Board Thread:Lore Texts/@comment-26149161-20170530015641/@comment-29773086-20170530201120

Also, the 'beginning of the war' may not have been with combat, but Gil-galad immediately hid his Rings, and two years before Eregion, Sauron invaded Eriador, and Gil-galad sent Elrond to defend Eregion. So the letter is plausible to just notify the high king of the fall of Eregion, but Gil-galad certainly knew of Sauron's deceit before then.