The Elvenking
The Elvenking is the sovereign of the Wood-elves who dwell in the great forest of Mirkwood, a realm of twilight and shadow. He rules from a vast cave, his palace, which is described as lighter and more wholesome than any goblin-dwelling, with countless smaller chambers opening out on every side, winding far underground with many passages and wide halls. The king's cave serves as his palace, the strong place of his treasure, and the fortress of his people against their enemies. His subjects mostly live and hunt in the open woods, having houses or huts on the ground and in the branches, with beeches being their favorite trees. The Elvenking himself is a figure of considerable power and authority, commanding a host of spearmen and bowmen, and his realm is a significant force in the lands east of the Misty Mountains.
Character and Motivations
The Elvenking is characterized by a deep-seated distrust of strangers, a trait that defines his initial interactions with Thorin and his company. This wariness is not born of malice but of a long history of conflict and the need to protect his people. He is described as a wise elf, and his suspicions about the dwarves' errand prove accurate. A significant weakness is his love of treasure, especially for silver and white gems. Though his hoard is rich, he is ever eager for more, as he has not yet as great a treasure as other elf-lords of old. This desire for wealth, combined with a memory of ancient quarrels with dwarves over unpaid wages for shaping raw gold and silver, fuels his initial hostility. He is also a lord of a good and kindly people, and when the people of Lake-town are left homeless after Smaug's attack, he shows pity and marches to their aid, sending great store of goods ahead by water.
Role in the Quest
When Thorin and his company, lost and starving in Mirkwood, stumble upon the Elvenking's feasts, they are captured. The king questions Thorin sternly, but the dwarf refuses to reveal his quest. The Elvenking then orders the dwarves imprisoned, each in a separate cell, until one of them is willing to tell him what he wants to know. He does not treat them with cruelty, providing food and drink, but he is determined to uncover their purpose. His actions are driven by a sense of territorial right and a desire to claim a share of the treasure he suspects they seek. He later sends spies to the shores of the lake and northward towards the Mountain, waiting to see the outcome of the dwarves' venture.
Alliance and the Battle of Five Armies
After Smaug's death, the Elvenking leads his host to the Lonely Mountain, initially as a claimant to the treasure. He joins forces with Bard and the Lake-men, and together they besiege Thorin and his dwarves. However, when the goblins and Wargs launch a massive assault, the Elvenking sets aside the quarrel over gold. He takes his place on the Southern spur of the Mountain, commanding his elven spearmen and bowmen in the Battle of Five Armies. His hatred for the goblins is cold and bitter, and his warriors fight with deadly wrath. During the battle, he is at bay near the watch-post on Ravenhill, but he survives the conflict.
Aftermath and Legacy
Following the victory, the Elvenking participates in the burial of Thorin, laying the elvish sword Orcrist upon his tomb. He receives from Bard the emeralds of Girion, jewels he most loved, which Dain had restored. He parts from Bilbo Baggins on good terms, accepting a gift of a silver and pearl necklace and naming Bilbo "elf-friend and blessed." He then leads his diminished but glad host back to Mirkwood, his realm now safer with the goblins overthrown and the dragon dead. The Elvenking's role in the tale is that of a powerful, cautious, and ultimately honorable ruler, whose initial enmity gives way to a necessary alliance against a greater evil.
