On Elrond

It has always struck me that Tolkien's description of Elrond never did him justice. Sure, he was presented as a wise man, a man to whom many came for counsel. But that has never seemed sufficient.

Elrond was not only wise; he was old, astoundingly old. He was the son of Earendel, who as a child narrowly escaped the sack of Gondolin in the First Age of Middle Earth. He was the brother of Elros Tar-Minyatur, the first of the line of Numenorian kings.

This line spanned the Second Age to the Downfall of Numenor and the flight of the faithful to the shores of Middle Earth. This line of kings governed Arnor in the north and Gondor in the south. And it is to this long line that Aragorn belonged. Aragorn was Elrond's nephew generations upon generations removed.

Elrond was Beren's great grandson. Beren of Beren-and-Luthien. Beren son of Barahir the Bold who fought Morgoth's forces to the death in a rear-guard defense of Finrod Felagund, allowing him and his people to retreat to the caves of Nargothrond. Beren One-Hand, who with Luthien confronted Morgoth in the pits of Angband and fled with the Silmarils.

My heavens what continuity thru thousands and thousands of years. What connection to the legendary past. What permanence. Was it sufficient to portray him as a wise man. I think it was not.

And don't ask me about how well they did it in the movie.

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