Anger in the Old Forest!

[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.