Legolas, meaning "green-leaf", was a Sindarin Elf of Mirkwood and the son of Thranduil. In 3019 of the Third Age Legolas journeyed to Rivendell as a messanger and wound up taking part in the Council of Elrond, after which he was chosen to represent the Elves of Middle-earth in the Fellowship of the Ring. In Lothlórien Legolas first became true friends with Gimli the Dwarf, a friendship which lasted through the ends of their days. Legolas was a valiant warrior, and fought bravely in the Battle of the Hornburg and the Battle of the Pelennor Fields. He took the Paths of the Dead with his friends, Gimli and Aragorn, and while in South Gondor saw the Sea for the first time, and soon after the ancient desire of his people to live by the Sea was awakened.

After the War of the Ring Legolas took a company of Elves to Ithilien to make it the beautiful place it once had been. After the death of Aragorn, King Elessar, Legolas took Gimli and they sailed over the Sea together.