Concerning Legolas

[Valier]

I agree with MatthewM on this one. I believe it is a way of describing his look and the mood of the setting at that moment.

"Frodo looked up at the Elf standing tall above him, as he gazed into the night, seeking a mark to shoot at. His head was dark, crowned with sharp white stars that glittered in the black pools of the sky behind." -The Great River, The Fellowship of the Ring.

I think he was saying that the night was so dark that Legolas was seeking a mark. His head was dark in contrast to the "crown" of sharp white stars that glittered in the black pools of the sky beyond. Everything was dark compared to the stars. He was talking about the blackness of the night, just as he was commenting on how "black" Gollum looked. It is describing the contrasts between characters and scenery. As well as the ambiance and mood of a scene, not the colour of hair or skin.

And I do think Legolas would have had golden hair as did his father.