Deer (S. Aras[1]) were graceful creatures found throughout Middle-earth. Deer were loved by the Vala Nessa, and were said to follow her as she travelled through wild lands.[2]

In the First Age the Teiglin River flowed through a gorge west of the forest of Brethil.[3] At the narrowest part of the gorge was Cabed-en-Aras, "The Deer's Leap", where once a deer leaped across the river to escape a huntsman of Haleth.[4]

In T.A. 2941[5] Thorin and Company were in the process of crossing the Enchanted River when a dark-coloured deer bowled into the Dwarves. Although Thorin shot the hart with an arrow as it leaped there was no recovering the venison for the boat they were using floated away. Worse, the commotion caused Bombur to fall into the water, which caused him to fall asleep for days after he was rescued. Soon after, a white deer and her snowy fawns appeared on the path. The dwarves shot arrows at them but none hit and the deer vanished.[6]

In Sindarin, the adjective ross was often used to describe the copper colour of red deer.[7]

One ring to rule them all, one ring to find them, One ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them.

see pic

It cannot be seen, cannot be felt
Cannot be heard, cannot be smelt.
It lies behind stars and under hills,
And empty holes it fills.
It comes first and follows after,
Ends life, kills laughter.



Append


Here you see it most often in the fall

Standing out among the ole oak trees in the glade I spied the two deer wobbling full speed ahead toward the cave tree. Peeking just past the trunk the neck cuddling had begun but one belonged to another and though such entanglements happen frequently in the forest it is with blessing. One sometimes has promises to keep and though the cuddling engaging, the rutting season shall become most fierce due to such brokenness. I moved to the side of the tree. Across the way within my field of vision another deer who had often played with the original pair with full blessing pounced out in a French swag coat moving in a way that told all others this was her show, her drama to manipulate. Suddenly four fawns burst out of the cave tree and went straight for the madam deer. Her making gestures that all was well and just a new friendship. The reaction of the deer who was taken said it all. Startled the deer plunged into the cave pulling her new friend inside. The madam deer surrounded by fawns who believed her gesture and calmed down slowly strolled to the cave tree with fawns following. In a few moments the madam deer and the deer who was taken exchanged communications much like a madam instructing one in the finer arts of manipulation. The deer who was taken began to cry uncontrollable, madam deer comforted in that special way that goes from comfort to acquisition. Now owned the deer calmed down and began the head chortling as the madam deer made loving foreplay. Once charmed and engaged the madam deer gave a new assignment the deer taken went back into the cave tree. Moving over to the pond I hung around with the dragon flies and played with frog and when twilight fell the deer taken came out with two fawns. Instead of the lovely bounce of playfulness the full wrath of some offense oozed out every cell of their being and spilled throughout the forest glade.