This article is part of Findegil’s Insider’s Guide to The Lord of the Rings
I am sometimes asked, "What did Legolas’ people do in Ithilien?" This has always struck me as a rather strange question. What would one expect Elves to do in Ithilien? They lived there, of course. I do not know the proper number of folk Legolas brought with him. Many departed with him upon the death of King Elessar or soon thereafter. But for a time Ithilien was a wondrous place to visit. Gondor was truly a kingdom of Men and Elves.
People seem amazed to discover that the Wood Elves built houses, indeed houses of stone and wood. I suppose many of Ronald’s reading audience have the impression that Elves wandered about the countryside all day and night, singing wistful song and passing like a shimmering haze across one’s peripheral vision. Indeed, a company of Elves could walk quietly and pass into the shadows if they wished, but theirs was a celebration of life and beauty. They were artists, according to Ronald, and that is suitable. They delighted in the creation of beauty and in inspiring both awe and wonder in their own kind and other folk.
But Elves must live as we do. They require shelter and food, and they wrap themselves in garments of their making. They are also users of tools and engage in trades although a tradesman among the Elves does not live quite the same way as a tradesman among Men. An Elven master might devote himself to long hours of contemplation ere ever undertaking a task which may seem routine. Each new work was approached as something unique in itself, although they often produced many artifacts of similar construction and purpose.
Legolas’ people were especially fond of the rivers and streams in Ithilien, and one often found their dwellings in quiet glades near running water. The Elves were fond of watering the lands and ensuring a rich and luxurious growth around them. Ithilien was ideally suited for such work, and if one beheld an Elven garden or orchard, one was impressed by the abundance of crop and supportive plants.
In the Elder Days when the Elvenfolk were greater in number and represented the mainstream of Middle-earth’s civilization they engaged in extensive trade. Most of this trade was conducted with the Dwarven peoples, for they were not diposed toward the growing and hunting of food, and the Elves had always been keen in the ways of agriculture, animal husbandry, and the hunt. Indeed, hunting is a favorite passtime of Elven men. They do not take life gratuitously but seek pleasure in the pitting of skill against skill, and the wild animals may be as distrustful of an Elven warrior armed with a bow as they are of Men.
For their part in Gondor’s life Legolas’ folk brought foodstuffs to the City. Their fruits and herbs received great praise and were prized as especial gifts. It was a mark of Elessar’s gracious kingship that his table was often laid with foods from every part of the southern Kingdom, and his guests could generally expect to receive unusual delicacies from Ithilien.
The labours of the Elves provided Gondor with great forestry, enchanting gardens throughout the City and even in the courts of Prince Faramir and his heirs in Emyn Arnen. The lands were cleansed of all evil and rotten things and the trees grew free and tall. From a distance their tops might sway in the wind much like a chorus of dancers, if one beheld them in the proper setting when the Elvenfolk were abroad in the wood.
Fine items of craft they also produced, and shared their knowledge with the tradesmen of Gondor. Much that the Dunedain had forgotten was replenished in our store of knowledge by the edification of the Elves. And they proved especially beneficial in restoring our knowledge of herblore and the healing arts. Although the Dunedain retained much lore concerning the healing of wounds taken in battle there were other illnesses which perhaps the old folk or the clans of the dales recalled in half-forgotten rhymes which spoke of cures or treatments. Although the Elvenfolk themselves do not become ill they look with commiserative sympathy upon all living things which suffer, and they have long studied the healing and treatment of animals in the wood. Such knowledge often benefits Men, too.
And some are curious about the wars of King Elessar. Did the Elvenfolk march beneath his banners? If Ithilien were troubled the Elves could and did indeed turn out in great force to help drive back the perils, but it was not Legolas’ purpose to bring armies to Gondor’s aid. Of soldiers Gondor and Rohan had plenty, though their training and equipping is an expense not easily borne. The Fourth Age was an age of Men, not of Elves. The Elvenfolk delighted in Middle-earth but no longer cared to carve out new realms, nor felt the need to retire to great fastnesses of strength from which to assail their enemies. In the time of Elessar’s victory peace settled upon the wide lands even far beyond Gondor and there was seldom need for the Elvenfolk to defend themselves.
Between Greenwood and Ithilien there was occasional travel, and the Elves of East Lorien were again brought into communion with their brethren. But as the years passed and the world-weariness settled upon the Elvenkind more and more departed over Sea, and as their numbers dwindled contact which had been renewed again was lost. There sadly came a day when Gondor no longer felt the soft tread of Elven feet, nor heard the wondrous music of fair voices and enchanted interests, and Men looked upon the woods and hills and spoke of the fey folk who once dwelt there and whose spirits might linger still, but who otherwise were only a receding memory as each generation fixed anew in rhyme and half-forgotten lore the name and deeds of the Folk of Legolas.
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