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Speaking of Legolas... - Page 4

© Michael Martinez

Since Tolkien doesn't mention Legolas in the scanty accounts of the War of the Last Alliance most people seem willing to accept that Legolas was probably born in the Third Age. But it may seem radical to some to suggest he was probably born late in the Third Age, perhaps even well into the Watchful Peace. But there is precedent for a "relatively young" elf to rise to prominence. When the Noldor fled into Exile Turgon and his wife Elenwe probably did not have any children. Their daughter, Idril, was still a child when Elenwe was lost during the crossing of the Helcaraxe. Idril therefore grew up in Middle-earth. Orodreth was also apparently born and raised in Middle-earth, being the son of Angrod and a Sindarin Elf (according to the latest information published in The Peoples of Middle-earth). Orodreth's children were Gil-galad and Finduilas, who would have been even younger at the fall of Nargothrond than Legolas seems to have been during the War of the Ring. Voronwe, Tuor's friend, was the son of Aranwe of the Noldor and a Sindarin Elf who was related to Cirdan. And Maeglin, the son of Eol and Aredhel, was only a couple hundred years old when he died in the fall of Gondolin. Thranduil may have had three or four children, and Legolas could easily have been the baby of the bunch. Hence, to him the events of the First Age and even the story of Nimrodel and Amroth would seem far away. He would be a stranger in Lorien and because of the perils inhabiting Middle-earth he might not have begun leaving his father's kingdom until after the Battle of Five Armies. It may be the Battle of Five Armies was the first true defining event in Legolas' career. Certainly when the Elvenking of The Hobbit set out with his army he didn't expect a battle. Smaug was dead and there was hardly anyone else around to bicker over the dragon's hoard. Except for the fact he was a king going after a large hoard of gold and jewels, he should not have felt much need for an army. So it would make sense if he brought his youngest child with him. All that said, we are still left with questions about Legolas. We cannot, alas!, be sure of anything concerning his past. He probably knew Aragorn and Gandalf before the Council of Elrond, but there is no sign of recognition. He probably had been to Dale and Erebor, but he and Gimli don't seem to have really known each other before the Council of Elrond. Of course, they travelled together for some weeks before they began bonding. Legolas seems to have made the first overtures of friendship when he tried to soften his words about the history of the Balrog on the borders of Lorien.

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