Treebeard - The two hobbits, entering Fangorn Forest, find themselves soon lost. They try to figure out where they are, and come to appreciate the forest. But when Pippin says, "This shaggy old forest looked so different in the sunlight. I almost felt I liked the place," a strange voice says, "Almost felt you liked the Forest! That's good! That's uncommonly kind of you." It turns out to be the voice of an Ent named Treebeard, an ancient, tree-like creature who shepherds the trees in the forest. Treebeard becomes friends with Merry and Pippin, and carries them back to a place where they can stay overnight.

Treebeard gives Merry and Pippin a drink of water he says is sustenance for Ents, and asks them to share their story. In turn, he tells the hobbits a little about the history of Ents. Eventually, the subject comes around to wizards, and Treebeard wonders aloud about Gandalf and Saruman. Because Saruman lives nearby, Treebeard is aware of his destructive actions: the wizard has been breeding a new kind of Orc (the Uruk-hai) and cutting down many trees.

Treebeard decides he will try to get the other Ents to do something about Saruman. Several of the Ents gather for an Entmoot—a kind of council—and after days of talking about the issue, they decide to take action against Saruman. They set off, singing, for Isengard. The trees of Fangorn forest seem to follow the Ents.