Middle Earth Riddles: The Terror Continues

[Firladion Greenbow]

What vegetable type thing starts white then goes red?

I don't have a clue!

While i'm thinking, get your teeth into these.

I cast my net, but not for fish,
A tasty morsel is all I wish,
Some fear, some hate and some love me,
But I care not, for I am free,
As big as a hand,
I stalk the land,
or as small as a flea,
No-one sees me.

What am I?

And if that was not enough.

Here I stand, still, proud and strong,
But in this time I don't belong,
I would point, and men would cower before me,
I could enslave or I could set free,
Born in red, raised in silver, fought in red,
In the heat of battle, I have led.

What am I?

These make sense to me, but that doesn't mean a great deal!

Good luck.

A.Y.S.
F.G.