'Gil-galad was an Elven-king.
Of him the harpers sadly sing:
the last whose realm was fair and free
between the Mountains and the Sea.'
'But long ago he rode away,
and where he dwelleth none can say;
for into darkness fell his star
in Mordor where the shadows are.'
One of the things that always struck me strange was that Gil-galad never married and had an hier. I mean really. His Uncle (Turgon), Father (Fingon), Grandfather (Fingolfin), GreatUncle (Feanor) & Great-Grandfather (Finwe) have all been killed in the wars against Morgorth and his Lieutenant Sauron. He ruled for 3,514 years and marches off to the biggest war in ages were, when he falls, the Noldor Kingdom in exile also fails.
Was this ever explained in any of the Lost Tales or letters?
I also think, though, that Frodo makes a major leap in his taking on the role of leader when he leaves the fellowship and he and Sam go off on their own. But this portion of the story is where he starts heading in that direction, I think.