One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them,One Ring to bring them all, and in the darkness bind them.

ERIADOR. The lands West of the Misty Mountains. -WILDERLAND. The lands East of the Misty Mountains.Eriador was a large region in northwestern Middle-earth between the Misty Mountains and the Blue Mountains. The Glanduin and Greyflood rivers formed the southern boundary of Eriador. The Shire, Bree, and Rivendell were all located in Eriador and the North-kingdom of Arnor was established there. Eriador had a rich and varied landscape. In western Eriador, the Shire where the Hobbits dwelled was a green and pastoral land with many villages and farms. Bree-land, centered around the village of Bree, also had a number of farms and settlements. The lands in eastern Eriador were more rugged and wild. At the foot of the Misty Mountains in the north were the Ettenmoors where Trolls lived. South of the Ettenmoors were heather-covered moors where the valley of Rivendell lay hidden. Farther south was a wild and barren land of bleak hills, deep valleys and treacherous swamps. Eregion was in the southeastern corner of Eriador. It was once a realm of the Elves but had become a desolate land by the end of the Third Age. Eregion was noted for its holly trees and was called Hollin in the Common Speech. Minhiriath - meaning "between the rivers" - was the name given to the southwestern part of Eriador between the Brandywine River and the Greyflood. Minhiriath was a land of grassy plains and some woodlands. It had once been heavily forested but many trees had been felled for timber during the Second Age. The River Lune was in western Eriador near the Blue Mountains. The Grey Havens were located where the River Lune widened into the Gulf of Lune on the coast of the Sea. In the east near the Misty Mountains, the River Hoarwell joined the Loudwater and then merged with the waters of the Glanduin to form the Greyflood, which flowed southwestward to the Sea. The Brandywine River flowed through central Eriador from Lake Evendim to the Sea. Lake Evendim was in the Hills of Evendim in northern Eriador. Due east of the Hills of Evendim were the North Downs. Between the North Downs and the South Downs were the Barrow-downs and the Weather Hills where Weathertop was located. The Tower Hills were west of the Shire, and in the Shire were the Hills of Scary, the White Downs, the Far Downs. Woodlands in Eriador included the Trollshaws between the Hoarwell and Loudwater west of Rivendell, the Old Forest between the Brandywine and the Barrow-downs, and the Chetwood near the village of Bree. The Midgewater Marshes were between Bree and the Weather Hills. Swanfleet was a marshy land around the mouth the Glanduin in southern Eriador. Bree was an ancient settlement in Eriador at the crossroads of the Great East Road and the Greenway. The Great East Road crossed Eriador from Rivendell in the east to the Grey Havens in the west. The Greenway ran north from the city of Tharbad on the Greyflood to Fornost on the North Downs where the Kings of Arthedain had their seat. Annuminas was a city on the shore of Lake Evendim that was founded by Elendil as the capital of the North-kingdom of Arnor. In ancient times before the rising of the Sun and the dawn of the First Age, the Elves passed through Eriador on their Great Journey westward to cross the Sea to the Undying Lands. After Men awoke at the beginning of the First Age, many of them migrated into northwestern Middle-earth. Some crossed into Beleriand - a land that lay west of the Blue Mountains until the end of the First Age - while others settled in Eriador. During the Second Age, the Men of Eriador lived around Lake Evendim and in the North Downs and in the lands between the Weather Hills and the Brandywine. In the year 600 of the Second Age, the Men of Numenor - who were descended from the Men who had crossed into Beleriand - returned to Middle-earth and came to Eriador. The Numenoreans met with twelve of the Men of Eriador in the Tower Hills and they recognized their ancient kinship. In the year 750 of the Second Age, the Elves founded the realm of Eregion in southeastern Eriador near the Misty Mountains. Around 1200 S.A., Sauron came in disguise to Eregion and from him the Elves gained knowledge and skill. The Elves forged the Rings of Power in the 1500s, but they learned they had been deceived by Sauron when he created the One Ring in 1600 and they hid their Rings from him. Sauron invaded Eriador in 1695 S.A. Eregion was destroyed in 1697 and Elrond retreated with the remaining Elves and founded the refuge of Rivendell. Eriador was overrun by Sauron's forces by 1699. In 1700, Tar-Minastir of Numenor sent a fleet to the Elves' aid and Sauron was defeated and driven out of Eriador by 1701.

