The Disaster of the Gladden Fields, also known as the Battle of Gladden Fields was a short battle in the Lord of the Rings fantasy universe created by JRR Tolkien, taking place on the eves of Greenwood the Great forest, in the second year of the Third Age.

After the War of the Last Alliance, Isildur remained in Gondor for several years before returning to Arnor, alhtough he he sent most of his army back home, he kept some two hundreds with him. They set out for Rivendell expecting to march there within fifteen days.

As the sun was setting and the army was preparing to make camp for the night, a large band of orcs appeared out of the trees and attacked. The Orcs had many more warriors than Isildur, and Isildur gave his father's sword, Narsil into the keeping of his esquire, Ohtar who he commanded to escape to Rivendell. They escaped the Orcs and came into Elrond's valley some months later.

Isildur and his army were able to beat of the attack easily with their superior tactics and armour. He was still concerned and the army moved down closer to the river, although they only expected the Orcs to sent their scouts after Isildur's stronger force as they would usually do after being defeated. However the One Ring was calling out to all the servants of its master crying to be rescued.

The Orcs attacked again after less than a mile, committing all of their forces and they soon had the Dunedain surrounded. although the archers were taking out many of the Orcs, there were far too few and the sun was setting. The orcs attacked at the sound of their trumpets but where kept back by the long reach of the Dunedain weaponry. They drew back to reconsider and charged again. This time two or even more Orcs would jump up at a single Dunadan and crush him. he was then dragged out and killed.

Although the Orcs paid as much as five-to-one, they could afford it. Isildur and Elendur were rallying the men as Aratan had been killed in such an attack, Ciryon in an attempt to save him. Elendur commanded his father to flee and sealed his own fate. Soon all of the remaining Dunedain were dead, apart from Estelmo, the squire of Elendur, who had been clubbed on the head and then covered in bodies of his comrades.

Isildur was able to make his way to the Anduin before casting off his greatsword and armour. still wearing the Ring, he swam to the other side and was shot through the throat by an Orc-archer set there for just such a purpose. The Ring had fallen into the Great River.

Thranduil, King of Greenwood hastened to the battle, hoping to save the Dunedain, but he was unable to do anything beyond stopping the mutilation of their corpses.

Source

• The Disaster of the Gladden Fields, Unfinished Tales by JRR Tolkien

Middle-earth battles