Today we cover the life of one of the most famous elves of the Third Age.
The archer who represented the race of elves in the Fellowship of the Ring
today on Nerd of the Rings we cover the life of Legolas.
There is extremely little we know about Legolas’s early life. We know that his
grandfather was Oropher, who is killed during the War of the Last Alliance. Legolas’s father,
Thranduil, after returning from the battle, takes over as King of the elves of Mirkwood.
Legolas himself gives us reason to believe he was alive and well into adulthood during the events
of The Hobbit - and we’ll cover his age in just a bit. Now, We all know the interpretation of
events from the Hobbit trilogy, but we can only guess what actually transpired. Though, as an
adult elf of the royal line, it’s possible he took part in the Battle of Five Armies - or was left in
charge of the realm in his father’s absence, we can only guess what he was up to. Also,
unlike in the films, we never hear of or are told anything about his mother in the books.
What we do know for sure about Legolas comes as the opening events of The Lord
of the Rings take place. We learn that Gollum is captured by Aragorn and taken to Mirkwood,
where he is questioned by Gandalf and held captive by Thranduil. This means it’s an entirely logical
conclusion that Legolas may have met both Gandalf and Aragorn prior to the council in Rivendell.
On June 20, 3018, Gollum escapes when the orcs of Dol Guldur attack Mirkwood. Legolas is sent by his
father as a messenger to inform Elrond of Gollum’s escape. He comes to Rivendell, where he tells the
side of the Misty Mountains. As the Fellowship marches single file, Legolas takes his place
as the rearguard, due to his keen eyesight. As the group comes to the realm of Hollin,
Legolas states that the air speaks of the Elves who lived there thousands of
years ago. These elves he speaks of were those led by the elf lord Celebrimbor,
who assisted in the crafting of the rings of power. Celebrimbor and his realm of Eregion
would be destroyed by Sauron in the middle of the Second Age. Legolas, with his sharp hearing,
can perceive the very stones of Hollin crying out in grief at the departure of the elves of Eregion.
Gandalf- There is a wholesome air about Hollin. Much evil must befall
a country before it wholly forgets the Elves, if once they dwelt there.'
'That is true,' said Legolas. 'But the Elves of this land were of a race strange
to us of the silvan folk, and the trees and the grass do not now remember them:
Only I hear the stones lament them: deep they delved us, fair they wrought us,
high they builded us; but they are gone. They are gone. They sought the Havens long ago.'
When the company attempts the pass of Caradhras via the Redhorn Gate,
Legolas is able to walk atop the snow, as the rest of the Fellowship trudges through it. Being
able to pass with much greater ease, Legolas scouts both ahead and behind the Fellowship,
eventually reporting to Gandalf that the storm was indeed the work of some great power
sent to stop them. After Gandalf decides to turn back, Legolas stays close to the hobbits
in an effort to protect and assist them during the dangerous descent.
As the company debates their next move, they begin to put forth a vote on whether they should attempt
the passage through Moria. When asked if they would follow Gandalf to Moria, Gimli says he will.
Aragorn says he will, though he is reluctant. Boromir says he will not go unless the vote of
the whole company is against him, and Legolas simply says “I do not wish to go to Moria.”
At last, Frodo says they should wait until morning to vote - after a night’s sleep. Frodo
then comments on the howling wind...however, it is not the wind howling...but wargs.
At a gap in the circle a great dark wolf-shape could be seen halted, gazing at them. A
shuddering howl broke from him, as if he were a captain summoning his pack to the assault.
Gandalf stood up and strode forward, holding his staff aloft.
'Listen, Hound of Sauron!' he cried. 'Gandalf is here. Fly, if you value your foul skin!
I will shrivel you from tail to snout, if you come within this ring.'
The wolf snarled and sprang towards them with a great leap. At that moment there was a sharp
twang. Legolas had loosed his bow. There was a hideous yell, and the leaping shape thudded to the
ground; the Elvish arrow had pierced its throat. The watching eyes were suddenly extinguished.
Later, as more wolves descend upon the Fellowship, Legolas springs into action, with Tolkien stating
“the bow of Legolas was singing”. And in the final stroke of the skirmish, through the magic
of Gandalf, the last arrow of Legolas kindles in the air as it flies - and is plunged burning
into the heard of a great wolf-chieftan. At this moment, the remaining wolves flee.
The Fellowship makes its way to Moria. After their battle with the Watcher in
the Water and gaining entrance to the mountain, the group is plunged
into darkness. We are told that it is so dark that even Legolas’ keen eyes can see nothing.