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After the downfall of Numenor, Elendil came to Eriador and founded the North-kingdom of Arnor in 3320 S.A. Arnor included all of Eriador except the lands west of the River Lune and the lands east of the Loudwater and Greyflood, where Rivendell and Eregion were located. In the year 861 of the Third Age, the Kingdom of Arnor was divided into three kingdoms: Arthedain, Cardolan, and Rhudaur. Hobbits began to migrate into Eriador around 1050 of the Third Age. The Harfoots were the first branch of Hobbits to settle in Eriador, coming as far west as Weathertop. The Stoors and the Fallohides followed soon afterwards around 1150. Around 1300, Hobbits established one of their earliest and most important settlements at Bree, where Men had dwelled for centuries. Also around 1300, the Lord of the Nazgûl established the realm of Angmar at the northern end of the Misty Mountains in Eriador. He was the most terrible of Sauron's minions and was known as the Witch-king of Angmar. In 1409, a great host came forth from Angmar. Cardolan and Rhudaur were overrun and King Arveleg I of Arthedain was slain. Arveleg's son Araphor held Fornost and the Witch-king's forces were at last driven back by Elves from Lindon, Rivendell, and Lothlorien. In 1601, a group of Hobbits from Bree led by Marcho and Blanco migrated westward from Bree. They had obtained permission from King Argeleb II of Arthedain to settle the lands between the Brandywine and the Far Downs. This land became known as the Shire and it was home to the Hobbits for many centuries. A terrible plague swept through Eriador in 1636 and many Men and Hobbits perished. At this time evil spirits from Angmar and Rhudaur inhabited the graves of the Barrow-downs and became known as Barrow-wights. In 1974, the Witch-king of Angmar once again sent forth a great force and conquered Arthedain and set himself up on the throne at Fornost. The Witch-king was defeated at the Battle of Fornost in 1975 by a host of Men from Gondor and Elves from Lindon and Rivendell. The Witch-king fled from Eriador, but the North-kingdom was ended. The line of Kings was continued by the Chieftains of the Dunedain. The Dunedain became known as Rangers and they protected the peoples of Eriador from many evils. Orcs began to launch attacks on Eriador in 2740. In 2747, they came as far as the Shire and were defeated in the Battle of Greenfields by a band of Hobbits led by Bandobras Took. The Long Winter of 2758-59 brought hardship and suffering to the peoples of Eriador. Gandalf the Grey came to the aid of the Hobbits at that time. During the Fell Winter of 2911, the Brandywine and other rivers in Eriador were frozen and White Wolves invaded from the North. The floods that resulted from the spring thaw devastated much of Minhiriath and Enedwaith in the south. During the War of the Ring in 3018-19, Eriador was troubled by ruffians and thieves from the South, some of whom appeared to have Orc blood. They fought with the Men of Bree after the New Year and were expelled from the village, but they continued to roam the woods and roads. The ruffians occupied the Shire, first at the invitation of Lotho Sackville-Baggins and then under the command of the Wizard Saruman who came to the Shire in September of 3019. The ruffians were defeated by the Hobbits in the Battle of Bywater, the last battle of the War of the Ring. Under the reign of Aragorn, King Elessar, the North-kingdom of Arnor was reestablished in Eriador. The city of Annuminas was rebuilt and the King came to dwell there for a time in the year 15 of the Fourth Age. Eriador

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Eriador means "lonely land" or "wilderness." The element er means "one, alone." The element dor means "land." Eriador was a large region in northwestern Middle-earth between the Misty Mountains and the Blue Mountains. The Glanduin and Greyflood rivers formed the southern boundary of Eriador.-LONE-LANDS. Also called the Lone-lands, although in the latter part of the Third Age this term may have applied to the unsettled regions in eastern Eriador beyond Bree. Lone-lands-NORTHERLAND. By Boromir.-WESTLANDS OF MIDDLE-EARTH. Westlands of Middle-earth-WILD THE. By the Shire-hobbits. West of Bruinen River.West of Middle-earth Eriador and its associated lands.

ChronologyAncient Times: The Elves pass through Eriador on their Great Journey west to cross the Sea to the Undying Lands.

First Age: Men settle in Eriador. Second Age: 0600 The Men of Numenor return to Middle-earth and come to Eriador. They meet with twelve Men of Eriador in the Tower Hills. 0750 The Elves found the realm of Eregion in southeastern Eriador. 1200 Sauron comes to Eregion in disguise. 1500 c. 1500 The Rings of Power are made in Eregion 1600 Sauron creates the Ruling Ring in Mordor and the Elves realize they've been deceived. 1695 Sauron invades Eriador. 1697 Eregion is destroyed. Rivendell is founded by Elrond. 1699 Eriador is overrun by Sauron's forces. 1700 Numenor sends a fleet to Eriador.

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1701 Sauron is defeated and driven out of Eriador. 3320 The North-kingdom of Arnor is founded by Elendil in Eriador.

Third Age: 0861 Arnor is divided into three kingdoms: Arthedain, Cardolan, and Rhudaur. 1050 Hobbits begin to migrate to Eriador from east of the Misty Mountains. The Harfoots come as far west as Weathertop. 1150 The Stoors and Fallohides come to Eriador. 1300 The Hobbits establish a settlement at Bree. The Lord of the Nazgûl founds the realm of Angmar and becomes known as the Witch-king. 1356 King Argeleb I is slain in battle with Rhudaur, which is ruled by an evil lord in league with the Witch-king. The Stoors leave the Angle and some return to Wilderland. 1409 A host from Angmar overruns Cardolan and Rhudaur and King Arveleg of Arthedain is slain. The forces of Angmar are finally driven back by the Dunedain and the Elves. 1601 Marcho and Blanco lead a group of Hobbits to settle in the Shire. 1636 The Great Plague kills many Men and Hobbits in Eriador. The Barrow-wights inhabit the Barrow-downs. 1974 The Witch-king of Angmar conquers Arthedain. 1975 Battle of Fornost. The Witch-king's forces are defeated by the Elves and a force from Gondor. The Witch-king flees from the north. The North-kingdom is ended. 2740 Orcs begin to launch attacks on Eriador. 2747 Orcs are defeated by Hobbits led by Bandobras Took in the Battle of Greenfields. 2758-59 The Long Winter leads to great loss of life in Eriador. 2911 The Fell Winter. White Wolves enter Eriador from the North.

