Should Legolas have been wounded? How did Gimli remain unscathed?

[MatthewM]

Originally Posted by Lindale

The bows of the Mirkwood elves aren't as good (one can say from reading and rereading but isn't directly stated) as the Lorien bows. But still, it should be better, being wrought by elves and all that, than the Orcs of Moria. I mean, these orcs were savages even compared to the orcs of Mordor and Saruman, right? So Legolas should get a really good advantage in this.

This is a good point, but I still do not buy the whole "not good for the plot" deal. If Sam can have a cut from killing an orc mentioned more than once (which I am almost positive it is), Legolas could have been wounded. I do not think it would have taken away from the main story at all...