#drughu

          Ghân was a chieftain of the Drûghu who inhabited the Drúadan Forest in the Third Age. Like his ancestors before him, he kept his people hidden from the other realms of men, fearing Sauron’s evils and the Rohirrim who hunted them for sport. The wife of Ghân was Rughâl, a hunter, and together they had a son to whom Ghân passed his own name.            Ghân-buri-Ghân inherited his father’s chieftainship, and during the War of the Ring he put aside his people’s ancient feud with the Rohirrim to aid King Théoden and his riders through the Stonewain Valley, avoiding an army of orcs and allowing them to arrive in time to fight in the Battle of the Pelennor Fields. In return, Théoden vowed that the people of Rohan would trouble the Drûghu no longer and that they would drive away the orcs that hunted them.            Among the first acts of King Elessar of Gondor was to decree the Drúadan Forest an independent realm belonging solely to Ghân-buri-Ghân and his people, forbidding anyone to enter without their permission. At last granted a reprieve from the cruelty of the outside world, the Drûghu lived alone in peace ever after.

          Aghân was one of the Drûghu, known also as the Drúedain, who lived in the Forest of Brethil. He was skilled in the healing of wounds, and had special knowledge of the venoms used by orcs. Aghân was friends with his neighbor Barach of the Haladin, and during a time of orc-raids in Brethil he took pity upon Barach’s young family and devoted himself to watching over their homestead. Barach and his wife Lareth had two young children at the time, Dannach and Ranceth, and they greatly appreciated Aghân’s kindness.           But Aghân could not protect Barach’s family in every moment, and soon he was called away to help an injured kinsman. In his place he left a watch-stone carved in the shape of a Drûg, assuring Barach that this would protect his family in his absence. Barach was doubtful, but many days passed without incident—yet as soon as he relaxed, a party of orcs attacked and attempted to set his home ablaze, only for a mysterious Drûg to appear and beat them back.           Barach afterwards discovered that it was the watch-stone itself who had saved his family from the orcs, miraculously coming to life and putting out the flames. When Aghân returned the next day, he too appeared to have suffered burns from the connection he had with the stone, but his wounds were already healing.           Barach thanked Aghân profusely, and they remained in friendship for the rest of their days. When Dannach and Ranceth grew older, they passed the story of the Faithful Stone onto their own children, and even as the Drûghu retreated into their own private realms their faithfulness and valour remained in the legends of the Edain.