3018 Ruffians from the South come to Eriador and begin to cause trouble in Bree and the Shire.

3019 May 1: Aragorn is crowned King of the Reunited Kingdom of Gondor and Arnor. September 22: Saruman comes to the Shire. November 3: The last battle of the War of the Ring is fought in the Shire. The Hobbits defeat the ruffians in the Battle of Bywater. Saruman is killed by Grima.

Fourth Age: 0006 King Elessar makes the Shire a Free Land of the North Kingdom. 0015 King Elessar comes to the North Kingdom and lives for a time in Annuminas.

MEN OF ERIADORMen of EriadorAllies of the Númenóreans. When the Men of the Three Houses of the Edain passed over the Blue Mountains in the First Age, they left many other peoples behind on the eastern side of the range, in the land that would become known as Eriador. These people knew little of the history of the struggle against Morgoth, or of the War of Wrath that brought it to an end, though they understood that the land beyond the Ered Luin had been wrecked and drowned in that gigantic battle.They were amazed, then, when six hundred years later, the first ships of the Númenóreans reached the coasts of Eriador. These were the mighty descendants of the Men who had crossed the Mountains centuries before, and they struck up an alliance and friendship with the Men of Eriador.After the Downfall of Númenor, the Men of Eriador accepted the new kingdom of Arnor created by Elendil, and covering most of northern Eriador. When Elendil led his people into the south to battle against Sauron, the native peoples of Eriador marched alongside the Dúnedain. That long war ended in the overthrow of Sauron, but many of the northern allies were lost. At that time the Men of Eriador became a dwindled people, surviving into the Third Age in much smaller numbers than in earlier times.The Encyclopedia of Arda

ANDRATH. The name Andrath means "Long Climb" in Sindarin from an meaning "long" and rath meaning "climb."

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Place near the Greenway. Region in Eriador. Defile between the Barrow-downs and the South Downs through which the North-South Road (Greenway) passed.-AMRATH. Earlier form.

AndrathThe Greenway south from Bree.The name given to a reach of the Greenway in the lands southward from Bree. For a stretch, the road ran through a narrow gorge between the Barrow-downs to the west, and the South Downs to the east. From this geography, no doubt, comes the name Andrath, which appears to mean 'long street'. According to some sources, it was at Andrath that the Lord of the Nazgûl encamped for a time during his search for the Shire and 'Baggins'. Passage between the Barrow-downs and the South Downs on the North-South Road. Andrath was located just south of Bree. It was a narrow, sloping stretch of road with downs rising on either side. The Witch-king established a camp at Andrath in late September 3018 of the Third Age with three other Nazgul as they hunted for Frodo Baggins, the Ring-bearer. From his base at Andrath, the Witch-king visited the Barrow-downs and roused the Barrow-wight who tried to trap Frodo in a tomb. On September 30, all Nine Nazgûl assembled at Andrath and then pursued Frodo to Weathertop.

ANGLE OF LORIEN. Region. See LÓRIENANGLE OF ERIADOR. The Angle Region in eastern Eriador. The Angle was located between the Hoarwell and Loudwater where the two rivers converged. After the North-kingdom of Arnor was divided into three kingdoms in 861, the Angle was part of the Kingdom of Rhudaur. Around 1150, some of the Stoors who came over the Redhorn Gate moved into the Angle. But around 1356, as the Witch-king of Angmar's power grew and Rhudaur came under his influence, the Stoors left the Angle. Some Stoors fled west and south and others returned to Wilderland.The land between the Mitheithel and the Bruinen. Many Stoors lived there between 3A1150 and 1350. They left because of the threat of war and the terror of Angmar. At the Time of the War of the Ring the Angle was largely deserted, except for the Trolls of the Trollshaws.

ANNUMINAS. Town. See ARNORARTHEDAIN. Region. See ARNOR

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ARNOR. Region. See ARNOR

BARROW-DOWNS.Called Tyrn Gorthad in Sindarin. The exact translation of Tyrn Gorthad is uncertain. The word tyrn may mean "downs" or "hills." The word gorth may mean "one who is dead." The ending ad is used for "place." Thus gorthad might mean "tombs" and Tyrn Gorthad could be translated as "Hills of Tombs" or "Barrow Downs." Also called the Great Barrows and the Downlands.