Later, when the Fellowship is confronted by the balrog, it is Legolas who first
realizes what it is. This moment, as he stares upon a demon of shadow and flame,
is the only moment in Tolkien’s works where we are told that Legolas is truly afraid. As an elf
whose father lived in Doriath during the first age, he is well aware what this creature is,
the incredible evil they helped to achieve, and most of all, the one they served - Morgoth.
After Gandalf falls standing against the balrog, the Fellowship makes their way to Lorien.
We learn at this point that Legolas has never been to Galadriel’s realm. He has only heard
of it in tales. In fact, he says it has been many years since any of his people have been to Lorien.
Remembering the tales of Lorien, Legolas sings The Song of Nimrodel after the fellowship crosses
the river - the song tells the sorrow that comes upon the elves after the dwarves woke Durin’s bane
in 1980 TA. This song is how the Galadhrim who discover the group know Legolas is one
of their kin from Mirkwood. When the group is confronted by the elves, Legolas speaks with them.
When Samwise asks what the elves are saying, Legolas responds, “They say that you breathe so
loud they could shoot you in the dark.” Before saying they need not fear his Lorien kindred.
Motivated by their intense mistrust of dwarves, the elves of Lorien say that they can only
proceed if Gimli is blindfolded, at which the dwarf is outraged, giving at outright refusal.
After Aragorn offers for the whole company to wear blindfolds,
Gimli says he will wear one so long as Legolas is made to wear one as well.
Legolas is now the one who is outraged. However, Aragorn settles the argument
by saying the entire Fellowship will be blindfolded. Legolas begrudgingly complies.
It is during their time in Lorien that Legolas finds friendship in the most unlikely of
people - Gimli the dwarf. When the Fellowship prepares to depart, Galadriel gives them all
gifts. To Legolas, she gifts an elven cloak and booch (broach) in addition to a Galadhrim bow and
quiver. Legolas and the other seven fellowship members make their way down the Anduin river.
One night, the company is ambushed by orc-archers. Legolas jumps out of his boat onto the land.
As Frodo looks up at the elf, Legolas appears as though he is crowned with white stars.
As Legolas is searching for the orcs in the darkness, a dread falls upon the company. One
of the nazgul has come. Legolas looks up and sighs the words “Elbereth Githoniel!” invoking
the name of Varda, the Queen of the Valar. As the shadow of the creature approaches, Legolas draws
back his new bow and shoots the fell beast, killing the nazgul’s steed ***over Emyn Muil.
The Fellowship continues down the river. After they reach Amon Hen, they are attacked by orcs.
The group fights valiantly. As for Legolas, he shoots orc after orc until his arrows run out.
He then switches to his knife. The Fellowship broken, Legolas sticks with Aragorn and
Gimli. As Frodo and Sam make their way across the river and on their own path.
The Three Hunters lay Boromir to rest, giving his body to the River Anduin.
Legolas, with his great elven vision, was of great help to Aragorn in tracking the orcs
who had captured Merry and Pippin as they made their way across the lands of Rohan.
When Eomer threatens Gimli, it is Legolas who immediately comes to his friend’s defense,
threatening the man of the Riddermark in turn. As the trio camps along the edge of Fangorn,
Legolas notes that one of the trees seems to be stretching out it’s limbs to enjoy
the heat of their fire. In another example of his great elven vision,
Legolas is the first to notice their horses are gone. He perceives, as does Aragorn,
that the creatures sounded joyful after their departure - as if meeting an old friend.
Later, the group comes into contact with who they believe to be Saruman. As Legolas is
about to shoot the old man, he realizes who it is and instead shoots his arrow into the air,
where it is set ablaze by the white wizard. Gandalf gives each of the three
a message from Galadriel. To Legolas, he says:
Legolas Greenleaf long under tree In joy thou hast lived. Beware of the Sea!
If thou hearest the cry of the gull on the shore, Thy heart shall then rest in the forest no more.
We’ll cover this prediction line by line as it comes up in the story,
but the beginning is pretty straight forward. It is addressing Legolas,
who has joyfully lived under tree - meaning in the forests of Mirkwood - for a long time.
While we are on the topic of Legolas living long under the trees - let’s address a common
question - how old is Legolas? In truth, we have no idea exactly how old he is.
However, Legolas does give us some clues regarding how long he has been around. As the three hunters
make their way through Fangorn, Legolas tells the others “These are the strangest trees that
I ever saw....and I have seen many an oak grow from acorn to ruinous age.” While it is possible
an oak tree can live for over 1000 years, a common lifespan for an oak tree is between 100-300 years.
