[the phantom]

Iarhen, you're greatly underestimating Elrond.<P>Yes, Galadriel was proud, but that's not necessarily a plus. She seemed to love advertising her power (and liked her subjects to do it too). She was always saying how she did this and she could do that, but how much of it is accurate?<P>For instance, she thought she could take the ring and overthrow Sauron, but Tolkien said in letter 246...<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR> In the 'Mirror of Galadriel', 1381, it appears that Galadriel conceived of herself as capable of wielding the Ring and supplanting the Dark Lord. If so, so also were the other guardians of the Three, especially Elrond. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE><BR>The ring just wanted her to think that she could, just like Sauron may have just wanted her to think she was reading him. As you can see, we shouldn't put too much trust in her proud words.<P>I won't even mention that the quote also points to Elrond being more powerful. <P>We receive more accurate information about a character when we consider the observations of others rather than the self-praise of a proud heart.<P>Perhaps we don't fully realize Elrond's abilities because he doesn't flaunt them.<P>So, now we ask, "What are some observations that others have made about Elrond?"<P>Here are some...<P>Bilbo, in The Hobbit-<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR> He was as noble and as fair in face as an elf-lord, as strong as a warrior, as wise as a wizard, as venerable as a king of dwarves, and as kind as summer. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE><BR>He's sounding impressive so far.<BR>Here's an exchange between Frodo and Gandalf in FOTR-<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR> 'What about Rivendell and the Elves? Is Rivendell safe?'<BR>'Yes, at present, until all else is conquered.' <HR></BLOCKQUOTE><BR>Rivendell would stand the longest, eh?<BR>Here's Gandalf in FOTR musing to himself about Frodo-<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR> 'He is not half through yet, and to what he will come in the end not even Elrond can foretell.' <HR></BLOCKQUOTE><BR>So if Elrond can't see his future, then no one can. I guess he has a better mirror.<BR>And then this obvious and much overlooked quote from FOTR-<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR> 'Who made the flood?' asked Frodo.<BR>'Elrond commanded it,' answered 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.' <HR></BLOCKQUOTE><BR>Anyone else think it's amazing that he controls a river?? When else do you see something like that?<P>I guess having an angelic being as an ancestor definitely didn't hurt Elrond.<P>Also, Elrond is the undisputed king of lore and healing. Once again, he sounds rather impressive.<P>Elrond is the product of the ruling house of the Noldor, the ruling house of the Teleri, the three ruling houses of men (Beor, Hador, and Haleth), and Melian (a holy being like Gandalf and Sauron). He should not be so quickly dismissed as Galadriel's inferior (especially with statements like JRRT made in his letter that hint at Elrond having the greater power).<P>Maybe Elrond wasn't superior, but you certainly cannot state without a doubt that he was inferior.<P>(and for you movie only people, forgive all my book quotes, but I thought they were needed because the movie just doesn't do Elrond justice, the movie almost makes him look moody and cowardly, and that's not how JRRT wrote him)