The Old Forest and the Barrow-downs were in Cardolan. Downs east of the Old Forest in Eriador. They were known as the Barrow-downs because of the barrows, or burial mounds, that had been made there. The first burial mounds on the Barrow-downs were said to have been built in the First Age by the forefathers of the Edain before they migrated to Beleriand. In the Third Age, the Dunedain, who revered the downs as a resting place of their ancestors, buried many of their lords and kings there. When the northern realm of Cardolan was defeated by the forces of Angmar in 1409, some of the Dunedain took refuge in the Barrow-downs and in the Old Forest beyond. Some of their slain, including the last prince of Cardolan, were buried in mounds on the downs. When the Great Plague swept north in 1636, many of the people of Cardolan perished and the Barrow-downs were abandoned. The Witch-king then sent evil spirits from Angmar and Rhudaur to the Barrow-downs to enter the barrows. These evil spirits were known as Barrow-wights. The Barrow-downs became a place of fear and even Hobbits had heard of their sinister reputation. The hills of the Barrow-downs were covered with short, springy grass. Many of the hills had mounds upon them and some had standing stones that stood out of the ground like jagged teeth. On September 23, 3018, the Witch-king came to the Barrow-downs to rouse Barrow-wights to watch for trespassers on their land. The Witch-king stayed in the Barrow-downs until September 27. Frodo Baggins and his companions entered the Barrow-downs on September 28 after leaving the house of Tom Bombadil. Tom advised the Hobbits to pass the barrows on the west side. They hoped to make it across the downs to the Great East Road by nightfall, but they fell asleep while resting on a hill and a fog rolled in that caused them to become disoriented. Frodo became separated from his companions and was taken into a barrow by a Barrow-wight. His friends were lying cold and unconscious on the ground with a sword across their necks. Frodo was able to resist the temptation to put on the Ring and struck out at the Barrow-wight as it reached for his friends. Frodo called for Tom Bombadil, who came to their rescue. Tom sang a song to banish the Barrow-wight, and it fled with a shriek. Tom gave the Hobbits swords of Westernesse from the barrow that had been used to fight the Witch-king long ago. He spread out the gold and treasures from the barrow on the grass so that the barrow's spell was broken and no Wight would return to it. For Goldberry, Tom took a brooch set with blue stones that had belonged to a fair lady who died long ago. He then escorted the Hobbits to the Great East Road on the edge of the Barrow-downs. The Barrow-Downs were green downs within which there were barrows predating the arrival of the Dunedain. In the year 1409, the remaining Dunedain of Cardolan took refuge in the Barrow-downs during the wars with Angmar. Around 1636 of the Third Age, the Barrow-Downs were inhabited by the Barrow-Wights. After this the Barrow-Downs became a place of great terror. Earthworks and burial chambers made by Men in ancient days. In the Third

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Age, they lay within the bounds of Arnor, and later of Cardolan, and the Dúnedain used them to bury their dead. The Witch-king of Angmar, though, sent evil spirits to inhabit the Barrow-downs, and they became a place of horror. To the east of the Shire and the Old Forest were the Barrow-downs, named after the barrow graves built there. An ancient burial place of green mounds with stone monoliths upon the hills and hollows. Evil spirits known as Barrow-wights haunted the Borrow Downs, sent from the realm of Angmar by the Witch-king, turning it into a place of fear. During the Lord of the Rings, ringbearer Frodo Baggins was trapped by a Barrow-wight, but was saved by the mysterious Tom Bombadil.-BARROW DOWNS. Barrow-downs-BARROWS THE. Barrows-DOWNLANDS. Downlands The hills of the Barrow-downs.-DOWNS THE. -GREAT BARROWS. Great Barrows The tombs of the Barrow-downs.-TYRN GORTHAD. (S). Tyrn Gorthad-TYRN GOERTHAID. (S). Barrow-downs

BAY OF FOROCHEL. Icebay of Forochel & Cape of Forochel See FOROCHEL.Icebay of Forochel . Bay in the far north of Middle-earth. Bay of Forochel-ICEBAY OF FOROCHEL. Icebay of Forochel

BRANDYWINE. River. See SHIREBRANDYWINE BRIDGE.See SHIRE

BREE, BREELAND. Town and Region. See MEN OF BREE

BRIDGE OF THARBAD. See BRIDGES.

BRUINEN. (S). "Loud-water". Called the Loudwater in the Common Speech. The name Bruinen means "Loudwater," though the origin of the element brui - apparently meaning "loud, noisy" - is not clear. The element nen means "water." The Bruinen was also called the River of Rivendell and the Ford of Bruinen was called the Ford of Rivendell. River of Rivendell. The Bruinen was a loud, rushing river that came down from the snows of the Misty Mountains. About 50 miles from its source, the Bruinen was joined by a mountain stream. It is not entirely clear which of the the two forks was the main river and which was the tributary. A sketch drawn by Tolkien labelled the northern branch as the Bruinen, while the southern branch may have been called the Merrill. But from descriptions in the book it appears that the southern branch was the Bruinen, and that this was the river in the valley of Rivendell. The Last Homely House where Elrond dwelled was on the northern bank of the river in the valley. A bridge spanned the river in front of the house, and just west of the bridge was a short waterfall. The two branches merged west of Rivendell and just past their confluence was the Ford of Bruinen. The Great East Road crossed the river at the Ford. Beyond the Ford, there were rocky rapids. The Bruinen then continued southwestward, finally merging with the Hoarwell to form the Greyflood, which flowed to the Sea. The Bruinen was about 200 miles long. The Bruinen was under the control of Elrond. He could command the waters to rise up against an enemy trying to enter Rivendell. Elrond was the bearer of the Elven-ring Vilya, which he used to defend Rivendell. It may be that he used Vilya to control the Bruinen, though this is never actually stated. Frodo Baggins was pursued to the Ford of Bruinen by the Nazgûl on October 20, 3018 of the Third Age. Frodo crossed the Ford on Asfaloth but felt compelled to stop on the other side. The Nazgûl commanded him to give up the Ring, but Frodo refused. As soon as the Lord of the Nazgûl started to cross the Bruinen, Elrond commanded the waters to rise up in a great flood, embellished by images of white horses created by Gandalf. The Nazgûl were washed away. Eight of their horses were later found dead in the river, and the Nazgûl themselves returned disembodied to Mordor.

