"Elrond saw many things and read many hearts."

[Appendices to LotR, JRR Tolkien]

1. Elrond, after the fall of Gil-galad, returned to Rivendell, where some of the High Elves would settle during the Third Age. And other races, too, went to this refuge for counsel, help or healing. Through the power of the Ring of Sapphire, it grew in all things beautiful and good.

Elrond's extensive knowledge of Lore and tradition, combined with the powers of Vilya, made him a Master of Healing. 

"The fair valley of Rivendell, upon whose house the stars of heaven most brightly shone."  [S]

"The house of Elrond was a refuge for the weary and the oppressed, and a treasury of good counsel and wise lore."  [S]

"His house was perfect, whether you liked food, or sleep, or work, or story-telling, or singing, or just sitting and thinking best, or a pleasant mixture of them all. Evil things did not come into that valley."  [The Hobbit]

"He preserved through many lives of Men the memory of all that had been fair."  [S]

Elrond was, by this time, almost 4 000 years old, and he was one of the few keepers of old Lore that still dwelt in Middle-earth. His library was much treasured - especially by Bilbo Baggins, who worked there on his "Translations from the Elvish".

"We crave the advice of Elrond. For the Shadow grows and draws nearer." [Glóin, FotR]

2. The heirlooms and treasures of the House of Elendil were kept in Imladris. So, too, were the shards of Narsil; and many of  Isildur's heirs dwelt and were fostered there. 

Elrond's brother Elros was the first King of Númenor. Therefore, it is natural that Elrond would have a special affinity for the descendents of the great Númenórean Kings.

If one wanted to be really sentimental, one might say that keeping them close by would be a way of keeping the memory of Elros alive.

"Save in Imladris, in the house of Elrond, their ancestry was forgotten. Yet the shards of the sword were cherished during many lives of Men by the heirs of Isildur; and their line, from father to son, remained unbroken."  [S]

"In that house were harboured the Heirs of Isildur, in childhood and old age, because of the kinship of their blood with Elrond himself, and because he knew in his wisdom that one should come of their line to whom a great part was appointed in the last deeds of that Age. "  [S]

"Without the good will of Master Elrond the Heirs of Isildur will soon come to an end." [Gilraen, Mother of Aragorn, Ap]

"After the fall of Gil-galad the lineage of the High-elven Kings was also in Middle-earth only represented by their [Elros and Elrond's] descendants." [Ap]

3. In the Year 109 of the Third Age (therefore, several centuries after they first met), Elrond wedded Celebrían (daughter of Celeborn and Galadriel) who bore him Elladan and Elrohir (twin sons) and Arwen Undómiel, a daughter.

A. Please note that Celeborn was Elrond's Great-great-uncle (as is explained in Elwing).

 

B. Galadriel, apart from being Elrond's Great-great-aunt by marriage, is also related to him through blood.

1. She was the daughter of Finarfin and Eärwen (daughter of Olwë). Olwë's brother was Elwë (Thingol),who was, therefore, Galadriel's Great-Uncle.

As shown in "The Peredhel Math" in "The First Age", Thingol is one of Elrond and Elros' ancestors - so Galadriel and Elrond are distant cousins through their mothers.

2.Finarfin, meanwhile, was Fingolfin's brother. Of Fingolfin came Turgon, Eärendil's Grandfather. Therefore, they are cousins through their fathers, too.

 

In short, this union between Elrond and Celebrían further compacts the family tree of the Great Elves of Middle-earth. 

 

4. [III ~1000] The Istari arrived in Middle-earth (in the Havens), from the Sea. Círdan understood their origin and shared that knowledge with Elrond and Galadriel. Círdan gifted the Ring of Fire to Mithrandir (Gandalf). Only the other Elven Ringbearers - Elrond and Galadriel - knew of this.  

5. Mithrandir developed a close friendship (and alliance) with Elrond and the elves of Imladris.

6. Sauron's power grew insidiously, and the first White Council of the Third Age (echoing the one that had taken place during Gil-galad's reign) was held [III 2463]. There, the Wise - Elrond, Galadriel, Círdan, Mithrandir, Curunír [Saruman] - met to discuss the fate of Middle-earth and decide on what actions to take to face Sauron.

"Saruman dissuaded us from open deeds against him, and for long we watched him only." [Gandalf, FotR]

"Saruman yielded, and the Council put forth its strength and drove the evil out of Mirkwood and that was in the very year of the finding of this Ring." [Gandalf, FotR]

"But we were too late, as Elrond foresaw." [Gandalf, FotR]

7. [III 2509] Celebrían, travelling to Lothlórien with an elvish escort, was ambushed and kidnapped by Orcs in the Redhorn Pass. The twins rescued her and took her to Elrond, in Imladris, hoping that he could heal the wounds she had sustained.

8. [III 2510] Having never fully recovered from the attack, Celebrían left Middle-earth.

