While this is not exactly the topic I brought up, it is still an interesting one. I tend to agree with Mithalwen about Elrond's status during the Last Alliance. Davem's point is interesting, but clearly Elrond was not to be found in the infirmary, as he was Gil-Galad's herald. This means he would have been with Gil-Galad at all times. (Heralds did not simply blow challenges, he would also have been in charge of sounding advances and retreats, neccessitating his proximity) and also, the quote
Quote:
He alone stood by his father in that last mortal contest; and by Gil-Galad only Cirdan, and I
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seems to advance that point. If he was indeed never separated from Gil-Galad's side, it is hard to imagine that he would never have had to fight, or not carried a weapon as well as a trumpet or banner.
I also don't think that his description is final proof. As we all know, he wasn't telling the story of what he did during the last alliance. He was telling the story of what happened. Therefor, if he had, in fact, "stabbed Sauron in the face and killed him forever" he probably would have mentioned it. However, his boasting about the orc he killed while Gil-Galad and Elendil were fighting Sauron wouldn't really be in character, or pertinent to the topic at hand.
And while he is the greatest healer of the third age, I doubt greatly that there is really anyone to compete with him, whether he had killed a few orcs thousands of years ago or not. The only people I can think of, at any rate, who even
might approach his skill in healing are Galadriel and Celeborn, and I tend to think that they too have taken part in the defence of their realms and the battles of the several ages that have passed.