Why did Legolas set sail for the Grey Havens only after Aragorn's death?

[Inziladun]

Originally Posted by SlverGlass

That's what was my conclusion. However, despite the general camaraderie between Legolas and Aragorn, nowhere in the books is a deeper friendship shown. It just doesn't feel appropriate that Legolas would time such an important step in my life in accordance with Aragorn's death.

Legolas did have some measure of respect, and even reverential love, for Aragorn. When Gimli and Legolas recount to Merry and Pippin their experiences in the Paths of the Dead, Gimli makes the comment that it was only "the will of Aragorn" that kept him going. Legolas answered:

'And by the love of him also,' said Legolas. 'For all those who come to know him come to love him after his own fashion...'

ROTK The Last Debate

Additionally, Gimli, who was probably Legolas's best friend, was over 262 years old when they set sail (according to ROTK Appendix C), and that was pretty old for a Dwarf. Couple Gimli's old age with the death of Elessar, and what more did ME have for Legolas?

Originally Posted by SlverGlass

However, your theory about the Silvan elves still residing in ME holds a lot of merit. Thank you for not deeming my question "infantile", Inziladun. I am a little nervous as this is the first thread that I have started in the Downs.

No need to be nervous. Everyone here was a newbie at some point.

[Findegil]

Probably it was more Gimlis timing that that of Legols. I think that Legolas would have stayed in Middle-Earth as long as Gimli lived. That Gimli feeling old age aproache him, having the wish to see Galadriel again and seeing his freind Elessar dead, thought somthing like now or never. Thus it could have been his timing and not that of Legolas.

Respectfuly
Findegil

[SlverGlass]

Originally Posted by Inziladun

Legolas did have some measure of respect, and even reverential love, for Aragorn. When Gimli and Legolas recount to Merry and Pippin their experiences in the Paths of the Dead, Gimli makes the comment that it was only "the will of Aragorn" that kept him going. Legolas answered:

ROTK The Last Debate

Additionally, Gimli, who was probably Legolas's best friend, was over 262 years old when they set sail (according to ROTK Appendix C), and that was pretty old for a Dwarf. Couple Gimli's old age with the death of Elessar, and what more did ME have for Legolas?

I agree with both points. Thank you for quoting that paragraph from The Last Debate. I had forgotten about it :-).

It does make sense that the 'Eldar' of the fellowship would be the last to 'depart'.

And I totally agree with you, Selmo. Those years would have been no more than a blink of an eye for an elf.

[Rumil]

Interesting question Silverglass,

Agreeing with the points above.

Also this implies maybe that there was no 'Mrs Legolas' does it not?

As I remember Legolas decided to set up a Silvan Elf settlement in Ithilien after the War as well as bringing trees etc to cheer up Minas Tirith. I don't think I've heard any more on the subject, anyone spotted anything in HoME etc?

Would be an interesting place Ithilien in the early 4th Age, run by Faramir and Eowyn, with presumably Legolas as leader of a wood-elf settlement, with all subordinate to Aragorn and Arwen. Quite rare to have such a multi-ethnic realm, apart from Bree and Dale perhaps.

There might be ongoing efforts to heal the orcish defilement of the land and perhaps hunts into the mountains and towards Minas Morgul to clear out the remaining orcs etc. Minas Morgul itself required many years before it could be 'cleansed' according to Aragorn, but maybe the rebuilding of Osgiliath might be in progress?

[SlverGlass]

Originally Posted by Galadriel55

Hm, you should see my first thread that I've started - the title incuded "Gandalf the Geat". (the one typo that everyone seems to notice )

As it is said, we find heart in other people's misery; your post does wonders to boost my confidence, Galadriel55. :-). Just kidding:-). Thanks for the boost-up.

Originally Posted by Morthoron

Perhaps it was merely a matter of Tolkien tying up loose ends by offering a bit of finality for each member of the Fellowship. That way, fan-fic writers couldn't go on and on about Legolas well into the 4th and even 5th Ages.

It doesn't stop them, does it? :-). But you have to agree that, at times, it is fun to read about those alternate situations and endings.

[Galadriel55]

Originally Posted by SlverGlass

As it is said, we find heart in other people's misery; your post does wonders to boost my confidence, Galadriel55. :-). Just kidding:-). Thanks for the boost-up.

No problem, Slver! I can't exactly call it misery, though. :-)

Originally Posted by Morth

Perhaps it was merely a matter of Tolkien tying up loose ends by offering a bit of finality for each member of the Fellowship. That way, fan-fic writers couldn't go on and on about Legolas well into the 4th and even 5th Ages.

