Long before the creation of the sun and moon, when the world was illuminated by two trees
and the stars in the sky, the Vala Yavanna, giver of fruits began to despair when a conversation
with her husband Aule, led her to consider how the Children of Iluvatar, humans, elves
and dwarves, might destroy the plant life she created and animals under her care.
Taking her concerns to Manwe, king of the valar, he conferred Eru, who revealed that
when the Children awaken, spirits from afar would enter trees and eagles, creating new
lifeforms to watch over the west.
Though the eagles would make their home in the mountains, the tree-like beings would
serve as Shepherds of the Forest, protecting the wildlife Yavanna so loved.
The males of this new species were known as Ents and became devoted to the Vala Orome
Lord of Forests as they watched over the trees of middle-earth, while the females, known
as Entwives, devoted themselves to Yavanna, caring for smaller plants and grasses.
Some of these being began to pair off and live their long lives together, producing
offspring called Entings.
In the early years after their awakening, they explored the vast forests of middle earth
and eventually came into contact with the Elves, who taught them their language and
imparted a desire to expand their knowledge.
In time they created Entish, a rumbling, lengthy and long-winded language of their own, and
as they met and interacted with other cultures, developed New Entish for everyday conversation,
while Old Entish was reserved for important discussions.
Over thousands of years, as civilizations rose and fell around them, and the very shape
of the continents transformed, the lands of the Ents grew smaller until they retreated
to fangorn forest, the last remnant of the mighty woods covered Eriador in the first
age.
Their leader, known as Fangorn by some and Treebeard by others, was one of the oldest
beings in all of Middle-Earth, living through the years of trees, the first age, the second
age and then into the third age, where he played an important role in the War of the
Ring.
For thousands of years, Treebeard lived alongside his beloved mate Fimbrethil, but when the
Entwives left on their journey east to plant a great garden beyond the river Anduin, they
were parted and never reunited.
Unfortunately, as they neared the end of the second Age and the last alliance of men elves
and dwarves prepared to march upon Sauron, the Dark Lord sent his forces to destroy the
Entwives and their garden, leaving behind only a desolate desert.
Though the ultimate fate of the Entwives was unknown, most believed they perished in the
attack, while some held out hope that some few fled into the wilderness.
When the Istari wizards came to middle earth, Saruman the White often walked amongst the
trees, engaging in long conversations with Treebeard and becoming a friend of the forest.
But in time the White Wizard grew vain and cold, even directing his orcs to cut down
the forests to feed the furnaces of Isengard.
Although the Ents usually stayed out of the larger conflicts happening in the world around
them, Saruman’s continuing assault against the forest of Fangorn concerned them greatly.
And so in the year 3019 of the Third Age, as the War of the Ring erupted across the
Western lands of Middle-Earth, Treebeard encountered two small hobbits fleeing from orc pursuers.
Meriadoc Brandybuck and Peregrin Took tried to inform Treebeard that the felling of their
trees was growing worse everyday, but the Ents were well aware and summoned an Entmoot,
to discuss the issue.
During their stay in Fangorn Forest, Treebeard took the hobbits to his home of Wellinghall,
a great ent-house built deep in the woods, where they made Ent-draughts from river water,
the only sustenance they required.
When Merry and Pippin drank of this mysterious liquid, they grew over 3 inches and became
the tallest hobbits in history.
At the Entmoot, it was decided the Ent would march to war and emerged from Fangorn Forest
to charge against Saruman’s forces in the battle of Isengard, releasing the river and
flooding his furnaces and workshops.
After defeating the garrison, they surrounded the tower of Orthanc and held the White Wizard
captive for a time.
Though their prisoner appeared to grow frail and pitiful, the power of his voice remained
strong, and over time he convinced the Ents to free him, praying on their distaste for
keeping living beings in captivity.
With Saruman gone and the war against Sauron won, Orthanc and its surrounding territory
was given to the Ents by King Elessar of the Reunited Kingdom, allowing them to create
a new forest they called the Treegarth of Orthanc.
Surviving into the fourth Age, Treebeard continued to lead led his people for many more years,
still longing to one day be reunited with his beloved Entwife.
Although Ents lived for thousands of years, they were not immortal and so in time Treebeard
likely grew still and quiet, losing his conscious mind to become a simple tree.
However, according to Galadriel the Lady of Light, the Ents would one day return, possibly
after the final defeat of Morgoth at the end of the world, when the lands of Arda are restored
to their former glory.
In her own words they would see the Ents again, but Not in Middle-earth, nor until the lands
that lie under the wave are lifted up again.
Then in the willow-meads of Tasarinan we may meet in the Spring.”