Drúadan Forest
| Drúadan Forest | |
|---|---|
| Forest | |
 | |
| "Drúadan Forest" by Gail McIntosh | |
| General Information | |
| Other names | Tawar-in-Drúedain[1] |
| Location | Anórien, north of Ered Nimrais |
| Type | Forest |
| Description | A small pinewood forest |
| Inhabitants | Drúedain |
| Gallery | Images of Drúadan Forest |
Drúadan Forest was in the fief of Anórien, in Gondor, lying north of the eastern end of the Ered Nimrais. Located near or in the Forest were three of Gondor's warning beacons: To the west was Nardol, within the woods was Eilenach, and just east of the woods was Amon Dîn. Skirting the northern edge of Drúadan Forest was the great road that connected Gondor to Rohan, while within the southern part of the forest was the long-abandoned road through Stonewain Valley.[2]
It was avoided by the people of Gondor and Rohan, who believed it was haunted: in reality the forest was home to a small enclave of Drúedain, or Woses, who only survived in these woods and in the Drúwaith Iaur.[3]
History[edit | edit source]
During the War of the Ring the Rohirrim were on their way to support Minas Tirith, and a host of Orcs was found by scouts three miles west of Amon Dîn upon the Great West Road and moving toward Théoden's forces. A leader of the Woses, Ghân-buri-Ghân came forward and offered to lead the Riders by secret paths through the forest so they could avoid the Orcs. On 13 March[4] the Woses led the Rider of Rohan across the forgotten road down Stonewain Valley and the next day they reached the Grey Wood, and were able to come to Pelennor Fields undetected.[5]
In exchange for this help the forest was later given to the Drúedain as a protected enclave inside the Reunited Kingdom of Gondor and Arnor by King Elessar.[6]
Etymology[edit | edit source]
Drúadan is a Sindarin name. It means "Wose" or "wild man".[7] It is a compound of drû ("Wose") and adan ("Man (as a race)".[8][9]
References
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "Cirion and Eorl and the Friendship of Gondor and Rohan", note 51, p. 319
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, "Map of Rohan, Gondor, and Mordor"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "The Drúedain", p. 383
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Great Years"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, "The Ride of the Rohirrim"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, "Many Partings"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, "Words, Phrases and Passages in Various Tongues in The Lord of the Rings", in Parma Eldalamberon XVII (edited by Christopher Gilson), p. 99
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "The Drúedain", "Notes", note 6
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "X. Of Dwarves and Men", "Notes", note 38, p. 324