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Bruinen -RIVER OF RIVENDELL-LOUDWATER. Loudwater

CAPE OF FOROCHEL.Cape of Forochel

CARAS GALADHON. See RHOVANION > LORIEN

CARDOLAN. Region. See ARNOR

CHEERLESS LANDS. Region in Eriador.

CHETWOOD. Region. See MEN OF BREE

CROSSROADS THE. In Eriador.

DIMBAR. Region on Eriador. See also Beleriand.

DINGLE. The valley of the Withywindle in the Old Forest. This place was the centre of the evil in the Old Forest. Many willows grew here, including Old Man Willow.

DRUADAN FOREST. Region. See WOSES

DUNLAND. (OE). From dúnland (OE) "hill-land", "down-land" in contrast to feld-land (OE) "plain-land", "level-land". Tolkien made a scholary pun when he derived DUNLAND from dunn (OE) "dark brown", because the swarthy skin of the Men of Dunlend (the Dunlendings). For language see Dunlendish. The names Dunland and Dunlending were in the language of the Rohirrim. The names contain the Old English word dunn meaning "brown" in reference to the dark hair of the Men of Dunland. The name is said to have no relation to the Elvish word dûn meaning "west," nor apparently is it related to the Old English dún meaning "hill." Land west of Rohan inhabited by Men hostile to the Rohirrim. Dunland was located at the foot of the Misty Mountains at the southwestern end of the range. It was in the region called Enedwaith. The northern part of Dunland was a pleasant, green country. Dunland was bordered on the north by the River Glanduin. To the west ran the great North-South Road, and to the south was the River Isen which flowed through the Gap of Rohan. Dunland was primarily inhabited by Men. The Dunlendings were swarthy and dark-haired. They spoke their own language which was different from the Common Speech. Some of the Dunlendings kept herds of livestock. The ancestors of the Dunlendings came from the White Mountains, and they were distantly related to the Men of the Mountains who were later cursed by Isildur to haunt the Paths of the Dead. The Dunlendings' ancestors migrated northward from the White Mountains probably during the early part of the Second Age. They settled in the valleys of the southwestern Misty Mountains. Men also originally lived in scattered communities throughout the forests of Enedwaith, but the forests were cut down by the Numenoreans and the population became concentrated at the foot of the mountains in the area that became known as Dunland.

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After the Kingdoms of Gondor and Arnor were founded in 3320 of the Second Age, Dunland and the larger region of Enedwaith became nominally part of Gondor. But the Men of Gondor never settled the region, so Enedwaith was essentially a borderland between Gondor and Arnor. Around 1150 of the Third Age, a group of Hobbits of the Stoor branch settled in Dunland. They remained there for almost 500 years until 1630, when they left Dunland to join many other Hobbits in the Shire. The Great Plague of 1636 caused suffering in Dunland, but because the Dunlendings kept themselves isolated they were not as badly affected as other peoples in Middle-earth. After the line of Kings ended in 2050, Gondor's power began to wane and the Dunlendings were no longer even nominally subjects of Gondor. On the other side of the Misty Mountains from Dunland was the region of Gondor called Calenardhon. The population of Calenardhon diminished as Gondor began to focus its resources in the east where Sauron was rising to power. The Dunlendings began to cross the Gap in the mountains into Calenardhon to make settlements. But in 2510, Calenardhon was given to the people of Eorl the Young and became the land of Rohan. During the reigns of King Brego and King Aldor of Rohan, the Dunlendings were driven out of Rohan, and the Rohirrim raided Dunland. The Dunlendings hated the Rohirrim and became their enemies. The Dunlendings began to cross the border into Rohan again around 2700. They stole horses and made settlements in the northern Westfold and in the eaves of Fangorn Forest and around Isengard. Isengard was an outpost of Gondor, but the line of Gondorian chieftains stationed there had died out. Rule of the stronghold had been taken over by a local family who had mixed Dunlendish blood. They let the Dunlendings into Isengard. King Deor of Rohan defeated a force of Dunlendings in the Westfold in 2710, but he could not retake Isengard from them. Egalmoth, the Steward of Gondor, was unable to send any help, so Isengard remained occupied by the Dunlendings for the time being. West of the Gap of Rohan between the River Isen and the River Adorn was a region called the west-march. The west-march was officially part of Rohan but many of its inhabitants were akin to the Dunlendings. A wealthy and powerful man named Freca set up his own domain there around the Adorn. He claimed to be descended from King Freawine of Rohan, but he was also part Dunlending. Freca largely ignored the rule of King Helm of Rohan except when it suited his purposes. In 2754, Freca attended one of Helm's council meetings. Freca wanted his son Wulf to marry Helm's daughter. Helm laughed at Freca's insolence, and Freca insulted the King. After the meeting, Helm struck Freca with one blow from his fist, and Freca died. Freca's son Wulf led the Dunlendings in an invasion of Rohan in 2758. Gondor was attacked at the same time by Corsairs of Umbar and Men of Harad. Some of the Corsairs and Haradrim joined with the Dunlendings in invading Rohan from the west, and Rohan was also invaded by enemies from the east. Wulf captured Edoras and sat on the throne in Meduseld. Many of the Rohirrim were killed or enslaved, and the survivors fled to mountain refuges. Helm led many to the stronghold that became known as Helm's Deep, while his nephew Frealaf led others to Dunharrow. Then the Long Winter came and many of the Rohirrim starved. Helm made a number of raids on the enemy camps and killed many Dunlendings until he himself perished. The Dunlendings feared Helm and they started a false rumor that he ate his victims, which added to their hatred of the Rohirrim. In the spring of 2759, Frealaf took back Edoras and killed Wulf. The Dunlendings were driven out of Rohan and out of Isengard. The Steward of Gondor gave Isengard to Saruman the White in hope that the Wizard would help protect Rohan's western border against future invasions. A group of Dwarves came to live in Dunland shortly after Smaug the Dragon captured the Lonely Mountain from them in 2770. The Dwarves were led by Thror, and among them were his son Thrain II and his grandson Thorin Oakenshield. They lived in Dunland for only a short time. Many left to fight the War of the Dwarves and the Orcs from 2793 to 2799. Afterwards some of the survivors returned briefly to Dunland before relocating to the Blue Mountains in 2802. Although the Dunlendings had been driven out of Rohan, they had continued to occupy the west-march between the Isen and the Adorn. King Folcwine of Rohan reclaimed the west-march from the Dunlendings. But the people that remained there were of mixed blood and many still blamed the Rohirrim for the death of their lord Freca. The Dunlendings and the people of the west-march made secret alliances with Saruman, who intended to conquer Rohan. The Wizard inflamed their hatred of the Rohirrim. Many Dunlendings joined his growing armies. Saruman also apparently experimented with cross-breeding Orcs and Men, and he may have used Dunlendings for this purpose. One of Saruman's most trusted servants was a Man of Dunland who appeared to have Orc blood. This squint-eyed Southerner was Saruman's chief agent in his dealings with the Shire. Saruman sent him and other agents from Dunland to buy pipe-weed from the Shire and to act as spies because he was suspicious of Gandalf's interest in Hobbits.

