Did Legolas have any brothers or sisters?

[Letty]

Did Legolas have any brothers or sisters?

[zifnab]

That's a big negative there. In fact, if you happen to run into Thranduil, ask him about his wife. For as family trees go, there are many branches that have been cut down in the Greenleaf family tree.

Maybe its that whole, 'Are you Silvan or Sindar', that puts a haze on the history.

[Boromir88]

I don't think it's something that can be definitively answered. We are never told that Legolas had any brothers or sisters, but simply because we aren't told doesn't mean it can't be inferred.

Not much is known on Legolas, probably because of the late development of the character (Legolas wasn't even a character thought about by Tolkien when he was writing The Hobbit). But, I've always found interesting why would Thranduil send his only son and heir as a messenger? Because that's what Legolas was at the Council, he was delivering a message. Now why would Thranduil send his only son away (when they are facing attacks from Dol Guldur) as a messenger?

I'm not saying that for sure Legolas had siblings, but I don't think it's something that can be answered with a simple, 'No it's not possible.'

[Eomer of the Rohirrim]

I presume that Legolas had a guard with him in Rivendell, though. Sneaking through the forests, accompanied by a few hardy Elves? It wouldn't be bizarre to send your only child to the Council, especially if Thranduil guessed the importance of the Gollum situation, and what it might lead to.

[Boromir88]

And of course personally, I don't think Legolas had any siblings of any sort at all. I just don't think it's a simple 'no, not possible' type answer. Just trying to get us all to expand our minds more, and something that isn't ever told or said, doesn't necessarily mean it's not a possibility.

Or, Thranduil could figure that he's going to sit back in his cave for the rest of his life and just say in Mirkwood, therefor there's no point in having an heir...(which he seems to do at this point in LOTR)?

But, Legolas was rather young for an Elf, and this wouldn't seem something of dire need especially with Dol Guldur active and breathing down Thranduil's neck. Now, Boromir, heir and eldest of Denethor's was sent to Rivendell, but he forced his way until daddy said 'ok,' was getting answers to a puzzling riddle, and also there was always Faramir.

[Eomer of the Rohirrim]

Or maybe Thranduil secretly feared that Legolas would usurp his throne, and so sent him to his likely death.

Think about what we know of the Mirkwood realm. Thranduil was very greedy. He wanted a lot of the riches from the Lonely Mountain despite having no decent claim on it. He was very prepared to sacrifice a lot of his fighters for a share of the spoils.

His rule was, to be blunt, a bit farcical. He held Bilbo and the Dwarves as prisoners in his domain. Gee, nice judge of character, old man. What's more, he was careless with them: assigning the task of supervising the prisoners to a few inebriated lackeys. The role of governer had obviously turned into a joke for the Elven-King.

What could cause such avarice, paranoia, carelessness, and incompetence? The appearance of the Necromancer? Or the problem of his brilliant and handsome son, ripe for Kingship?

You decide.

[zifnab]

Originally Posted by Boromir88

I just don't think it's a simple 'no, not possible' type answer. Just trying to get us all to expand our minds more, and something that isn't ever told or said, doesn't necessarily mean it's not a possibility.

If you bring back a 'Can Balrogs Fly (coulda, whoulda, shoulda)' thread.....