appeared in both The Hobbit book and movies, though he's only referred to as Elvenking in the original text. It makes sense that Legolas would have been in the Mirkwood during this period ...

There were several differences between the film and book versions of the The Hobbit's Battle of the Five Armies – namely, what the fifth army was.

After successfully crossing over (and under) the Misty Mountains, Thorin and Company must seek aid from a powerful stranger before taking on the dangers of Mirkwood Forest--without their Wizard.