Elrond
Elrond is one of the Peredhil, the Half-Elven. He is the son of
Eärendil and Elwing and brother of Elros, as well as the father of
Elladan, Elrohir, and Arwen. He was born in Arvernien, and captured by
Fëanor’s sons when they attacked to recover the Silmaril. However,
Maglor cared for both Elrond and Elros, and love eventually grew
between them.
At the end of the First Age, the Valar gave Elrond a choice: to choose
either the fate of the Eldar or the Edain. Elrond chose to become an
Elven lord of great power and wisdom, while Elros led the Edain to
Númenor to become the First King of the Dúnedain.
Gil-galad permitted Elrond to dwell in Lindon until he sent Elrond to
Eregion to help defend the area against Sauron. When it was overrun,
Elrond led the surviving Noldor to found Imladris (Rivendell), which
eventually became one of the greatest Elven havens.
During the War of the Last Alliance, Elrond accompanied Gil-galad as
his herald. He and Círdan urged Isildur to cast the One Ring
into Orodruin, but Isildur refused. Elrond would see the Ring once more
when Frodo bore it to Imladris in hopes of shelter.
Gil-galad gave Elrond Vilya, greatest of the Three Rings. Vilya was why
Elrond was able to keep Imladris a haven for Elves against Sauron. He
also aided the Edain by sending military aid, and shelter for the
Dúnedain, especially for the line of Isildur. He also guarded
the shards of Narsil until Aragorn could take it up again.
Elrond eventually wedded Celebrían, daughter of Galadriel and
Celeborn. She bore him three children: the twin brothers Elladan and
Elrohir and Arwen, their daughter. When Elrond sailed over Sea with the
other Ring-Keepers, none of his children went with him, and
Celebrían had gone over Sea before him. Arwen wedded Aragorn,
and Elladan and Elrohir chose to stay beside their sister and friend
rather than accompany their father to Valinor.
References: Lord of the Rings,
Silmarillion
top