Thranduil: The Story of the Mirkwood King
Birth and Youth
Thranduil is a descendant of the Sindar, while most of his people are Wood Elves. Before 1000 years of the Second Age, he traveled east from Lindon and reached a vast forest on the east bank of the Anduin. This forest was given the name Greenwood over time.
According to some stories, Thranduil is the founder of the Forest Kingdom, according to other stories it is Oropher. Thranduil and Oropher fought side by side against Sauron in the War of the Last Alliance, but Oropher was killed in battle.
After Sauron’s defeat in 3441 of the Second Age, Thranduil led his surviving forces to Greenwood. In the 1050s of the Third Age, a dark shadow fell on the area known as Mirkwood, and Great spiders and evil creatures came to this area. An evil force, apparently Sauron, built a fortress in Amon Lanc, which is called Dol Guldur.
Thranduil retreated with his people to the northeast of Mirkwood and built the Great Caves and Halls near the Forest River, guarded by the Gates.
Erebor Adventure
The Elves captured Thorin Oakenshield, a Dwarf leader, and brought him to King Thranduil.
Afterwards, Thorin and the other Dwarves were imprisoned and the Elven sword Orcrist was taken from Thorin. However, with the help of Bilbo Baggins, the Dwarves managed to escape and set off for the Lonely Mountain.
Upon hearing the news of Smaug’s death, Thranduil and Bard provided food and shelter to help the Lake-Men. Later, on the Lonely Mountain, there was a negotiation between Bard and Thorin, who asked for a share of the treasure, but Thorin refused.
At Thorin’s request for help, word was sent to his cousin Dain Ironfoot, but Bilbo secretly left the Lonely Mountain because he did not want war. Bilbo offered to help in the negotiations by giving an important stone called the Arkenstone to Thranduil and Bard as Thrain’s legacy.
Thranduil thanked Bilbo and suggested that he stay, but Bilbo stated that he wanted to leave quickly.
Battle of the Five Armies
Thorin agreed to give 1/14 of the treasure, but Dain Ironfoot and his army also arrived at the Lonely Mountain and prepared for battle. Thranduil initially did not want to fight for gold, but Varg and the Orc army came from the Misty Mountains to threaten all three leaders. Thranduil, Dain, and Bard then agreed to join the Battle of the Five Armies and fight against the Orcs. It is stated that many Elves and Orcs perished during the war. But with the help of the Eagles and the Big Boy, the war turned in their favor and the Battle of the Five Armies ended in victory.
After the battle, Thranduil placed the Elven sword Orcrist in Thorin’s tomb.
War of the Ring and After
Aragorn left Gollum under Thranduil’s protection to keep him captive. The elves always follow Gollum but take pity on him and let him climb a tree that stands apart from the others. One night, Gollum refused to come down from the tree, and at that time the orcs attacked the Wood Elves and at that time Gollum managed to escape.
He sent his son Legolas to Rivendell to report this event to Elrond. Legolas became one of the nine members of the Fellowship of the Ring.
During the War of the Ring, Mirkwood was overrun by Sauron’s servants, and a long war broke out between the Orcs and the Elves under the trees. Finally, on March 15, 3019, the Elves succeeded in repelling the orcs from Dol Guldur. On April 6, Thranduil met with Celeborn, Chief of the Galadhrim, who helped destroy Dol Guldur in the jungle. Thus, Eryn Lasgalen got the name “Forest of Green Leaves”. Thranduil’s people settled north of Eryn Lasgalen and lived in comfort for many years.
