Elrond
| Character | |
|---|---|
| Name: | Elrond |
| Occupation: | warrior, healer, scholar |
| Relationships: | Eärendil & Elwing (parents), Maglor (foster father), Elros (brother), Celebrían (wife), Arwen (daughter), Elladan & Elrohir (sons), Galadriel & Celeborn (parents-in-law), Aragorn (son-in-law) |
| Fandom: | The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, The Silmarillion |
| Other: | |
| Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
Elrond is a secondary character in Tolkien's universe. A mixed-race mongrel (Maiar, Noldorin/Telerin Elf, Men) whose family tree reads like the Silmarillion Who's Who,[1] he's perhaps the only character to appear in all of The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings & The Silmarillion. He is played by Hugo Weaving in the Peter Jackson films, a rather controversial choice.[2]
Canon
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.
—'A Short Rest', The Hobbit
Having mixed parentage, Elrond & his family have the gift-cum-curse of choosing whether to live as Elves or Men. Elrond chooses immortality while his brother & his daughter both choose mortality. And that's just the start of the angst-mobile; his history is marked by repeated losses: his parents desert him at the sack of Sirion; his king Gil-Galad is killed; his wife is tortured by orcs & sails West to heal. He bears Vilya, the elven ring of air.
Fandom
Elrond's name appears in the prominent fansite, Council of Elrond, as well as in the German site, Elronds Haus. He's a relatively popular character in LotR & Silmarillion fanfiction, especially in proportion to his significance in the text. A little Elrond-centric gen fiction appeared even before the Jackson films, and the character appears in many subsequent gen works. These often focus on angsty situations such as his upbringing by Maglor after the sack of Sirion, his choice of immortality in the context of Elros' choice to be human, his grief over Celebrían, and his relationship with Arwen and his grief over losing her. His friendship with Bilbo, his complex relationship with Aragorn, and his choice of the Fellowship members are other common topics. Elrond is often seen as a healer or advice-giver in works that focus on other characters.
Elrond & Celebrían, his canonical wife, get occasional romances, and he's known to be susceptible to Mary-Sues, but other m/f pairings are relatively rare. He is a popular partner in m/m slash, where he's paired with a wide range of elves and occasionally men such as Isildur. The most common pairings on the slash archive Library of Moria in June 2016 were with Legolas, Glorfindel, Erestor, Gil-galad and Thranduil.[3] The Elrond/Gil-Galad pairing has its own archives, King and Herald & One Ring To Bind Them. In the early 2000s, there was a disconnect between slash fandom and other fans, with some considering it canonically impossible for Elrond to pair with anyone except Celebrían.
Fanart is rather less common. Occasional art appeared in printzines before the Jackson films. Although there are the usual photomanips, an unusually high proportion of post-film works are not based on Weaving's appearance. Art often depicts clothing, jewellry & hair in detail.
Example Fanworks
Fanfiction
Gen
- The Parting of Arwen by Marion Zimmer Bradley. Perhaps the earliest story featuring Elrond? (1964)
- "A Life of Elrond" by Lyn R. in Nigglings Special Issue 2 (1993)
- Choices by Vorondis. Elrond & Elros choosing their destinies (~2002)
- As Little Might be Thought by Deborah Judge. Fostering with Maglor & Maedhros (~2003)
- The Hour of Splendor by HF. Elrond's perspective on the Fellowship (~2003)
- A Fool's Hope by Thundera Tiger. Elrond debates the choice of Fellowship members with Glorfindel (2003)
- The Last Elf Standing by Suzene C. Epistolary Elrond & Thranduil comedy (2003)
- History Lessons by Nilmandra. First Age history told to Elladan & Elrohir (2003)
- The Crossing by Dien Alcyone. Elrond & Frodo friendship on the ship sailing West (2004)
- Nothing In Haste by Gwynnyd. Elrond's reaction to Aragorn/Arwen (2004)
- Anadûnai by Darth Fingon. Elrond & Elros (2009)
- Clouds Will Clear by Elleth. Elrond mourns after the Last Alliance battle (2011)
- The Starlit Sky by Makalaure. Detailed account of fostering with Maglor & Maedhros (2012)
Elrond/Celebrían
- A Tale of Elrond and Celebrían by Nemis. An influential early novel (2002)
- Go Not From Me! by Dwimordene. Hurt/comfort after the orc attack (2002)
- Sapphire Aurae by Bejai. The pairing in the context of Elrond's ring (~2003)
- Spring, Summer, and Fading by klose. Written for Rare Pair Fest (2015)
Slash
- One Dark Night by Enros. Originally controversial Elrond/Ugluk slash (2002)
- Leavings by Honesty. Elrond/Isildur, Elrond/Cirdan (2002)
- If We Fall Anew by Le Chat Noir. Elrond/Maglor (2002)
- Elf Slash Sarcasm by Tyellas. Parody of the sexually voracious Elf genre. Elrond/Boromir (2002)
- Blood and Smoke by Dargelos. Melancholy Elrond/Isildur short (~2003)
Fanart
- Elrond Harbors the Heir of Isildur by Paula DiSante. Pencil drawing, with young Aragorn (1986)
- Elrond by PrincessTigerLili. Weaving-based pastels portrait (2002)
- Farewell at the Grey Havens: Elrond and Celebrían by Anna K.. Watercolour sketch with full-length figures; Elrond/Celebrían (2003 or earlier)
- Claiming You by Nellas of Doriath. Pen & ink; explicit Elrond/Legolas (2003)
- You Work Too Hard by Nellas of Doriath. Pencil drawing with seated figures; Elrond/Glorfindel (2003)
- Welcome Home by Gelise. Pencil drawing; three-quarter figures; Elrond/Glorfindel (2003)
- Craving Your Touch by Deana K. Pen & ink; full-length Elrond/Glorfindel (2003)
- Erestor and Elrond by EW. Computer art with three-quarter figures; Elrond/Erestor (~2003?)
- Elrond by Gregory Volk/Draig. Pencil portrait (2004)
- Elrond by John Gonzalez/witchking08. Pen & ink half-length warrior-Elrond (2004)
- And Maglor took Pity on Them by Kasiopea. The sack of Sirion; watercolour (~2004)
- Elrond sketch by kimberly80. Weaving-based Warrior-Elrond portrait in watercolours (2015)
Doujinshi
- Sonotame no Elf Desu by Cherry Beans & LOVE + LOVE (2002)
Vids
| Examples Wanted: Editors are encouraged to add more examples or a wider variety of examples. |
Meta
- Elrond (Lord of the Rings): As Kind as Summer by Paranoidangel on Idol Reflections (2004)
- Push Him, Elrond by Ellen Brundige. Brief rebuttal of film-based fanon that Elrond could have pushed Isildur into the Cracks of Doom (~2004)
Archives & Fansites
- Elves of Rivendell (2003 - 2004)
- Shadows of Twilight. Fansite with fanart, information & fanlisting (founded 2004)
- One Ring To Bind Them (link). Elrond/Gil-Galad slash archive (founded 2003; offline)
- King and Herald (link). Elrond/Gil-Galad slash archive with fanfiction, fan art & canon information (founded 2004)
References
- ^ crack-van: The Silmarillion: An Overview (accessed 14 June 2016)
- ^ For example, Marnie writes the character has been thwarted by the movie, where both Elrond and Celeborn have (IMO) been seriously let down in the looks department. No offence to either Hugo Weaving or Marton Czokas, but neither of them could exactly be called 'beautiful'... in 'That tall fellow next to Galadriel.' A short article about Celeborn. (accessed 19 June 2019)
- ^ Library of Moria: FPS (accessed 15 June 2016)