"Though healed in body by Elrond, lost all delight in Middle-earth." [Ap]

9. Among the heirs of Isildur that were raised in Imladris, was Aragorn [b. III 2931], son of Arathorn [died III 2933], who was destined to reclaim the Throne of Gondor.

"Elrond took the place of his father and came to love him as a son of his own." [Ap]

10. [III 2941] Bilbo Baggins and the Dwarves went off in their "adventure". They were led to Rivendell by Gandalf, and Elrond's mastery of the lost languages proved invaluable help. He also provided food, rest and merriment, and even supplied Gandalf with a pony.

11. On their way back from their encounter with Smaug, the Dragon, they again stopped at Rivendell, where they rested and told of their adventures.

"A little sleep does a great cure in the house of Elrond."  [The Hobbit]

12. [III 2951] Aragorn first saw Arwen Undómiel and fell in love. Elrond realized that, should Arwen wed Aragorn, she would have to give up her immortality and was doomed to die in Middle-earth.

"I do not think that you will have the good will of Elrond in this matter. [Gilraen, Mother of Aragorn, Ap]

"You shall neither have wife, nor bind any woman to you in troth, until your time comes and you are found worthy of it." [Elrond, Ap]

"Lo! Master Elrond, the years of your abiding run short at last, and the choice must soon be laid on your children, to part either with you or with Middle-earth." [Aragorn, Ap]

"There will be no choice before Arwen, my beloved, unless you, Aragorn, Arathorn's son, come between us and bring one of us, you or me, to a bitter parting beyond the end of the world." [Elrond, Ap]

13. Elrond and Mithrandir understood that Sauron was growing in power and that, soon, a decisive time would come in the History of Middle-earth - Elrond foresaw that the One Ring would be found and Sauron resurface to claim it. He saw, too, that a great War would take place, and that with it the Third Age would end. 

14. [III 2953] The last meeting of the White Council was held.

"For the last time the Council met; for now we learned that he was seeking ever more eagerly for the One." [Gandalf, FotR]

 

15. [III 2980] Arwen betrothed herself to Aragorn, and Elrond saw that she has chosen to die with Aragorn, rather than to leave Middle-earth with the Elves. He told his foster son that he would not allow the union until the day Aragorn had fulfilled his destiny.

"When Elrond learned the choice of his daughter, he was silent, though his heart was grieved and found the doom long feared none the easier to endure." [Ap]

"She shall not be the bride of any Man less than the King of both Gondor and Arnor." [Elrond, Ap]

16. [III 3001] Bilbo, in his old age, was instructed by Gandalf to relinquish the One Ring. He retired to Imladris, where he spent his days working on his book [III 3002].

17. Frodo, Bilbo's nephew, left The Shire, to take the One Ring to Rivendell, where its fate would be decided.

"Tighten your belts, and think with hope of the tables of Elrond's house." [Aragorn, FotR]

18. Saruman's treachery was discovered. Few possessed the power to resist his hypnotic voice - Gandalf, Elrond, Galadriel.

"I was lulled by the words of Saruman the Wise; but I should have sought for the truth sooner, and our peril would now be less." [Gandalf, FotR]

"We were all at fault." [Elrond, FotR]

19. Frodo was attacked and wounded by the Ringwraiths at Weathertop. Elrond, receiving news of The Nine's presence, sent his Elves out to face them, and Glorfindel to search for the Ringbearer. With Glorfindel's help, Frodo escaped.

"There are few even in Rivendell that can ride openly against the Nine; but such as there were, Elrond sent out north, west, and south. It was thought that you might turn far aside to avoid pursuit, and become lost in the Wilderness."  [Glorfindel, FotR]

In the film version, Glorfindel is replaced by Arwen. 

20. Counted among Elrond's powers was the ability to control the River Bruinen, which flowed down from the Misty Mountains and barred the entrance to Rivendell. Frodo successfully crossed the Ford of Bruinen and, when the Ringwraiths attempted to follow him, Elrond commanded a flood, defeating them.  (This flood was then 'embellished' by Gandalf.)

"The river of this valley is under his power, and it will rise in anger when he has great need to bar the Ford." [Gandalf, FotR]

"I added a few touches of my own: you may not have noticed, but some of the waves took the form of great white horses with shining white riders" [Gandalf, FotR]

 

Once more, in the movie, Arwen is given Elrond's role in the control of the River.

21. Frodo was taken to Rivendell and looked after by Elrond who, after several days, was finally able to remove a splinter of a poisonous Morgul-knife, that was embedded in Frodo's flesh.

22. The Council of Elrond was held, and Elrond formed the Fellowship of the Ring.

For a lengthier look at the Council of Elrond and the Forming of the Company of the Ring, please visit our Council page.

 

23. Through his sons Elladan and Elrohir, Elrond sent word to Aragorn, in Rohan, to orient him in his quest.

"Remember the words of the seer, and the Paths of the Dead." [RotK]

 

24. The War of the Ring was fought, Sauron defeated and the One Ring unmade. The Age of the Elves was over and the Fourth Age - the Age of Men - was about to start. 

