Cold-drakes



Cold-Drakes were dragons that lacked the great power of all of Middle-earth's most infamous dragons (Ancalagon, Glaurung, and Smaug). Nonetheless, they were strong foes with their iron hard scales, wicked claws, and terrible fangs.

History
Though most were wiped out during the War of Wrath at the end of the First Age, many survived in the far North above the Grey Mountains (Ered Mithrin) and in the Withered Heath. As the millennia passed, the cold-drakes multiplied and became a serious threat to the dwarves in the late centuries of the Third Age. Eventually, war was declared. In TA 2589, Dáin I, King of Durin's Folk, and his second son Fror were slain at the gates of their own hall by a great cold-drake. With the ongoing attacks of these fierce creatures, the majority of the dwarves decide to migrate eastwards from the Grey Mountains. Soon afterwards, the Iron Hills and Erebor became the major dwellings of the Longbeards (the inhabitants of Khazad-dûm). Tolkien gives no hint to the history of the cold-drakes after this time period. They may have, however, been animals created by Yavanna (and therefore the first dragons) that were then used by Morgoth to breed the much stronger and wickeder Uruloki.

Four hundred years later at the time of Bilbo Baggin's journey to Erebor, they seem to have left the Grey Mountains(at least, Gandalf makes no mention of them when describing the dangers of that region).

External link

 * http://www.ancientworlds.net/aw/Post/1262687
 * http://www.ancientworlds.net/aw/Post/1262687

Kaltdrachen