Play Watcher of the Bruinen in the first planning phase and attach Wild Stallion, Hauberk of Mail (from partnerdeck), Cloak of Lórien and either a Round Shield or Squire's Helm (from partnerdeck) to him. If Quickbeam is in play, you can also put Ent Draught on the Watcher. Give him Arwen Undómiel's bonus and you have a sentinel defender with
that doesn't exhaust to defend, as long as you can pay his discard-cost and have enough cards in hand. For that purpose the partnerdeck has Beravor, for shadow-cancellation Balin and when you send the Watcher of the Bruinen to quest, you can ready him with Cirdan and Narya in the combat phase and make him even stronger.
Be sure to attach Song of Travel to Elrond as fast as possible, to play the many events of this deck, that support your defender, let you lower your threat or reshuffle your deck.
With Elrond's ability and Ioreth and Warden of Healing in play, your defender (and other characters) should be able to live a long live.
Copies of Raiment of War should be attached to Warrior of Dale, but can also work on Guardian of Rivendell and Honour Guard or even on Watcher of the Bruinen in the beginning. You may shift it to another eligible character with Bartering later.