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Legolas's arrows
http://www.arwen-undomiel.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=22374
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Author:  Lessien Greenleaf [ October 15th, 2012, 9:40 pm ]
Post subject:  Legolas's arrows

You know what I've always kind of wondered... How Legolas has an endless supply of arrows. I mean hasn't he got to run out eventually?

Author:  Elthir [ October 16th, 2012, 8:35 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Legolas's arrows

I've no idea if the films ever show such a scene (can't remember), but of course one can gather up already spent arrows if they are still usable.

I seem to recall at least one scene in the books where Tolkien notes Legolas gathering up arrows. Wish I could remember where at the moment... but one can imagine him doing so in any event.

Author:  Lessien Greenleaf [ October 16th, 2012, 6:48 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Legolas's arrows

But durrring a battle he can't just go retrieve the ones inside creatures that are probably long gone. There isn't enough time to get them plus he wouldn't have a weapon on the way (Not really anyways). I think that is the only flaw in the story.

Author:  Aredhel Ar-Feiniel [ October 16th, 2012, 11:52 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Legolas's arrows

You're forgetting that a bow isn't the only weapon he carries, he also has a pair of daggers. By gathering arrows, it would mean he'd be gathering ANY good arrow from any body - not looking for the ones belonging to himself only.

Author:  Elthir [ October 17th, 2012, 9:41 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Legolas's arrows

And while finding arrows during a battle might be more difficult, it's also not impossible given certain circumstances. In any case Tolkien, in the books, notes this at least twice:

'... and Legolas his long knife: all his arrows were spent.' [later, same chapter] 'And I,' said Legolas, 'will take all the arrows that I can find, for my quiver is empty.' The Departure of Boromir

Or:

'Good!' said Legolas. 'Buy my count is now two dozen. It has been knife work up here.' [later, same chapter] 'I must go and seek some arrows,' said Legolas. 'Would that this night would end, and I could have better light for shooting.' Helm's Deep

So Tolkien himself was aware of the need to gather spent arrrows, but as I say, I can't recall if the films speak to this.

Author:  Lessien Greenleaf [ October 17th, 2012, 7:57 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Legolas's arrows

no i know he has a knife. I don't think you understand what I mean.

Author:  Aredhel Ar-Feiniel [ October 17th, 2012, 9:33 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Legolas's arrows

What's there to not understand? You asked if he ever runs out of arrows because he seems to have an endless supply - the answer is: yes he does, but it was covered by Tolkien that he did have a way of replenishing them. :p

Author:  Lessien Greenleaf [ October 21st, 2012, 1:59 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Legolas's arrows

I just mean it would be hard to keep finding arrows. Unless he makes them himself...?

Author:  Elthir [ October 21st, 2012, 10:24 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Legolas's arrows

You don't need to make them, you pluck them out of dead bodies, or out of the ground for example, or find them wherever arrows land. After a given battle there might be plenty that had never found a mark for example, and would be fairly easy to gather. And in the second example from Tolkien above, Legolas has a chance to gather spent arrows before the battle is actually ended.

Tolkien also notes Legolas' arrows being mostly undamaged after the battle with the wargs (before Moria), although in this case they were notably easy to gather back up of course.

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