[HairOfTheDog]

I don't think he let him go because he didn't want to destroy Isildur... He wasn't afaid to break Isildur's spirit... That wasn't the reason.

I think the question would have been whether he should have pushed Isildur in. And I think it was questionable whether he would have been able to do that. It was a mistake, in the end, not to try, and I saw considerable regret in Elrond's face when he retold that story.

My question, from a historical standpoint, (and I realize the exact scene we are discussing was not really true to the book) BUT, was Elrond already a ring-bearer at that point in the story? - or did his ring come later? To me, that may change everything about whether he could have taken out Isildur at that moment.

[RosieCotton]

BUT, was Elrond already a ring-bearer at that point in the story? - or did his ring come later? To me, that may change everything about whether he could have taken out Isildur at that moment.

Do you mean that because HIS ring was subject to the One, he was somehow under Isildur's power? That's an interesting thought. Or do you mean something else?

[Bear_in_RoseBear]

was Elrond already a ring-bearer at that point in the story?

Nes! I mean, yo! I mean, uhm, I don't think so. Gil-Galad was the first to bear that ring, and I think I remember reading he left it at Rivendell. So, it would have been waiting for Elrond when he got back from the battle.

[ksen]

...I saw considerable regret in Elrond's face when he retold that story.

Elves are weak.

BUT, was Elrond already a ring-bearer at that point in the story?

Elrond would have had to be a ring-bearer by then since the One Ring was made for the explicit purpose of controlling the other rings.