There is so much hype surrounding the recently released information concerning the new Amazon Lord of the Rings series: Rings of Power, from fans researching who the cast are and what programs and films they have previously starred in, to audiences worldwide watching the newly released trainer and speculating upon what the series might have in store. From the looks of the posters and Vanity Fair first glimpses at the characters, the series is shaping up to be a wonderfully modern rendition of an old literary masterpiece.
One question that has got many fans stirred up after seeing the photo of the young Galadriel and Elrond holding hands and touching eachothers faces in the golden gilded hall though, is how these two characters know each other, and if there was ever any romance between them. Theories have been in circulation that there may be a forbidden love blossoming between the two in the upcoming series. Depending on the timelines of the new series, people conjecture that Galadriel could already be married to Celeborn at this point, and that there may be an affair in the making, to tantalize the audience with.
However, this is highly unlikely, and would definitely not fit in with the cannon for these two characters according to Tolkien’s original works. Tolkien himself was a firm believer of true love, and of love destined to survive all obstacles, so an affair or infidelity would be a terrible betrayal to the core beliefs of his stories. Although the two elves do greatly revere and admire one another, it is as more of a sense of mutual respect and kinship than in a romantic sense.
If anything, their relationship is probably closer in comparison to that of brother and sister, as the two have long been connected, and look out for each other from their first meeting all the way through to when they serve together on the White Council beside Gandalf the Grey and Saruman in The Hobbit books/films. Even beyond this, they continue to communicate with one another and remain strong allies, despite what it may appear when Galadriel does not go to the Council of Elrond during the Fellowship of the Ring. This is not because of a strained relationship with Elrond due to past heartbreak as many think, but because she was already defending her lands of Lothlorien from the pervading darkness sent forth by Sauron.
In fact, they are actually related by blood, on both sides of their ancestry. This is a little complicated, but in essence, they are first cousins removed by 3, on both their father and their mother’s side. Their relation is far enough apart that it probably wouldn’t interfere with their love in any sense if they had chosen to take this path (Arwen and Aragorn are technically related after all) but the vibe between these two characters is definitely that of family, rather than that of physical attraction. They are often seen communicating with one another telepathically during the White Council meetings, almost like young cousins talking over the adults at a dinner party, and they continue this strong bond eve across the distance of their two kingdoms.
The third factor to consider in this debate is that Elrond eventually marries Galadriel’s daughter Celebrian, who is the mother of Arwen. Although the timescale seems strange for this in the Rings of Power, as the poster suggests that they are similar in age at the time, this must simply be Galadriel's famed beauty and youthful appearance at work, or else a slight rejigging of events on Amazon’s behalf, because Galadriel is actually older than Elrond by around 2000 years. Therefore, in Tolkien’s text, she has already married Celeborn by the time she comes to Lindon, which is where the famed poster of the two holding hands is set. Presumably, the Rings of Power series won’t touch upon Celerbrian’s birth or subsequent marriage to Elrond, but will focus on his friendship with Galadriel prior to her daughter’s birth.
In this way, the poster of her gently caressing his face can be interpreted as the affection of an old and dearly missed friend, as they are reunited after many years of not seeing one another. Theirs is a bond of unconditional love and support, and one that withstands many wars, many tragedies, and many happy memories too. At the end of the War of the Ring, both Elrond and Galadriel depart Middle Earth to go to the Undying Lands, and are later joined there by Celeborn, Galadriel’s husband, so, in many ways, their friendship is everlasting and survives even beyond the realms of passing into the West.