True. For some reason, that simple solution - just to make the story a good story - escapes me in every thread. :-P The only problem is that the majority of those who are obsessed with Legolas are really obsessed with Mister Bloom. Who knows what they can think of if they think tha Legolas stayed in ME?! =O

What is it with Legolas obsessions anyways? Why Legolas? I like him too, but he's not the only character!

[SlverGlass]

Originally Posted by Galadriel55

What is it with Legolas obsessions anyways? Why Legolas? I like him too, but he's not the only character!

I agree. Legolas is one of my favorite characters. But the book version of him, not the movie one. I was a little too disappointed about the movie version:-). Legolas' character was so insightful and mature in the book. After all, he is the prince of an elven realm... Ah well! You can't get them all, I guess.

[Anguirel]

I think Legolas must have had a fairly healthy pre-Bloom fanbase, Galadriel55. He was certainly my favourite character at my first reading as a rather serious, self-important and chivalric little boy...

The reasons why, for reasons that rationally must be coincidental but certainly don't feel that way, were all extirpated from or altered in the films.

Obviously I always thought Elves were cool but for me this controversial passage picked out Legolas in particular:

Frodo looked up at the Elf standing tall above him, as he gazed into the night, seeking a mark to shoot at. His head was dark, crowned with sharp white stars that glittered in the black pools of the sky behind.

and yes, I did interpret that as dark hair (not an unbiassed reader though). Then he only went and shot the blimming Nazgul steed. One of the finest moments of action Tolkien ever wrote I think; for a believer in the old heroic combats, he's always surprisingly excellent at archery moments; no Homeric contemner of Paris the archer he. I actually have a theory that shooting suits novelists much better than hand-to-hand fighting. An arrow going through the air, subject to aim, wind, accident, is a sort of perfect image of suspense. Tolstoy's duels are much more exciting, short-lasting, awe-inspiring than the stylish fiddling around of Dumas's rapiers. Anyway. This feat of archery was cut from the film, as far as I can see because the director thought the action might spoil the vibe of his soporific Enya-larded drift down the Anduin.

Legolas's next fine moment was his contribution to the Lament of the Winds. I've always loved that, though I understand why few songs made it cinematically. Still, sad.

And now, to at last reach the ostensible topic of this thread, how about the wonderful verse of Galadriel's warning?

"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."

I seem to recall Legolas takes this as a warning that he is likely to be killed. Remember that on first reading you have next to no idea about the rules of the game re: Elves and the Sea, just indistinct feelings of elegy, often at an age before you know about anything else elegiac. I wouldn't be surprised if it was here (or maybe in some war at Troy retelling, but close enough) that I got the impression it was in some sense good to die, noble to be resigned to fate and defeat. I can see in the film this would have been complex: a prophecy about a peripheral character that doesn't even come true in any obvious clunking way (as no true prophecy should). But complex is beautiful, and I really resent that there was no reference to Legolas and the gulls in the film at all, except a nod in that admittedly lovely glimpse of Elves going seaward in FOTR: EE.

I think Tolkien's last footnotes about Legolas are a way of reconciling this sense of elegy (about which there is SO much good, short Ang-Sax poetry) with Gimli's more upbeat spirit, of wagers, promises to visit Aglarond, grim irony. Of course there are times when the buskin is on the other foot: Gimli has his sentimental side too, and Legolas raises the spirits (not the Spirits) in the Paths of the Dead.

Another lovely, structurally purposeless aside is Legolas's recognition of Imrahil's elven heritage; Imrahil himself being a sort of incidental flourish of a character.

Finally, when Saruman warns "it will be a grey ship, and full of ghosts", I think of Legolas, going off at last to fulfil that prophecy, as much as or more than I do of the Ringbearers.

[Folwren]

Interesting and insightful post, Anguirel. I have known several people who liked Legolas best in the book long before the movies came out, and those were boys, too, so it's really not a Bloom-fan thing. I'm more of a hobbit liking person, so I the elves never quite caught my fancy, but I can understand your sentiments. I, too, love that part when Legolas shoots the Nazgul's steed. I've always liked this painting of that part. (I still don't know how to put a picture into the text.)

SlverGlass, I always assumed Legolas waited to leave until Aragorn died because of his ties to him on account of their fellowship. I think that although Tolkien did not describe in very great depth the comradeship between Aragorn and Legolas and Gimli, it was still there to a great extent. They would not leave him when he wanted to go through the Paths of the Dead, and they ran long leagues with him to save Merry and Pippin, and they fought battles together. All these trials and hardships and adventures are bound to bring a trio together, and while they might not become friends like Legolas and Gimli were able to be friends, on account of Aragorn being their leader, they still loved him. So, I feel that it was the loyalty to Aragorn that kept him in ME that long.


Good question and welcome to the Downs.

-- Foley