Bregalad
Bregalad, known in the common tongue as Quickbeam, was an Ent at the time of the War of the Ring. He was significantly younger than elder Ents such as Treebeard.
Bregalad, known in the common tongue as Quickbeam, was an Ent at the time of the War of the Ring. He was significantly younger than elder Ents such as Treebeard. He guarded the rowan trees and resembled a rowan himself.
Biography
Bregalad was one of Skinbark's people; he made his home on the mountain-slopes west of Isengard until the Orcs cut down his forest. Having no other choice, he then moved to an Ent-house near Derndingle in Fangorn.
At the Entmoot, Bregalad lived up to his reputation for hastiness; he was the first Ent that decided to attack Isengard, since Saruman's Orcs had destroyed many of his rowan groves. Seeing that Bregalad's mind had already been made up, Treebeard then sent him to watch over Merry and Pippin while the debate among the other Ents continued. He sang songs and laughed with the hobbits, who stayed at his Ent-house near Derndingle while the Entmoot was held.
Bregalad later played an important role in the Destruction of Isengard, as he fought alongside Treebeard and nearly captured Saruman himself. After the water from Isen river had flooded Isengard, he stood guard at the bottom of the stairs of Orthanc. After the War of the Ring, his fate is unknown.
In adaptations
In The Lord of the Rings Online, Quickbeam is found in the grove near Nan Curunír mourning the loss of his tree-friends. He asks the player to exact vengeance upon Orcs and Uruks and deprive them of the means to hurt even more trees.
In LEGO The Lord of the Rings: The Video Game, the player can choose either using Treebeard or another lighter-colored Ent to destroy Isengard, which is assumed by some to be Quickbeam. Both of them have the same abilities and speed.
Etymology
Bregalad is a Sindarin name and roughly translates as "Quickbeam" (from bragol and galad which means "sudden" and "starbeam"). He received this nickname when he answered "yes" before an elder Ent had finished asking the question; this also showed his "hasty" temper for his race.
Trivia
- Although Quickbeam does not expressly appear in The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers film adaptation, there is a "Rowan Ent" seen in the film that many fans have taken to be Quickbeam pared down to a non-speaking role.
- "Quickbeam" is the internet pseudonym of Cliff Broadway, a Senior Staff at TheOneRing.net.