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Frodo Baggins and his companions saw the squint-eyed Southerner at the Prancing Pony in Bree in September of 3018. In 3019, many of Saruman's Dunlendish agents moved into the Shire and began bullying and oppressing the Hobbits. Dunlendings fought against the Rohirrim at the Battles of the Fords of Isen and the Battle of Helm's Deep. Saruman's forces were defeated at Helm's Deep, and many of the Dunlendings surrendered. They were afraid because Saruman had told them that the Rohirrim burned their captives alive, and they were surprised to find that the Rohirrim were merciful. The Dunlendings were set to work burying the dead and repairing the damage to Helm's Deep. Afterwards, the Dunlendings were allowed to return home to Dunland. But first they swore an oath that they would never again wage war against Rohan or join forces with the enemies of Men. The Dunlendings sent ambassadors to Gondor following the coronation of Aragorn, King Elessar. On November 3, 3019, Saruman's Dunlendish agents were expelled from the Shire by the Hobbits in the Battle of Bywater - the last battle of the War of the Ring.

Dunland

DWIMORDENE. (OE). "Valley of Illusion". = LORIEN (Land). Name in Rohan for Lorien.

EAST-WEST ROAD. Also called the East Road, the Old Road, and the Great Road. (Note that the North-South Road and the Great West Road combined were also referred to as the Great Road.) Major road through Eriador. The Great East Road ran between the Grey Havens and Rivendell. The Road was approximately 575 miles long. The Road was not paved and sometimes developed ruts and potholes during wet weather. The western end of the Great East Road was at the Grey Havens on the Gulf of Lune. From there, the Road passed the Tower Hills and then entered the Shire. The Road traversed the entire width of the Shire from the White Downs to the Brandywine. The Three Farthing Stone stood on the roadside near the center of the Shire. A number of smaller roads in the Shire connected with the Great East Road. The roads from Sarn Ford and Longbottom in the south and Little Delving in the north converged at Waymeet which was a town on the Great East Road. The Bywater Road connected Bywater and Hobbiton with the Great East Road. Travellers on the Great East

