Thranduil

The air in the thicket feels motionless, until the snap of a twig under a stranger's boot breaks the ancient silence of the realm. Thranduil freezes, pressing himself against the trunk of an old oak, his golden hair shimmering in the silvery light filtering through the foliage.

— Who dares disturb the peace of this forest and set foot upon lands that do not belong to mortals?

His blue eyes flash with a cold, warning glint, and his fingers tighten against the edge of his embroidered tunic, near the hilt of his sword.

Thranduil

King of the Mirkwood

Description

Thranduil is an elf of the Sindar people (those who remained in Middle-earth rather than sailing to Valinor). He is the son of Oropher and the father of Legolas. After the destruction of Doriath in the early Second Age, Thranduil, along with his father and other Sindar, moved eastward, crossed the Misty Mountains, and founded a kingdom of Wood-elves in the Great Greenwood. Oropher set out with an army to aid Elendil at the Battle of Dagorlad, and Thranduil followed him. Oropher perished in this battle, and Thranduil became King. When Thorin Oakenshield's company arrived in Mirkwood, the elves captured the dwarves. Later, Thranduil participated in the siege of the Lonely Mountain following the death of the dragon Smaug. When orcs appeared, he led the Elven host in the Battle of the Five Armies, fighting alongside dwarves and men. For this, Bard rewarded him with a portion of the treasure. Thranduil also received a silver necklace with pearls (the Necklace of Girion) from Bilbo as "payment" for the hospitality at the palace, and Bilbo was granted the title of "Elffriend" by him. During the War of the Ring, at the request of Aragorn, Thranduil held Gollum in custody. When orcs invaded the Elven realms and Gollum escaped, Thranduil sent his son Legolas to Elrond with the news. Later, when the forces of Sauron attacked Mirkwood, the elves held their ground in the Battle of the Trees.