Chief of the guards (Woodland Realm)
The chief of the guards or chief guard was an Elf serving as leader of the guards of the Woodland Realm, in northern Mirkwood.
The chief of the guards or chief guard was an Elf serving as leader of the guards of the Woodland Realm, in northern Mirkwood.
Biography
The chief of the guards led King Thranduil's guards and was likely one of his many servants. One evening in TA 2941, he was coaxed by Galion in the king's cellars into testing some Dorwinion wine with him. As a consequence, he fell asleep with the king's butler. This allowed the hobbit Bilbo Baggins to steal his keys and release Thorin and Company from the king's dungeon. Bilbo then returned the keys, to reduce whatever trouble the chief guard would have with the king. When some Elves returned from the king's feast, they found the Galion and the chief guard, but only awoke Galion.
In adaptations
The Hobbit(1968 radio series)
Der Hobbit(1980 German radio series)
Peter Jackson'sThe Hobbit
The chief of the guards was given the name Elros and is portrayed by the New Zealand actor Robin Kerr. Unlike in the book, he was given a slightly expanded role as well as the title of Keeper of the Keys. In The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, he appears in a scene in which Bilbo, using the Ring on his finger to hide himself, steals the dungeon cell keys from him Galion and Feren while they are drunk and asleep. Unlike the book, he is seen afterwards, informing Legolas that Tauriel had left the halls armed with her bow and blade.
LEGO The Lord of the Rings
Toys
- In the 2012 LEGO The Hobbit 79004 Barrel Escape set, the chief of the guards is referred to by the name Mirkwood Elf Chief