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Road sometimes stopped at the Green Dragon in Bywater. Roads also led north to Oatbarton and Scary. Frogmorton and Whitfurrows were two more towns on the Great East Road. At the Brandywine River, the Causeway branched southward from the Road. The Great East Road crossed the Brandywine over the Bridge of Stonebows, also called the Brandywine Bridge. It continued for about 40 miles to Bree. This stretch of the Road was bordered by a line of trees that had been planted along it. The Road passed the north side of the Old Forest and the Barrow-downs and then curved southeastward to Bree. Just outside Bree, the Great East Road intersected with the North-South Road, which was also called the Greenway. The North-South Road ran from Fornost in the north to the Gap of Rohan in the south, where it became the Great West Road to Minas Tirith. Past the crossroads, the Great East Road went over a causeway spanning a deep trench to the West-gate of Bree. The Road passed through Bree and exited through the South-gate. These gates were closed at nightfall but there were gatekeepers on duty. The Prancing Pony in Bree was an important meeting place and rest stop for travellers on the Great East Road. Outside the South-gate of Bree, the Road curved back eastward around the foot of Bree-hill and then sloped downward as it skirted the Chetwood. Near the border of Bree-land, the Forsaken Inn was on the Road about a day's journey east of Bree. East of the Forsaken Inn, the Road became more difficult for travellers. The Road bent somewhat southward to avoid the Midgewater Marshes. It continued past Weathertop and then took a wide bend northward. Along this stretch the land north of the Road was flat and bare, while south of the Road there were thickets and dense patches of trees and bushes with wide barren spaces in between. Athelas could be found in the thickets south of the Road. The Road crossed the River Hoarwell over the Last Bridge. On the other side of the bridge, the Road was bordered on the north by the wooded hills of the Trollshaws. The course of the Road wound back and forth and dipped up and down as it passed through this hilly region. As the Road approached the Ford of Bruinen, it bent south and ran steadily downhill. Just before reaching the Ford, the Road entered a deep channel with high walls of red stone on either side. The last mile to the Ford was open and flat. The Great East Road ended at the Ford of Bruinen. Across the Ford, path ran down into the hidden valley of Rivendell. There were also a number of paths up into the Misty Mountains beyond Rivendell. One such path led to the High Pass. On the other side of the High Pass, the Old Forest Road ran eastward through Mirkwood. The Great East Road was a major thoroughfare of the North-kingdom of Arnor. When Arnor was divided into three Kingdoms in 861 of the Third Age, the Great East Road formed a boundary between Arthedain north of the Road and Cardolan to the south. The land on either side of the Road between the Brandywine and the Far Downs was settled by the Hobbits in 1601 with the permission of King Argeleb II. The Hobbits were required to keep the Brandywine Bridge and the stretch of the Great East Road that ran through the Shire in repair. After the fall of the North-kingdom in 1974, travel on the roads declined. By the end of the Third Age, there were some wanderers on the Road, but most of the travellers were Dwarves journeying to and from the Blue Mountains in western Eriador. The Dwarves paid little attention to the Hobbits as they passed through the Shire, but they did provide news to those who asked. The Hobbits sometimes travelled beyond their own stretch of the Great East Road as far as Bree. When Frodo Baggins and his companions travelled to Rivendell in 3018, they used the Road as little as possible to avoid the Nazgûl. They had to use the Road in order to enter and exit Bree and to cross the Last Bridge and for the final approach to the Ford of Bruinen. On October 20, five Nazgûl came up the Great East Road behind them while four more came from the north. They pursued Frodo to the Ford but were washed away in a flood. In early 3019, there was a fight in Bree instigated by Men who had come up the Greenway from the South. The ruffians were expelled but they still roamed the roads and travel became dangerous. A number of these Men also occupied the Shire. They erected gates on both ends of the Brandywine Bridge and no one was allowed to cross at night. The Men were defeated by the Hobbits in the Battle of Bywater on November 3. -EAST ROAD. East Road-EAST-WEST ROAD. East-West Road-GREAT ROAD. Great Road-OLD ROAD. Old Road

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ELOSTIRION. Tower. See SHIRE > WHITE TOWERS

ELVET-ISLE. ATB02. Island in the lower Withywindle. In Hobbit-lore the home of the Old Swan.Island in the Withywindle in the Old Forest. The Elvet-isle was inhabited by swans. The word elvet is an old word meaning "swan" from the Old English elfetu or ilfetu.

ENEDWAITH. (S). "Middle-land or Middle-people".Also spelled Enedhwaith. The name Enedwaith means "middle folk" or "middle region" in Sindarin from enedh meaning "middle" and waith from gwaith which means "people" but is also used for regions. The name was also interpreted as "Central Wilderness" (HoME XII, p. 330). Region south of Eriador. Enedwaith was located between the Misty Mountains and the Sea. Dunland was in eastern Enedwaith at the foot of the Misty Mountains. The Isen was the southern boundary of Enedwaith and the Greyflood and Glanduin formed its northern boundary. North of the Greyflood was the region of Eriador called Minhiriath. The Elvish realm of Eregion was north of the Glanduin. The marshlands of Swanfleet were around the junction of the Greyflood and Glanduin. The city of Tharbad was located on the Greyflood between Enedwaith and Minhiriath. The port of Lond Daer was in Enedwaith on the seacoast at the mouth of the Greyflood. The North-South Road connecting Gondor and Arnor ran through Enedwaith from the Gap of Rohan to Tharbad. Enedwaith was originally covered with vast forests. The woods were inhabited by a large number of Men in scattered, autonomous communites. Between 750 and 800 of the Second Age, Aldarion of Numenor established the haven of Lond Daer. Tharbad was built sometime afterwards. The Numenoreans began cutting down trees to use for building ships and this practice continued for centuries. Eventually most of Enedwaith was completely deforested except for some woodlands in the southeast. The native inhabitants of Enedwaith became hostile to the Men of Numenor as their homeland was ravaged. Some of them even sided with Sauron when the Numenoreans aided the Elves during the War of the Elves and Sauron of 1693 to 1701. The natives acted as spies and guides for Sauron's forces. Sauron was defeated in the Battle of the Gwathlo (another name for the Greyflood) in 1701. The population of Enedwaith had dwindled as the forests were destroyed. A number of fisher-folk still lived along the seacoast between the Greyflood and the Isen. Many of the other surviving inhabitants settled at the foot of the Misty Mountains in what became Dunland. (See the Dunland entry above for the history of that land.)

