During a recent reading of the Two Towers I was struck by a strange anomaly
in the text. In the 'Departure of Boromir' chapter, Legolas and Gimli
arrive to find Aragorn grieving over the dead Boromir. Legolas says
'Alas...we have hunted and slain many orcs in the woods but we should have
been of more use here.'
Later, during the siege of Helm's Deep, a slightly disgruntled Gimli says —
after nailing a couple of orcs — 'Till now I have hewn naught but wood
since we left Moria.'
Was Legolas covering up for Gimli's lack of success earlier? I can't
believe Gimli would have forgotten his earlier orc kill