He was the Lord of all horses and a descendand of Felaróf. Shadowfax was capable of comprehnding human speech and was said to run faster than the wind. Originally belonging to the house of Eorl, Lord of Rohan, Shadowfax was too wild to be tamed by the Rohirrim.
:racehorse: :star2: :racehorse: :star2: :racehorse: :star2: :racehorse: :star2: :racehorse: :star2: :racehorse: :star2: :racehorse: :star2: :racehorse: :star2: :racehorse: :star2: :racehorse:
Shadowfax's coat is described as silvery-grey in daylight and hardly to be seen in the night.
Mithrandir first rode Shadowfax during the the events preceding the Council of Elrond, after his escape from being imprisoned at Orthanc. When asked by a suspicious Théoden to take any horse and be gone, Mithrandir chose Shadowfax (much to the King's displeasure), tamed him and used the great steed's speed to cross the vast wilderness between Rohan and the Shire in only six days. He dismissed the horse shortly before arriving in Imladris and Shadowfax returned to Rohan.
He is next seen when Mithrandir (now Gandalf the White) called him when Gimli, Aragorn, Legolas and he needed horses to travel through the lands of Rohan. Legolas instantly recognises the race of the horse, exclaiming that is "of the Mearas".
After they arrived to Edoras, Theoden giffted Shadowfax to Mithrandir. From then on Shadowfax become Mithrandirs permanent steed, earning the wizard the epithet "The White Rider". Mithrandir often used Shadowfax's great speed to his advantage, for instance during the battle of Helms Deep, where he organized the scattered Rohirrim army under Erkenbrand and lead the attack. It was said by Theoden that there will never be a finer horse in Middle-Earth again.
He was instrumental in transporting Mithrandir and Peregrin Took from Rohan to Minas Tirith, when Sauron belived that Peregrin hat the Ring after seeing him in Saruman's Palantír.
Shadowfax was vital during the Siege of Gondor, where Mithrandir ed the army of Gondor defending the Rammas Echron, while regularly escorting medical transport to the city. Because of the horse's speed he was also able to save Faramir, who had commanded the retreating army's rearguard, from an attack by the Nazgûl. During the later stages of the siege, when Mithrandir rode Shadowfax as he faced the Lord of the Nazgûl at the Gate of Gondor, Shadowfax alone among the free horses of the earth endured the terror and stood unmoving, steadfast before the Nazgûl. And finally, Mithrandir used Shadowfax's swiftness to help him save Faramir from his crazed father Denethor, who had intended to burn his wounded son and himself alive on a funeral pyre.
Shadowfax was also present at the Final Battle before the Black Gate.
He afterwards carried Mithrandir on the return journey to the North. It is believed that Shadowfax accompained Mithrandir across the Sea and into the West.
The Rohirric for Shadowfax is Sceadufæx ("shadow-gray mane (and coat)").
:racehorse: :star2: :racehorse: :star2: :racehorse: :star2: :racehorse: :star2: :racehorse: :star2: :racehorse: :star2: :racehorse: :star2: :racehorse: :star2: :racehorse: :star2: :racehorse:
Tolkien's inspiration to give the horse the name Shadowfax (Shadow Mane) was assumably the most extensive source for Norse mythology "The Prosse Edda" (e.g. Hrimfaxi (Frost Mane) and Skinfaxi (Shining Mane)).
Comment