Legolas Greenleaf
Legolas, a young Elf, is another companion on the Fellowship's quest. He is an exceptional archer, and uses a
pair of long knives for close fighting. He and the Dwarf
Gimli became fast friends over the course of the journey.
Legolas does not seem to develop significantly over the course of the books, except
that he perhaps holds his tongue more by the end, as he started out quite quick to
speak. Legolas holds all the other members of the company in great respect, but
comments once that they make him feel older than he should.
He primarily seems to represent watchfulness in Tolkien's moral
structure, as his
eyes are always fixed on the horizons looking for potential threats. A secondary
virtue shown in his character is an adventurousness, a willingness to go whereever the
road leads, regardless of outcome. Legolas rarely shows any hint of fear during the
journey, and is always instantly ready for whatever happens.
