Elrond the Half-elven is a fictional character of Middle-earth, created by fantasy author J.R.R. Tolkien. He was the Lord of Rivendell, one of the mighty rulers of old that still remained in Middle-earth in its Third Age.

He was the son of Eärendil and Elwing, and a great-grandson of Lúthien, born in Beleriand, in the First Age, making him well over 6,000 years old by the time of the events described in The Lord of the Rings. Elrond's brother was Elros, Tar-Minyatur, the first High King of Númenor.

Elrond in the books

Born at the refuge of the Mouths of Sirion soon before its destruction by the sons of Fëanor, Elrond and his brother were captured alive. This caused their parents to fear that they would be killed but instead they were taken up by Maglor who treated them with pity and kindness.

Elrond went to Lindon with the household of Gil-galad, the last High King of the Ñoldor when Beleriand was destroyed at the end of the First Age, choosing (like his parents but unlike his brother) to be counted among the Elves when the option of kindreds was given to him.

In the Second Age, he was sent to Eregion by Gil-galad, and after the destruction of Eregion, he fled into Eriador, where he founded Rivendell, one of the last remaining strongholds against Sauron, with the remaining Ñoldor of Eregion.

Near the end of the Second Age, he was Gil-galad's herald at the Battle of Dagorlad, where Sauron was defeated and "killed" by Gil-galad and Elendil (who were also killed) at the gates of his own citadel. In the year 109 of the Third Age, he wed Celebrían, daughter of Celeborn and Galadriel. In the year 130, twins were born named Elladan and Elrohir, and in 241 a daughter, Arwen Undómiel. He led the Council of Elrond, on the 25th of October of the year 3018, at which it was decided that their only choice was to destroy the Ruling Ring.

Elrond remained in Rivendell until the destruction of the One Ring, and of Sauron, when he went to Minas Tirith to see his daughter Arwen wed Elessar (also known as Aragorn or Strider), King of the Reunited Kingdom of Arnor and Gondor. On September 29, 3021 of the Third Age, Elrond left Middle-earth to go over the Sea with the other Ring-bearers, never to return.

Elrond in the movies

In the movie trilogy by Peter Jackson, Elrond is played by Hugo Weaving.

Elrond's personality is completely different in the movies; he even goes as far as to try to convince Arwen to go to Valinor. (There is also no indication that she is not an only child.) He seems to be bitter towards Men, including Aragorn, in spite of some of his ancestors belonging to this race. This portrayal resembles Thingol, father of Lúthien.

This did not happen in the books and Elrond in fact raised Aragorn as his own son, for Aragorn's father Arathorn died. In the context of the books, Elrond's condition that Aragorn simply become King before marrying his daughter is a gracious gesture, especially in comparison to the extravagant demands of Thingol, and there is never any indication that he feels anything but love for his foster-son.