The Loss of the Entwives 

Ent: ‘When spring unfolds the beechen leaf, and sap is in the bough;

                  When light is on the wild-wood stream, and wind is on the brow;

                  When stride is long, and breath is deep, and keen the mountain-air

                  Come back to me! Come back to me, and say my land is fair!” (song, LOTR by JRR Tolkien)

The Ents sung this song many years ago, so long ago that even we don’t remember. The Ents were great creatures that looked like trees though they were far from trees. They were living breathing creatures made by Yavanna a great spirit. The name Ent means ‘Shepard of the trees’. Yavanna created them to guard her beautiful forests’ from men. Yavanna made the Ents and the Entwives.  They loved each other deeply.  However, the Ents loved trees but the Entwives loved gardens. This difference cost them greatly. The story I will tell you is the tragedy of the Ent’s and the Entwives .

Entwife: ‘When spring has come to garth and field, and corn is in the blade;

When blossom like a shining snow is on the orchard laid;

When shower and sun upon the Earth with fragrance fill the air,

I’ll linger here and will not come because my land is fair’ (song, LOTR by JRR Tolkien)

 Two great creatures lumbered through the forest, the Ent sighed as he walked.

‘Why do you wish to move away from the woods? Why does your heart linger somewhere else?’ He asked looking with his deep loving eyes towards his Entwife.

“You know Treebeard. I love the gardens, the trees are nice but the flowers oh the flowers, have you ever smelled the flowers? Treebeard why  don’t you love them to?’ She looked at her husband.

“The trees aye they are home. I love them like children. I can’t leave them. Don’t you know that Fimbrethil?” Treebeard’s deep musical voice filled Fangorn forest. Fimbrethil nodded, she knew.

“I just wish that you would come. You know that the Entwives are moving on. They will live on the edge of Fangorn and we will grow our gardens there. Then every week the Ents will come to us or we will come to you and meet. Is that good?’ The Entwife with her beautiful eyes and gentle hands looked at her husband. He had small tears in his eyes, it was hard for all the Ents.

“Yes but I will miss you. I love you very much.” Treebeard gazed out to the trees that loomed above him. He would miss the walks with Fimbrethil.

                  The Entwives tilled the ground making wonderful fields. They had only been there for a while, but there were fruit trees and golden fields already. The Entwives were getting ready for the feast for the Ents. They had already set up the great table and filled it with fruits and fine bread. The Entwives toiled and made the finest bread East of the sea. Everyone was excited, even the small Enttings . The air was warm and the sun rose bright and clear. It was afternoon when the Ents arrived, they smiled and walked very fast to the Entwives. Treebeard and Fimbrethil embraced, they had missed each other greatly.

                  The feast was long that night and the laugher and bliss was everywhere. Some Ents and their Entwives went off to talk about what was going on in the forest and fields. But most stayed by the table eating and drinking the great entwash water. But the peaceful days were not to last. A darkness had fallen, some of the trees had become sour with dark angry hearts. It was beginning to become hard for the Ents to control the trees. The Entwives were fairing no better, their fields were becoming dead and their fruits black. Something was stirring in the East, festering, a sleepless malice as dark as night. But the Ents did not care for the world about them. Darkness was gathering, a sick and diseased darkness, full of hate. For the darkness’ leader wanted power, he was jealous and angry he wanted to be the king of the earth. This evil was gathering to strike, and set it’s sickness in every corner of the world. 

Ent: ‘When summer lies upon the world, and in a noon of gold

Beneath the roof of sleeping leaves the dreams of trees unfold;

When woodland halls are green and cool, and wind is in the West,

Come back to me! Come back to me and say my land is best!” (song, LOTR by JRR Tolkien)

                  It was a brilliant afternoon. The Entwives were cleaning up after a visit from the Ents. So far they were fairing well, even with the evil and all. The Entwives were happy, the Ents were too. The Entwives  heard it first, the tramping of feet. They knew it wasn’t the Ents for the Ents would have long labored steps. These were quick fast moving footsteps. As all the eyes of the Entwives turned to the noise, rank upon rank of Mordor Orcs came running towards them. They watched as the Orcs destroyed all their crops. They could do nothing. The Orcs burned their fields, ripped out their fruit trees and tore down their houses. All their work was destroyed, everything they had lived for was gone.

