Many viewers of The Hobbit trilogy have wondered — why didn’t Legolas stay with Tauriel after Kili’s death? He clearly had feelings for her, protected her in battle, and after his rival’s death, he could have stayed by her side to support her. They would have made a beautiful couple, yet instead, he left on a journey to seek out a mysterious ranger.
This plot decision may seem strange to some, but within Tolkien’s world, it actually makes perfect sense. First and foremost, elves are devoted to one love for life. Once they fall in love, it is forever. Take Arwen and Aragorn, for example: after Aragorn’s death, Arwen never found another companion. Instead, she withdrew into solitude, where she eventually faded away.
Tauriel, despite being an elf, had genuine and deep feelings for Kili. Legolas understood that she had already made her choice, and even if he had stayed, her heart would always belong to the fallen dwarf.
Moreover, Legolas is not the type to force love or take advantage of a situation. Even knowing that his father disapproved of the relationship, he did not use the opportunity to step in when his rival was gone. He respected Tauriel’s feelings and understood that true love cannot simply be replaced.
Perhaps that’s why he chose to follow his father’s advice and set off on his own journey. It was the path of a hero — one that eventually led him to Aragorn and, later, to join the Fellowship of the Ring. In Tolkien’s world, everything is interconnected, and the fate of each character always leads them to where they are truly meant to be.
