Legolas Research and Fan Club Thread Page #8-9

The Best of Legolas

Continued from Discussion:

Strange and Unique Friendship

From Elanor Gamgee

The very best of Legolas

quote:

Originally posted by Ithildin
...There are only a few places in the book where Legolas actually opens up a little to his companions. Here are a few of my favorites:
One night, as they traveled down Anduin, the group began discussing how long they had stayed in Lórien and Legolas shares with them a little about how Elves perceive the passage of time.
Later, we get a glimpse of his concern for his own people when on their return to Helm, Gimli wished that they had could have called for some of their kinsfolk to come help them fight. Legolas, troubled, replied that he didn’t think any of their kin would have come because they, too, were under attack.
Then in Minas Tirith Legolas recounts to his friends his experience of hearing the gulls for the first time and the heart-rending effect it had on him.
Maybe you all can share some of your favorites...

Cuio mae
Ithildin
Elf Member, FoL

This is the topic I cannot miss! Actually, the two last situations mentioned by Ithildin are among my favourite, too, but I'd like to add two more:
Chapter "Flotsam and Jetsam". First, this absolutely hilarious dialogue when Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli meet their lost hobbit-friends. Although it's Gimli who does most of the talking, Legolas' mild irony greatly adds up to the flavour of the whole scene. And later on, when everybody has eaten, and Gimli suggest that they should light up their pipes. Legolas, who clearly dislikes smoke, wants to go out ("well, I am going back into the open air to see what the wind and sky are doing!"), but after Aragorn's bidding, everyone follows him and keeps on smoking him all over. I absolutely love the closing words:
"Legolas lay still, looking up at the sun and sky with steady eyes, and singing softly to himself. At last he sat up. "Come now!" he said. "Time wears on, and the mists are blowing away, or would if you strange folk did not wreathe yourselves in smoke. What of the tale?"
My next moment is much more poignant; in fact, it's my favourite Legolas moment in the whole book, when Legolas sings his song of the sea. I cannot but marvel that enormous intensity of emotions expressed so sparingly and with such dignity.
To the Sea, to the Sea! The white gulls are crying,
The wind is blowing, and the white foam is flying.
West, west away the round sun is falling.
Grey ship, grey ship, do you hear them calling,
The voices of my people that have gone before me?
I will leave, I will leave the woods that bore me;
For our days are ending and our years failing.
I will pass the wide waters lonely sailing.
Long are the waves on the Last Shore falling,
Sweet are the voices in the Lost Isle calling,
In Eressea, in Elvenhome that no man can discover,
Where the leaves fall not; land of my people for ever!"

__________________
...we put the thought of all that we love into all that we make

From Luthien Undomiel

Ooh yes Elanor, you and Ithildin have recounted some of my favourite Legolas moments. There isn't enough of him the books really

His sea song always stirs emotions in me, sadness especially, although I can't explain why, except that his going to Eressea meant for me that he was lost from the circles of this world for the duration of this world.

But another one of my favourites is the running on snow bit:

"Aragorn was the tallest of the Company, but Boromir, little less in height, was broader and heavier in build. He led the way, and Aragorn followed him. Slowly they moved off, and were soon toiling heavily. In places the snow was breast-high, and often Boromir seemed to be swimming or burrowing with his great arms rather than walking.
Legolas watched them for a while with a smile upon his lips, and then he turned to the others. `The strongest must seek a way, say you? But I say: let a ploughman plough, but choose an otter for swimming, and for running light over grass and leaf or over snow-an Elf.'
With that he sprang forth nimbly, and then Frodo noticed as if for the first time, though he had long known it, that the Elf had no boots, but wore only light shoes, as he always did, and his feet made little imprint in the snow.
'Farewell!' he said to Gandalf. `I go to find the Sun!' Then swift as a runner over firm sand he shot away, and quickly overtaking the toiling men, with a wave of his hand he passed them, and sped into the distance, and vanished round the rocky turn."


I can't imagine what was going through his head as he watched them with that smile on his lips But that part always makes me smile too.

__________________
Nai hiruvalyë Valimar.
Nai elyë hiruva.

From Morgan

Re: Re: The very best of Legolas

quote:

Originally posted by Luthien Undomiel

But another one of my favourites is the running on snow bit:
Legolas watched them for a while with a smile upon his lips, and then he turned to the others. `The strongest must seek a way, say you? But I say: let a ploughman plough, but choose an otter for swimming, and for running light over grass and leaf or over snow-an Elf.'
I can't imagine what was going through his head as he watched them with that smile on his lips But that part always makes me smile too.

Maybe this will help

http://www.sev.com.au/links/cartoonpublish.asp?toon=fotr

From Luthien Undomiel

Thanks Morgan I needed that!

Happy Easter everyone

__________________
Nai hiruvalyë Valimar.
Nai elyë hiruva.

From Rain

I think if we keep on posting favourite Legolas moments they'll be over in a second. I agree Luthien that there is not enough of Legolas in the books, but then that's what makes him so special I think. Even though he does not say much, you always know he's there - you can almost feel his presence. He makes me laugh too, especially when he and Gimli are having their "elves are strange, dwarves are strange" discussions.

I have other fave Legolas moments for you:
- when he covers Arod's eyes and talks to him softly before they pass the Paths of the Dead
- when Aragorn, Gimli and him are running after the Uruk-Hai, Merry and Pippin - the others sleep during the night and he spends his time singing softly to himself
and, one of the best
- when Gimli describes the caves at Helm's Deep, he says that his people would pay money to be let in - then Legolas says that he would pay money to avoid going in, and double to be let out if he strayed. I always find this hilarious
Sorry, but I can't quote - as usual, my books aren't here because that would be too much even for me - to get my books at work, I mean.

Anyway, glad to be back. S'you all later
Rain, FoL

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Rain

"Follow what may, great deeds are not lessened in worth."

Continued as discussion titled:

Bored or Born?