-Mirkwood-
Mirkwood is home to the Wood-elves, Silvan elves ruled by Lord Thranduil the Elvenking.
The Wood-elves are merry, decent folk who enjoy hunting, feasting, song and wine.
The elves of Mirkwood boast some of the most deadly warriors in Middle Earth and are well known for
their mastery of the bow and of all forms of archery.
Sadly enough, this skill has been honed even finer as their own home began to become a peril to them
and has proven essential to keeping their lands free and the encroaching threat
of the woods around them at bay.
For many, the name Mirkwood conjures up images of dank, dripping leaves and evil spider eyes,
but that is not all Mirkwood is, neither is that what it was originally.
In fact, until somewhere about the year 1050 of the Third Age, it was not known as Mirkwood at all, but rather as
Greenwood the Great and was a fair, beautiful realm in which the Wood-elves dwelt peacefully.
Then Sauron, in disguise and known only as the Necromancer took up residence in Dul Guldor in Southern Greenwood
and the face of the forest began to change dramatically. Evil began to creep under the trees. Orcs and Wargs began to defile the
wood with their loathsome presence and huge, evil spiders began to make every corner of the woods their home.
It was then that people began to call the forest Mirkwood.
The Wood-elves were greatly distressed at the evil that was taking over their fair wood, but were unable to counter-act the darkness
of Sauron, especially when they knew not who they were struggling against.
With no other options available to them, the Wood-elves fortified their own borders and concentrated on keeping their area of Mirkwood as
safe and as free as they could, although the longer the evil stayed, the harder it became.
This constant struggle to hold back the evil that has taken over much of the wood
and sorrowful anger at what destruction that evil has brought to their once beautiful home
has caused the Wood-elves to be extremely wary of strangers and not too friendly to anyone who
they do not know or who is not of their kind.
Yet for all that, the Mirkwood Elves are good people with many brave souls to their credit
including the King's son, Prince Legolas who has seen many adventures both inside and outside
the borders of his forest home.
Want more info?
Check out our Middle Earth Map page to see maps of Mirkwood and explore the layout of the forest!
Click here to be taken to the map page: