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Thranduil: King of Mirkwood
By: Johanna K. Best

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Introduction

This is the story of the Sindarin Elf King of Mirkwood. This is a continuation of his story in The Hobbit.  All of the stories in my project will be derived from existing stories and characters in The Hobbit.  The characters will be followed through their lives during the War of the Ring.  This is the story of a good king, but my stories will be about the good and the evil characters.  I chose to include this story because I think it is very important to learn more about Legolas, an influential member in The Fellowship of the Ring.  I am writing this story as it would be told in tales in the future.  Seeing as how I created large portions of this story based existing information, I tried to keep it as accurate as possible.  If any mistakes are found feel free to tell me, and I will gratefully fix them.     

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            Thranduil is the Sindarin Elvenking.  He is the son of Orodreth, and the father of Legolas Greenleaf.  The Sindarin elves, or commonly referred to as the wood elves, have lived in peace in Middle-Earth ever since the War of the Five Armies.  One day during the Third Age a runner came to Mirkwood, land of the silvan elves, from Elrond of Rivendell.  This runner asked Thranduil to send a representative to the Council of Elrond.  Thranduil knew that he could not go himself, because someone needed to watch over his people, so he sent his only son, Legolas Greenleaf.

            Thranduil grieved for many weeks after his son’s departure.  He worried that he had sent his son to his doom.  He learned many things from the runner that he did not share with Legolas.  Mainly, that the One Ring, which would allow Sauron the evil lord to rule Middle-Earth forever, had been found.  He knew that Legolas would do whatever he was asked, and he feared that his son would be in danger. 

            After three weeks had passed, he decided to send a runner to Rivendell to obtain news about his son.  When the runner returned he found out that Legolas had joined the Fellowship of the Ring.  This Fellowship was going to bring the One Ring to the heart of Sauron’s kingdom, Mordor, to destroy it by throwing it into Mount Doom.  This news terrified Thranduil for he loved his son more than anything in the world.  He himself had been to Mordor to do battle against Sauron, and he knew the dangers and trials his son would have to deal with.               

            Now, many of the Elves were leaving Middle-Earth to return Valinor, the guarded land where the elves will spend eternity after the Third Age.  Thranduil’s people have been preparing to leave since the discovery that the One Ring was found.  He put this off for many months in hope for word of his son, yet none came.  Even though his people also loved Legolas, they were impatient to leave.  They did not want to get drawn into the war that was brewing. 

            Thranduil decided that he could no longer delay the inevitable.  He told his people that they would be leaving Mirkwood to travel to the Grey Havens where they will sail to Valinor.  With sorrow Thranduil packed only that which was of most importance to him, including one of Legolas’s bows.  He also packed his son’s favorite sword, in hopes that he might be able to return it to him one day. 

            With one last look at the great doors to his kingdom, Thranduil turned his back and walked away from the only home he had ever known.  All of his people walked across the bridge silently mourning the loss of their home.  He led his people slowly west through his kingdom.  They were going to cross many dangerous roads on their way to the Grey Havens at the Gulf of Lune.  First they had to travel to the western edge of Mirkwood, where they would then ford the Anduin River.  From there they would pass over The Misty Mountains and head towards Rivendell. 

            When Thranduil got to Rivendell it had been deserted.  All of Elrond’s people had either left to go to Valinor, or had gone to Mordor to help in the war.  This saddened Thranduil for he had hoped to get news of his son.  They left Rivendell and traveled west across Eriador, heading towards The Shire, where the little folk called Hobbits live.  They passed quietly through the woods of The Shire, and shortly arrived at the Grey Havens. 

            Once at the Grey Havens, Thranduil’s people boarded the ships in preparation to leave for Valinor.  As Thranduil was about to board his ship he stopped short, and he realized that he could not leave Middle-Earth and forsake his son.  He told his people that he was going to go in search of his son.  His people tried to convince him not to go, but he refused to listen.  He repacked his things, and as he was about to turn east in search of his son, his four closest advisors came to his side.  He was glad that he would have companions on his quest. 

            He decided to travel southwest towards Mordor, where he knew his son would end up.  He traveled south thru Eriador and Dunland towards Rohan, where the horse masters live.  These were great men, and he hoped to learn of his son’s whereabouts.  When he arrived in Rohan he found out that Sauron had fallen in the War and that the One Ring had been destroyed.  He was also told that his son had survived and was traveling towards the Glittering Caves with Gimli the Dwarf.  Thranduil was ecstatic, because these caves were in the Land of Rohan.  He quickly traveled there and found his son, alive and well.  Happily reunited, the father and son left Middle-Earth together to spend eternity in Valinor.

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