headcanon that being in the fellowship is the catalyst for a lot of legolas’s self discovery and growth
the first huge chunk of his life he was under a shit load of pressure, son of the king. leading hunting parties. participating in royal political theater.
these things are stressful, and legolas found himself growing to fit the mold; he was quiet, serious, and as stern as an elven leader had to be.
but suddenly he’s in the fellowship and he’s around all these random mortals who are filled with so much personality and color and life! they are so different from all the elves he’s ever known! and at first it is so shocking that he goes fully silent as he comes to terms with the fact that people like this can actually exist
and then slowly, he comes into himself. he finds himself smiling at merry and pippin, laughing when he understands the joke! he harmonizes with aragorn as they sing dunnedain songs (they sound much more joyful than the elven ballads he’s used to) . he looks at the stars with frodo and they take turns making up lines of silly poetry to describe them.
he is touched by sam’s simple kindness when he offers him the last piece of his jelly tart. he is inspired by stories of boromirs casual wildness, and his affinity for chaotic nights at the tavern with his mates. he is intrigued by gandalf, who alternates between the old stern wizard and the jolly old man who is eager to poke fun and create riddles.
but most of all, he finds himself in gimli.
gimli, who infuriated him, excited him, confused him, inspired him, consumed his every waking thought
gimli, who he exchanged snarky, charged comments with from the get go, and taught him how to let his inner diva OUT. legolas had never thought of himself as sassy, but the more comfortable he got with gim, the more he felt free to speak his mind
gimli, who taught him how to overcome prejudice to see the beauty in others and himself.
gimli, the first person who’d ever flirted with him, and with whom he had tried his best to flirt back (though his heart pounded and his cheeks flushed). gimli, who filled him with complete and total yearning, and craving, and awakened a need he never knew existed.
gimli, a fierce warrior with a tender heart, who showed him it was possible to be an absolute beast on the battlefield, and also the little spoon at night
gimli, who taught him to love and be loved in return
gimli, his unconventional soulmate, who with the help of the fellowship, pulled back the curtain to reveal a version of himself he could have never pictured.
