both newly arrived from Eregion and bearing vital news. Elrond told the High King that Galadriel had discovered that the Man, Halbrand, was not who he claimed to be. When Gil-galad pressed Galadriel for answers, she admitted that Halbrand was, in fact, Sauron in fair form and that she had been deceived. Galadriel informed Gil-galad that Elrond bore three rings capable of halting the fading of the Elves. Elrond counselled against their use, 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. Gil-galad ordered an immediate search for Elrond and the rings.[6]
Gil-galad dispatched a messenger to Lord Celebrimbor, informing him that Halbrand was Sauron. Galadriel thanked Gil-galad for supporting her over the rings, but the High King told her that it was not trust but a necessity due to Sauron still being alive and their need to test the rings. When Elrond was not found by the search parties led by Ídhiel, Galadriel realised that escape was not his goal, and that he would seek out someone whose word carried weight with Gil-galad. They rode to the Grey Havens, where Galadriel was sure that Elrond had sought out the help of Círdan. Asking Gil-galad for the chance to reason with Elrond, she found him alone. Círdan had been convinced to destroy the rings.[6]
Gil-galad called together the Elves of Lindon 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, restored the Great Tree.[6]
Powers and Abilties[]
Gil-galad was skilled both in spear combat, even killing Damrod during the Siege of Eregion,[7] and brawling.[8] Gil-galad also had some magical skills, with powers of foresight[1] such as foreseeing the battle at Eregion[9] that were amplified by his gaining the ring Vilya,[10][11] by the ring's power healing the great tree alongside Galadriel and Cirdan via the Rings of Power,[6] and healing Galadriel from a soul-consuming wound (though he could only slow the taint until Elrond used the princess's ring and together both lords saved her). He also used slight of hand, such as when he hid his Ring from the orcs who had seized him.[8]
Appearances[]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 "A Shadow of the Past"
- ↑ X-Ray trivia for the episode "A Shadow of the Past"
- ↑ "Partings"
- ↑ "The Eye"
- ↑ "Alloyed"
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 "Elven Kings Under the Sky"
- ↑ Doomed to Die
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Shadow and Flame
- ↑ Halls of Stone
- ↑ Where the Stars are Strange
- ↑ Eldest