Why Pick On the Elf and Dwarf?
My best guess would be Tolkien decided not to wound Legolas because he felt it would be an unecessary complication distracting from the main story line.
As for Gimli I find it quite believable he should come through the assorted battles unscathed. To start with he's wearing Dwarf mail - which is the best there is - and
secondly Dwarves themselves are very tough customers. Short they may be but they are also very stocky and muscular. And finally the same dramatic objection applies. Wounding Gimli would be distracting as he and Leggy are basically spear carriers.
|