A History of the Last Alliance of Elves and Men, Part 3 - Page 8
© Michael Martinez
Lindon, on the other hand, represented the last great Noldorin country in Middle-earth and Gil-galad probably still had many Elven horses. It is possible the Elves living in and near Imladris also contributed to such a force.
In The Hobbit the Elven-king rides out to hunt several times, but he does not uses horses in The Battle Of Five Armies, so it seems unlikely that Oropher possessed a cavalry. Amdir's army was small but contained Noldor and Sindar from Eregion. Nonetheless, the few published facts about the war do not imply Lorinand had cavalry.
Unfinished Tales, p. 258. "...Malgalad and more than half his following perished in the great battle of the Dagorlad, being cut off from the main host and driven into the Dead Marshes." The survivors may subsequently have been absorbed into Oropher's army, but perhaps were held back in reserve in the following battles.
Ibid., p. 247. The inference of Edhellond's participation in the war is supported only by one passage in "Of The Rings Of Power And The Third Age": "All living things were divided in that day, and some of every kind, even of beasts and birds, were found in either host, save the Elves only. They alone were undivided and followed Gil-galad" (The Silmarillion, p. 294).
The implication that yet other Elven realms (i.e., Avari) were involved is vaguely supported by an earlier passage describing how Sauron eventually seduced the Elves of Eregion (Cf. note 1 above).
The Silmarillion, p. 294. "Of the Dwarves few fought upon either side...." Tolkien offers no explanation of who these Dwarves were or why they fought for Sauron. It may be that he was able to influence one or two of their kings through a Ring of Power despite his inability to dominate them completely as he had dominated the Nazgul. Or it may be there was a rogue group of Dwarves who chose to side with the Dark Lord.
The Two Towers, p. 235. Sam, Frodo, and Gollum saw the faces of dead Men, Orcs, and Elves in the marshes. The Orcs obviously served Sauron, but perhaps the Men did as well. Cf. note 45 above.
The Fellowship Of The Ring, p. 256. "'...I was at the Battle of Dagorlad before the Black Gate, where we had the mastery: for the Spear of Gil-galad and the Sword of Elendil, Aiglos and Narsil, none could withstand....'"
Unfinished Tales, p. 258. "...Oropher was slain in the first assault upon Mordor, rushing forward at the head of his most doughty warriors before Gil-galad had given the signal for the advance."
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