Anger in the Old Forest!

[Groin Redbeard]

Leave it to me to make a mountain out of a simple mole-hill. Thanks for all the answers, ya'll got this problem solved in no time at all.

[Tuor in Gondolin]

This subject does bring up a related topic. Why would
ents and huorns seem to be only endemic to Eriador and Fangorn?
Coming from Beleriand it would seem to be no great feat for them
to get to Mirkwood via, say, the Ered Mithrain, not even having
thereby to contend with rivers such as the Greyflood. Or even
getting to the trollshaws, where they could make mincemeat
of even the likes of Tom or Bert!

[skip spence]

Originally Posted by Tuor in Gondolin

Why would
ents and huorns seem to be only endemic to Eriador and Fangorn?

Is this an assumtion or do you have any textual support for it? Because I see no reason to assume the Ents and Huorns were endemic to these places. Firstly, as can be understood from my previous post, I don't believe there were any Ents or Huorns in the Old Forest, at least not at the time Frodo and company passed through. Secondly, I find it easy to believe that there could have been remnants of the ancient forests in the eastern parts of ME as well as in the northwest, and that Ents and Huorns might be found there. After all, whatever happened to the Entwifes?

[Rune Son of Bjarne]

Originally Posted by Groin Redbeard

Leave it to me to make a mountain out of a simple mole-hill. Thanks for all the answers, ya'll got this problem solved in no time at all.

We did not really solve much. . .still don't know what happened to the entwives.

[Groin Redbeard]

An excellent question, Tuor of Gondolin. My guess that we don’t hear of Huorns in Mirkwood is because of the evil that has always dwelt within its borders. Dol Guldor for example, I don’t think that you would want dwell in the same place that your enemy does. Eraidor is as far away from evil as you can possibly get, and Fangorn is right next to Orthanc (remember that Saruman was friendly towards trees back then) where they could get immediate protection from Treebeard and Saruman.

[Legate of Amon Lanc]

Originally Posted by Groin Redbeard

An excellent question, Tuor of Gondolin. My guess that we don’t hear of Huorns in Mirkwood is because of the evil that has always dwelt within its borders. Dol Guldor for example, I don’t think that you would want dwell in the same place that your enemy does. Eraidor is as far away from evil as you can possibly get, and Fangorn is right next to Orthanc (remember that Saruman was friendly towards trees back then) where they could get immediate protection from Treebeard and Saruman.

Not always, sir, not always at all *points at the screenname* Mirkwood was a peaceful place until some 1000 TA, which gives us pleeenty time meanwhile. However, as for Tuor's question, I would find a simple answer - Mirkwood just wasn't a part of this "great wood complex" (from Beleriand to Fangorn; later from Old Forest to Fangorn); what more, it was beyond the river. As for Saruman's protection, while he had nothing against them, I won't be so humm hmm hasty about his help if something came. First, he didn't have much actual power - meaning military power or such - until he started to do these hum hmm evil things. Also, the Ents were already there when he (such a newbie) came. But mainly, I don't see the Ents expecting anyone's protection for any reason. "I am on nobody's side, because no one is actually on my side," as Treebeard said.

[Groin Redbeard]

Originally Posted by Legate of Amon Lanc

As for Saruman's protection, while he had nothing against them, I won't be so humm hmm hasty about his help if something came. First, he didn't have much actual power - meaning military power or such - until he started to do these hum hmm evil things. Also, the Ents were already there when he (such a newbie) came. But mainly, I don't see the Ents expecting anyone's protection for any reason. "I am on nobody's side, because no one is actually on my side," as Treebeard said.

Thank you Legate for pointing that out, it gives me a chance to better explain myself. It's always nice to have someone with a head that's clearer than mine.

What I meant was that nothing really harmful would happen to the Fangorn because Saruman was friendly towards them, in the beginning, meaning that they could have had a worse neighbor than him; and who would want to burn or hurt a forest that is so close to a wizard. Although the legends about Fangorn would be enough to scare almost anyone away, having a powerful wizard as it's neighbor kind of adds to the danger.

[Roa_Aoife]

I think the taint of Sauron and Morgoth probably had a thing to do with it. As the hobbits crossed through the old forest, darkness and shadows were stirring throughout Middle Earth because Sauron had already been active again for some time, and was getting ready to wage war. After all, Mirkwood used to be the Greenwood before Sauron moved in for a period.