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it seems that they never reached Mirkwood.
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Ah, it would seem not, although I recall the Ents telling of the Entwives, who dwelt in what is now the Brown Lands, which is adjacent to Mirkwood. Even Tolkien never said for sure what happened to them. It doth seem likely that, were they to escape, they would prefer lands such as the Shire. But, as this excerpt from the Encyclopedia of Arda suggests, even Tolkien would not or could not say:
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Tolkien's clearest statement on the matter is to be found in his Letters: 'I think that in fact the Entwives had disappeared for good, being destroyed with their gardens in the War of the Last Alliance (Second Age 3429 - 3441)...' (The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien No 144, dated 1954). This is less definite than it might appear, because he goes on to suggest that some might have fled into the east, and finally simply states of their fate, 'I don't know.'
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I rather like this ambiguity on Tolkien's part with respect to parts of Middle Earth's history that are not always specifically addressed. It speaks of the same speculation that historians in our own realm employ to explain things that are not covered in traditional histories. He really knew how to create in this 'historical' context, and that is one of the myriad charms of his work! (Have I digressed? Sorry!) [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img]
Cheers,
Lyta