Notes:
1) On Gil-galad: According to Foster (1978), he was born in the First Age and was the last High King of the Noldor in Middle-earth. During the Second Age he fought off Sauron with the help of Elrond, his close companion and herald, and the men of Numenor. After Numenor's fall, Sauron again arose and threatened Middle-earth, and Gil-galad joined with Elendil, the leader of the Dunadain, to create the Last Alliance of Elves and Men. Both were killed in Mordor during the final assault, when Elendil's sword Narsil was broken and Gil-galad was killed by the extreme heat of Sauron. The story of how Isildur, Elendil's son, used the broken sword to cleave the Ring of Power from Sauron's hand, and how Elrond tried to get him to destroy it by throwing it into Mount Doom, was told in the film (FOTR) as well as the book. For an extremely detailed study of Gil-galad as a character, see Martinez (August 4, 2000). For the most detailed study of the Last Alliance itself, see Martinez (May 19, 2001; May 25, 2001; June 1, 2001)
2) On Vilya: From Tyler (1976:507), "The Ring of the Firmament, mightiest of the Three Rings of the Elven-kings made by Celebrimbor the Smith during the middle years of the Second Age. It was given by Celebrimbor to Gil-galad, High King of Lindon, and was later passed on by Gil-galad to Elrond Half-elven shortly before the final battle of the Last Alliance. Elrond bore it throughout the Third Age and carried it over Sea when he departed from Middle-earth in 3021. it was a ring of gold, and bore a large sapphire." For a fascinating study of the Elven rings, and speculation on Elrond's use of Vilya in the Third Age, see Martinez (July 14, 2000)
3) On the guilt of the Elves(in terms of their misleading of the men of Numenor and others concerning the Rings), see a detailed analysis by Martinez (January 19, 2001). I rely heavily on his documents in this series.
4) On Hador and Filgolfin: Foster (1978: 232) explains that Hador "served Fingolfin, who loved him and gave him the lordship of Dor-lomin, where Hador gathered the Third House and became the greatest chieftain of the Edain. During [the battle of] Dagor Bragollach, Hador commanded the rearguard of Fingolfin and was slain in the defense of Eithel Sirion."
5) Note that some of Elven politics (and Dwarvish, for that matter) appear in the Council scene. Rather than make the notes section longer than the story, suffice it to say that the Noldor and Sindar aren't always best buds <G>.
6) There is no evidence Gil-galad ever married. Elrond was his constant companion and confidant for well over 1000 years, until Gil-galad sent Elrond to try and save Celebrimbor in Eregion. Elrond was at his side in Mordor until the end. A century after Gil-galad's death, Elrond married Celebrian, the only child of Galadriel and Celeborn. Anyone I think it was an arranged marriage? <G>
7) Just to remind people of two important differences in the Middle-Earth of The Last Alliance as opposed to the War of the Ring: Amdir was King of Lorien, and Celeborn and Galadriel were his frequent guests, nothing more; Mirkwood was still unfouled, and was known as Greenwood the Great.
8) It seems to me that Legolas' father, Thranduil (the Elf King of "The Hobbit") and his grandfather, Oropher, were inherently supreme pricks, by Elvish standards. The Golden Boy *must* be adopted <G>.
9) Iaun-nin = my sanctuary (Sindarin)
10) The movie made a big gaff in the date of Isildur's "account." It is dated 3434, which is the year the company set out from Rivendell. The final battle in Mordor was in 3441. I left it vague here as to the exact dates and how long everything took so I would not have to decide between the two canons.
11) As for the name of this series,
it's important to know that one translation of Gil-galad's name is "radiant
starlight." <G>
Sources:
Robert Foster (1978) The Complete Guide to Middle Earth (NY: Ballantine Books)
J.E.A. Tyler (1976) The Tolkien Companion (NY: Gramercy Books)
Michael Martinez (October 8, 1999) Would Sandra Bullock be a good Mrs. Isildur? (http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/tolkien/26794)
Michael Martinez (March 31, 2000) Speaking of Legolas... (http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/tolkien/36517)
Michael Martinez (August 4, 2000) Gil-galad was an Elven-king... (http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/tolkien/44954)
Michael Martinez (January 19, 2001) Shhh! It's a secret ring! (http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/tolkien/58090)
Michael Martinez (May 19, 2001) A History of the Last Alliance of Elves and Men, Part 1 (http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/tolkien/69542)
Michael Martinez (May 25, 2001) A History of the Last Alliance of Elves and Men, Part 2 (http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/tolkien/69544)
Michael Martinez (June 1, 2001) A History of the Last Alliance of Elves and Men, Part 3 (http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/tolkien/70973)
The Sindarin Dictionary Project (http://www.geocities.com/almacq.geo/sindar/)