The Elf had chosen to give the entire Fellowship the silent treatment. He had spoken less than ten words since they set off from Rivendell, carrying out whatever tasks that were assigned to him alone. Gandalf knew from experience that Legolas could charm any being he set his mind to. The first lord of Moria was so enamored with the Golden Prince that he commanded the dwarf smiths to use their first harvest of mithril to design a special suit of armor for the Elf to wear underneath his usual garb.