In reading the chapter on the Council, I found myself feeling very sorry for the Mirkwood elves. Can you imagine the lead-in they got about Gollum? There Aragorn is talking about how he's just SO GLAD that Gollum is safely tucked away in Mirkwood, and they have to say, "well, ummm, sorry to have to tell you this, but...."
Aragorn: Still I for one am glad that he is safely kept by the watchful Elves of Mirkwood....
Poor Legolas! LOL....