25. The power of the Three Elven Rings diminished and, with it, the ability to heal and to arrest change. Imladris and the other Elven havens (such as Lothlórien) started to suffer the effects of time and of the forces of nature. 

26. Aragorn claimed his throne as King Elessar of Gondor and Arnor. On Midsummer's Eve, Elrond journeyed to Minas Tirith and handed him the Sceptre of Annúminas, his rightful heirloom.

"Came Master Elrond, mighty among Elves and Men, bearing the sceptre of Annúminas, and beside him upon a grey palfrey rode Arwen his daughter, Evenstar of her people." [RotK]

"And Elrond surrendered the sceptre, and laid the hand of his daughter in the hand of the King." [RotK]

27. On Midsummer's Day, Arwen Undómiel, daughter of Elrond and Celebrían, was wedded to King Elessar, in Minas Tirith.

28. Elrond and the House of Imladris left Minas Tirith and rode with King Éomer of Rohan to Edoras. So, too, did Galadriel and Celeborn (and their people) and the King and Queen of Gondor and Arnor. It was there, in Edoras, that Arwen and Elrond last saw each other, knowing that Elrond would leave for the West, and Arwen would die in Middle-earth.

"To the children of Elrond a choice was also appointed: to pass with him from the circles of the world; or if they remained, to become mortal and die in Middle-earth. For Elrond, therefore, all chances of the War of the Ring were fraught with sorrow." [Ap]

"Grievous among the sorrows of that Age was the parting of Elrond and Arwen, for they were sundered by the Sea and by a doom beyond the end of the world." [Ap]

"None saw her last meeting with Elrond her father, for they went up into the hills and there spoke long together, and bitter was their parting that should endure beyond the ends of the world." [RotK]

29. The Elves of Lothlórien and Imladris journeyed together, and with them went Gandalf and the Hobbits. The Wise, for the last time, talked of everything that had been, and of things that had not yet come to pass. Then the Lothlórien elves turned westward, and the House of Imladris and the people of The Shire rode on.

"They would sit together under the stars, recalling the ages that were gone and all their joys and labours in the world, or holding council, concerning the days to come. If any wanderer had chanced to pass, little would he have seen or heard, and it would have seemed to him only that he saw grey figures, carved in stone, memorials of forgotten things now lost in unpeopled lands. For they did not move or speak with mouth, looking from mind to mind; and only their shining eyes stirred and kindled as their thoughts went to and fro." [RotK]

"People of Lórien rode towards the mountains; and those who were going to Rivendell sat on the hill and watched, until there came out of the gathering mist a flash; and then they saw no more. Frodo knew that Galadriel had held aloft her ring in token of farewell." [RotK]

 

30. The Hobbits once more stopped in the haven of Rivendell. But The Shire called to them in their hearts, and they finally took their leave. Elrond saw Frodo off and instructed him to look for Bilbo in The Shire, in the autumn.

"You will not need to come back, unless you come very soon. For about this time of the year, when the leaves are gold before they fall, look for Bilbo in the woods of the Shire. I shall be with him." [Elrond, RotK]

31. Frodo and Samwise Gamgee, in The Shire, met the Elves who were riding to Mithlond, to leave the shores of Middle-earth in Círdan's ships. Among them rode Elrond, Galadriel and a very old Bilbo. Elrond carried Vilya, Galadriel had Nenya on her finger.

[The High Elves] "When weary at last of the mortal lands they could take ship from the Grey Havens and pass into the Uttermost West." [Ap]

 

"Elrond wore a mantle of grey and had a star upon his forehead, and a silver harp was in his hand, and upon his finger was a ring of gold with a great blue stone." [RotK]

 

32. Gandalf (bearing Narya) was present at the Grey Havens. Elrond, Galadriel, Gandalf, Frodo and Bilbo were ready to pass over the Sea - bearing the Three - along with many of the Elves that still dwelt in Middle-earth.

[Song of the Elves, RotK]

33. The Elves sailed to the West. In the last Ship, Elrond left Middle-earth - where he had dwelt for over 6 and a half thousand years - never to return. It marked the end of the Third Age.

"The last of the Noldor set sail from the Havens and left Middle-earth for ever. And latest of all the Keepers of the Three Rings rode to the Sea, and Master Elrond took there the ship that Círdan had made ready. In the twilight of autumn it sailed out of Mithlond, until the seas of the Bent World fell away beneath it, and the winds of the round sky troubled it no more, and borne upon the high airs above the mists of the world it passed into the Ancient West, and an end was come for the Eldar of story and of song."  [S]

34. Some of the High Elves remained in Middle-earth; among them were Elladan and Elrohir, who postponed their decision. They were later joined in Imladris by their grandfather Celeborn. He would be the last of the Great Elves to sail to the West.

"And with him went the last living memory of the Elder Days in Middle-earth."  [FotR]