Also, later in Rohan, when discussion leads to the age of the Golden Hall of Meduseld,
Legolas says 'Five hundred times have the red leaves fallen in Mirkwood in my home
since then,' said Legolas, 'and but a little while does that seem to us.' Going back to
his time in Fangorn, he also tells the 87 year old Aragorn and the 139 year old Gimli:
"It [the forest] is old, very old," said the Elf. "So old that almost I feel young again, as I have
not felt since I journeyed with you children." All of this evidence, combined with the elf’s other
statements, leads many to believe that Legolas is at least 500 years old - and possibly much older.
Now, back to the journey at hand. The Three Hunters, along with Gandalf,
make their way to Edoras. Later, Legolas would take battle in the Battle of Helm’s Deep.
He shoots at least 20 orcs at the opening of the battle,
and the contest between he and Gimli has begun. Later, with his quiver running low, Legolas uses
his last arrow to save Aragorn’s life. In total, Legolas kills 41 orcs - one shy of Gimli’s 42.
After their victory at Helm’s Deep, Legolas rides with Gandalf, Aragorn, Gimli, and the company of
King Theoden to Isengard. On their way, he talks to Gandalf about the Huorns and makes a pact
with Gimli. After the war, he will accompany Gimli to the Glittering Caves at Helm’s Deep,
if his friend will accompany him on a visit to Fangorn.
After the parlay with Saruman, the group makes their way back toward Helm’s Deep. When a Nazgul
flies overhead the night of ____ Gandalf and Pippin make for Minas Tirith, as the rest make
haste to the Hornburg. When the group comes to Dol Baran, they are met by Elrond’s sons Elladan
and Elrohir, and the ranger Halbarad leading a group of 30 Dunedain. When Aragorn declares
that he will take the Paths of the Dead, Legolas and Gimli join the grey company. Among the group,
it is only Legolas and the twins Elladan and Elrohir who feel no fear of the Oathbreakers.
However, later as the group along with the Army of the Dead comes to Pelargir,
something would strike at the elf’s heart - the sound of gulls - bringing to mind the prophecy
of Galadriel. “Beware the sea! If thou hearest the cry of the gull on the shore, thy heart shall then
rest in the forest no more.” We’ll discover the meaning of this last line later in the story.
With the Army of the Dead having driven off the Corsairs of Umbar,
the company takes the ships north, where they fight in the Battle of Pelennor Fields. From
their victory at Minas Tirith, Legolas accompanies his friends Gimli and Aragorn as they march to
the Black Gate of Mordor. There, he fights in the Battle of the Morannon and sees the Dark
Tower fall. After Frodo and Sam are rescued from Mount Doom and brought to the Field of Cormallen,
Legolas attends the ceremonies honoring the two hobbits. However, that night, Legolas
would not sleep, but instead goes walking in the woods, singing of
the Sea. Thus fulfilling the words of Galadriel: thy heart shall then rest in the forest no more.
Legolas stays for a while in Minas Tirith. Attending Aragorn’s coronation,
as he becomes King Elessar. From there, he would accompany Gimli, Aragorn, the hobbits, Gandalf,
and many others in making the journey to Edoras for the funeral of King Theoden.
After the King is laid to rest, the group proceeds north to Isengard,
where they find that Treebeard has allowed Saruman and Wormtongue to leave.
Here at Isengard is where the remaining fellowship would part ways,
the eight companions would never gather together again after this moment. As Aragorn returns to
Minas Tirith, and Gandalf and the hobbits head north to Rivendell, Legolas and Gimli
make their way to Fangorn. The dwarf fulfilling his promise to accompany Legolas to Fangorn.
In the year 20 FoA, Legolas assembles a group of elves from Greenwood
and they make their way south to Gondor. They come to live in Ithilien,
which becomes the fairest country of all the westlands. The elves assist
the people of Gondor in the rebuilding and improving of Minas Tirith. Specifically,
they plant great gardens and trees all around the city. Also assisting in this endeavor is
a group of dwarves, led by Gilmi, who is now Lord of the Glittering Caves behind Helm’s Deep.
The dwarves rebuild the gate using Mithril and steel and repave the streets with white marble.
Legolas’ remaining days in Middle-earth would be spent living in Ithilien. For 100 years he would
dwell with his group of elves within the realm of Gondor. In 120 FoA, Aragorn dies at the age of
210. After facing this bitterness of mortality, Legolas embarks on one final journey. Legolas,
along with many other elves, and his friend Gimli, come to the sea,
where they sail into the Uttermost West - Gimli becoming the only dwarf to do so. Together,
these unlikeliest of friends sail the sea, finally coming to rest in the Blessed Realm of Aman.