Middle-Earth is seemingly running out of time with the Dark Lord Sauron still on the loose. But why does Herald Elrond want to destroy the rings of power? These were the elves' last hope, after all.
SPOILER WARNING: This article contains major spoilers for The Rings of Power season 2, so proceed with caution.
Elrond Saw Darkness in the Rings, Despite the High King's Orders
Galadriel (played by Morfydd Clark) recently unveiled the truth: Halbrand was Sauron's human disguise, which the High King Gil-galad (Benjamin Walker) didn't take lightly.
As a part of their last hope, the High King believes that the three rings would be their last hope in saving the elven kingdom. Eldron (Robert Aramayo), on the other hand, refused to believe that Sauron's creations would help them from their tragic fate.
As Elrond put it, "We know not the depth of [Sauron]'s influence," implying that the rings may end up corrupting the chosen ones and perhaps even bring them to their doom quicker.
Despite Galadriel's insistence that Sauron "never touched them", Elrond is quite firm in his stance to destroy them from existence.
The High King balances the argument by saying that the peoples of Middle-Earth are their priority to save rather than leave them to "suffer under the tyranny of a new Dark Lord."
The rings "are more than their last hope" and a "risk worth taking for their kind."
Elrond sticks to his decision, though, and escapes with the rings in his possession, in hopes that Cirdan (Ben Daniels) would be able to keep the rings safe. Unfortunately, things took a grimmer turn from that point forward.
Middle-Earth's Grim Future Had Been Sealed in Episode 2
Cirdan is seemingly enchanted by the mystical powers of the rings. He ends up wielding one of them for himself before bringing the other two to the High King.
While the High King wears the second, the last ring falls to Galadriel's feet. She took it as a sign she was meant to be the third.
This, however, is merely the beginning of Sauron's haunting takeover of Middle-Earth, as seen in the episode when he shapeshifts himself into Annatar, the Lord of Gifts, to deceive the elves once more.
READ NEXT: The Rings of Power Season 2 Reveals What Happened to Bronwyn after Tragic Cliffhanger
Fans will have to wait until The Rings of Power season 2 episode 4 unravels more on Prime Video on September 5.
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