**Spoiler Warning** Rings of Power S1E1 - "A Shadow of the Past"

[Pitchwife]

Originally Posted by Boromir88

I'm not sure "stood by" implies Elrond participated (or assisted) in that last fight with Sauron. The text I I think pretty straight forward with how those events played out.

1. Sauron goes into combat with Gil-galad and Elendil.
2. Gil-galad and Elendil both perish, but Sauron is overthrown in the contest as well.
3. Isildur cuts the ring from Sauron's hand.
4. Elrond and Cirdan were the only others present and counseled Isildur to destroy the ring
5. Isildur claims the Ring as weregild for the death of his father and brother.

I'm not sure if herald's had other meanings, besides being a messenger? All Elrond says is he "marched with his [Gil-galad's] host" and "stood by" him at the end as one of the few there who knew what happened.

OK, back to the text. This is once more Elrond speaking:

Originally Posted by LotR Book Two, The Council of Elrond

I was at the Battle of Dagorlad before the Black Gate of Mordor, where we had the mastery; for the Spear of Gil-galad and the Sword of Elendil, Aiglos and Narsil, none could withstand. I beheld the last combat on the slopes of Orodruin, where Gil-galad died, and Elendil fell, and Narsil broke beneath him; but Sauron himself was overthrown, and Isildur cut the Ring from his hand with the hilt-shard of his father's sword, and took it for his own.

We're agreed, aren't we, that the mortal contest in the quote I gave earlier refers to this last combat? It never says that none but Elendil and Gil-galad engaged Sauron, only that both perished in this fight. And what else do you imagine Isildur, Círdan and Elrond were doing while their kings (one of them Isildur's father) were fighting the Enemy? How do you read Elrond saying that he and Círdan stood by Gil-galad if not as direct involvement and active support (as in Stand By Your Man)? Were they just standing there watching?

[Tar Elenion]

Originally Posted by Pitchwife

It never says that none but Elendil and Gil-galad engaged Sauron, only that both perished in this fight.

Horrible argument.

And what else do you imagine Isildur, Círdan and Elrond were doing while their kings (one of them Isildur's father) were fighting the Enemy? How do you read Elrond saying that he and Círdan stood by Gil-galad if not as direct involvement and active support (as in Stand By Your Man)? Were they just standing there watching?

Acting as seconds while their respective lords engaged in honorable two on one combat...

[Boromir88]

Originally Posted by Pitchwife

OK, back to the text. This is once more Elrond speaking:

We're agreed, aren't we, that the mortal contest in the quote I gave earlier refers to this last combat? It never says that none but Elendil and Gil-galad engaged Sauron, only that both perished in this fight. And what else do you imagine Isildur, Círdan and Elrond were doing while their kings (one of them Isildur's father) were fighting the Enemy? How do you read Elrond saying that he and Círdan stood by Gil-galad if not as direct involvement and active support (as in Stand By Your Man)? Were they just standing there watching?

Yes we are agreed that's the "last combat." But in that quote you give Elrond uses "beheld," meaning he observed it. And in the Silmarillion:

But at last the siege was so straight that Sauron himself came forth; and he wrestled with Gil-galad and Elendil, and they both were slain, and the sword of Elendil broke under him as he fell. But Sauron also was thrown down, and with the hilt-shard of Narsil Isildur cut the Ruling Ring from the hand of Sauron and took it for his own.~Of The Rings of Power and the Third Age

So, I've always seen it as Sauron challenging the 2 generals to combat. Sort of similar to Fingolfin challenging Morgoth in a 1-on-1. Only this would have been 2 on 1.

Edit: Cross-post with Tar-Elenion

Anyway, apologies for the little detour. Back to business as usual.

Prediction for Episode 3: Galadriel and Halbrand meet Elendil on a boat.