| QUOTE |
| Legolas was the son of Thranduil, King of the Woodland Realm of Northern Mirkwood, who appears as "the Elvenking" in The Hobbit. Thranduil ruled over the Silvan Elves of the wood. Although he lived among them, was exposed to their customs, and (it may be inferred) considered himself one of them, Legolas was strictly not one of the Silvan Elves (Wood-elves). His father Thranduil had originally come from Lindon; he and his son were actually Sindar, or "Grey Elves", called in the singular Sinda: "Sindarin" was their language. A small minority of Sindar ruled the predominantly Silvan Woodland Realm, and Thranduil headed them. While the Fellowship attempted to cross Caradhras, Legolas alone remained light-hearted. He was little affected by the blowing winds and snow; he did not even wear boots, only light shoes, and his feet scarcely made imprints on the snow - illustrating the Elves' otherworldliness. Though his father and his kingdom appear in The Hobbit, Legolas does not appear himself, as his character had yet not been created (though his name had). However, since he is at least 139 years old (he is older than Gimli), he must have been alive during the events of The Hobbit, which take place less than a century before the Quest of Mount Doom. In the film of "The Fellowship of the Ring" Legolas can be seen briefly during the opening battle sequence, which would make him at least 3000 years old. |
| QUOTE |
| It was told in the Red Book of Westmarch (first written by Bilbo Baggins, continued by Frodo Baggins and supposedly finished by Samwise Gamgee), that after Aragorn's death in the year 120 of the Fourth Age Legolas built a grey ship and left Middle-earth to go over the Sea to Valinor, and that Gimli possibly went with him. |