                  Entwife: ‘When summer warms the hanging fruit and burns the berry brown;

When straw is gold, and ear is white and harvest comes to town;

When honey spills and apple swells, though wind be in the West,

I’ll linger here beneath the sun, because my land is best!’ (song, LOTR by JRR Tolkien)

The Entwives  survived this attack. They fled across the Great River to the other side away from the Orcs. They sent word to the Ents about where they had journeyed. Even though they survived, the pain of their loss was great. They started a new life across the river. They built their houses and planted new fruit trees. Soon golden fields grew again and times became peaceful.  However, the darkness was never completely destroyed. Though the men and elves had driven the evil away something was left of its power, and it returned. Just like the first time, it started with a tramping of feet. The Entwives dreaded this day when the Orcs of Mordor would come. Orcs poured into the fields, the fruit trees cowered away as the evil faced Orcs tore them down. The Entwives had no choice but to flee, but this time the Orcs wouldn’t let them go. The Orcs grabbed the Entwives killed and tortured them. The Orcs burned at will, they dug pits and the land that once was beautiful was turned to ash. Nothing was left of the Entwives beautiful gardens. The news of their destruction did not reach the Ents.

                  Ent: ‘When winter comes, the winter wild that hills and trees shall slay;

When trees shall fall and starless night devour the sunless day;

When wind is in the deadly East, and then in the bitter rain,

I’ll look for thee, and call to thee; I’ll come to thee again!’ ’ (song, LOTR by JRR Tolkien)

                   Treebeard decided that he wanted to see Fimbrethil, his Entwife. He had not seen her in a long time. So with a few others Treebeard journeyed to the Entwives lands.

“I can’t wait to see Fimbrethil! I miss her greatly.” Treebeard admitted as he walked with the others.

“Yes I do miss them” Quickbeam thought out loud “Their very beautiful” He smiled at the thought “Yes Treebeard I am looking forward to seeing the Entwives.” But as the Ents crossed the great river they felt that something was wrong. They strode into the field where the Entwives had lived. Nothing could have prepared them for the desolation that lay before their feet. Treebeard cried out a great sob, the others fell down and looked at the horror before them. Pits, ash and dead brown covered the land. Then they all stood and cried a cry so loud that it would deafen anyone who heard it. For their sorrow was great, they loved the Entwives beyond measure, they could never be replaced.

The Ents started asking men if they had seen the Entwives, but most said they had never heard of them before. All the Ents journeyed far and wide searching for the Entwives. They called their names but never, not once did a call answer. As Treebeard had said ‘Long we called, and long we searched; and asked all the folk that we met which way the Entwives had gone. Some said they had never seen them; and some said they had seen them walking away West, and others south. But nowhere that we went could we find them.” Over time the Ents stopped searching. The forest called. They gave up, but always they remembered the deadness of the Entwives home, their faces in the night and their beauty.

Entwife: ‘When broken is the barren branch, and light and labor past;

I’ll look for thee, and wait for thee until we meet again;

Together we will take the road beneath the bitter rain!’

Together: ‘Together we will take the road that leads into the West!

Far away we will find a land where both our hearts may rest!’ ( song, LOTR by JRR Tolkien)

And the song created by the elves told the story of the Ents search for the Entwives. But the Ents never found the Entwives and when the fourth age of the sun began and the age of men arose, the Ents died off for there were no Enttings. And so the tale of the Ents fell in history, history fell into legend, legend fell into myth and soon like so many other creatures they were forgotten.

Story of the Ents retold 

By Natalie Hawkins

Original by JRR Tolkien in The Two Towers