Legolas Character Analysis in The Return of the King

Legolas is Aragorn and Merry’s close friend and one of the nine members of the Fellowship of the Ring. His loyalty leads him to follow Aragorn along the Paths of the Dead and into battle, even in the hopeless march on the Black Gate. Legolas is an elf of Mirkwood and has been warned by Galadriel to be wary of the gulls; when he sees them for the first time, he is unable to shake his longing for the sea, which is a reminder that his true home is not in Middle-earth.

Legolas Character Timeline in The Return of the King

The timeline below shows where the character Legolas appears in The Return of the King. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

Merry, Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli prepare to leave the wreckage of Isengard alongside Théoden, King of Rohan, and... (full context)

...Helm’s Deep, where they plan to rest and discuss their next movements. In the morning, Legolas and Gimli wake Merry to show him around the fortress. Gimli is eager to visit... (full context)

Gimli, Legolas, and Merry walk together and observe the wreckage that was left from the battle at... (full context)

...Riders of Rohan depart. Aragorn returns to the hall to eat before his journey, where Legolas asks him why he changed his plans. Aragorn says that he looked into the Seeing... (full context)

...and can go that way at a time of dire need. He tells Gimli and Legolas he’d be grateful if they came with him, but they are free to decide their... (full context)

...the company sets out to ride. Éowyn comes to bid them farewell, and Gimli and Legolas are surprised to see her weeping. Again, she begs Aragorn to let her ride with... (full context)

...again. Eventually, the company passes out of the cave. They mount their horses again, and Legolas can see the Dead following behind them, ghostlike. (full context)

In the morning, Gimli and Legolas bring a message to Imrahil that Aragorn wants captains to gather at his tent to... (full context)

When they reached the river, Legolas explains, the Dead swept through the enemy and took the ships for Aragorn’s company. The... (full context)

...Their victory is small and feels hollow—they know it’s just a tease. From then on, Legolas senses the Nazgûl flying high above. They bring a feeling of unshakeable dread to the... (full context)

...rest of the captains to the Gate, along with a large guard. Pippin, Gimli, and Legolas join the guard as representatives of their people. They call for Sauron to meet them... (full context)

...They arrive at the feast and sit at the king’s table along with Gimli and Legolas. When two esquires come to serve wine, they recognize them as Merry and Pippin. After... (full context)

The people of the city are busy repairing the damage from battle. The hobbits, Legolas, and Gimli stay with Aragorn, who doesn’t want the Fellowship to disband yet. He tells... (full context)

...a token of his service to Rohan. The group rides on to Helm’s Deep where Legolas fulfils his promise to Gimli and goes with him into the Glittering Caves. Legolas finds... (full context)

...suspects Saruman has a little more strength left. The party prepares to move on, but Legolas and Gimli decide to take a different route to reach their own homelands. Aragorn announces... (full context)