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The Kingdoms of Gondor and Arnor were established in 3320 by the survivors of the Downfall of Numenor. The North-kingdom of Arnor encompassed most of Eriador north of the Greyflood. At the height of its power, the South-kingdom of Gondor's territory extended as far north as the Greyflood and included Enedwaith. But the Men of Gondor never settled in Enedwaith and in time Gondor's boundaries receded. Enedwaith became a borderland between the two Kingdoms. The Men of Gondor maintained and patrolled the portion of the North-South Road that passed through Enedwaith. The bridge and town of Tharbad were the responsibility of both Kingdoms. A number of people from Gondor and Arnor lived in Tharbad during the first half of the Third Age. In 1636 of the Third Age, the Great Plague swept through Middle-earth. The native inhabitants of Enedwaith were affected and the population of Tharbad also declined as Gondor and Arnor were weakened. The North-South Road fell into disuse and became overgrown. In 2912, Enedwaith was devastated by floods during the spring thaw that followed the Fell Winter. The bridge at Tharbad collapsed and the town was ruined and deserted. Frodo Baggins and his companions passed through Enedwaith on their way home in late August and early September of 3019.

Enedwaith

ENEDWAITH = MEN OF MIDDLE-EARTH. See MEN

EREGION. The name Eregion means "Land of Holly" from ereg meaning "holly tree" and the ending -ion which appears to denote "land of." The Common Speech name was Hollin. Realm of the Elven-smiths who forged the Rings of Power. Eregion was located in Eriador along the western side of the Misty Mountains. The southern boundary of Eregion was the River Glanduin. The northern boundary was about 45 leagues, or 135 miles, south of Rivendell, marked by a ridge topped with holly trees. Eregion was noted for the holly trees that grew there, and the region was called Hollin in the Common Speech. The chief city of Eregion was Ost-in-Edhil. The city's exact location is not known, but it was probably along the Sirannon, or Gate-stream of Khazad-dum. A paved road ran from Ost-in-Edhil along the Sirannon to the West-gate of Khazad-dum. Two holly trees stood at the gate, marking the end of the Elvish lands and the entrance to the Dwarves' realm. There was also a road leading through Eregion to the Pass of Caradhras, which led over the Misty Mountains to the Dimrill Dale. Eregion was founded in the year 750 of the Second Age by a group of Noldorin Elves who had survived the War of Wrath against Morgoth at the end of the First Age. Beleriand had been destroyed, so they migrated eastward and settled at the foot of the Misty Mountains. According to some accounts, Galadriel and Celeborn accompanied them and lived in Eregion for a time.

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The Elves built Ost-in-Edhil, and there they established the House of the Mirdain, or jewel-smiths. They became known as the Gwaith-i-Mirdain, or People of the Jewel-smiths. The Elven-smiths of Eregion made many beautiful things. The greatest of the Elven-smiths was Celebrimbor, who was the grandson of Feanor. The Elven-smiths traded with the Dwarves of Khazad-dum. The Dwarves were skilled craftsmen and they mined under the mountains for jewels and metals and especially for mithril. Mithril was found nowhere else in Middle-earth, and it was the main reason the Elven-smiths had chosen to settle there. Celebrimbor became friends with the Dwarf craftsman Narvi, and together they made the great Doors of Durin for the West-gate of Khazad-dum. In 1200, Sauron came to Eregion in a fair disguise, calling himself Annatar, Lord of Gifts. He claimed to be an emissary of the Valar, and he promised to teach the Elves many things. The Elven-smiths greatly desired to improve their skills and craftsmanship. Although they had chosen to remain in Middle-earth, they wanted to recreate the beauty and timelessness of the Undying Lands. Sauron played on these desires, and the Elven-smiths were deceived and welcomed him into Eregion. Under Sauron's instruction, the Elves began to make magic rings. While learning the craft, they made a number of lesser rings with varying degrees of power. Then around 1500, they began the forging of the Rings of Power. The Elven-smiths made nineteen Rings of Power in total. The Seven Rings and the Nine Rings were made with Sauron's help. In 1590, Celebrimbor made the Three Rings - Narya, Nenya, and Vilya - without Sauron's aid, though he used the skills he had learned from him. Sauron returned to Mordor and in 1600 he forged the One Ring to rule the other Rings of Power. As soon as Sauron put on the One Ring, the Elves became aware of him and realized his true identity. Knowing they had been deceived, the Elves took off their Rings so that Sauron could not control them. Sauron was enraged, and in 1693 he declared war against the Elves and demanded the Rings of Power from them. The Elves hid the Three Rings. Galadriel received Nenya, while Narya and Vilya were sent to Gil-galad in Lindon. The Nine Rings remained in Eregion, as did six of the Seven Rings. According to Dwarf legend, one of the Seven had already been given by the Elves to Durin III, the King of Khazad-dum. Sauron invaded Eriador and attacked Eregion. Celeborn led a sortie against the vanguard of Sauron's army. He joined forces with a host of reinforcements from Lindon led by Elrond, but the Elves were greatly outnumbered and were driven back. Sauron besieged Eregion and broke through the defenses in 1697. Celebrimbor tried to defend the House of the Mirdain where the Rings were kept, but he was overcome. Sauron entered the House and seized the Nine Rings. He tortured Celebrimbor into revealing the location of the Seven Rings, six of which he retrieved. But Celebrimbor would not reveal where the Three Rings were hidden, and Sauron had him put to death. Sauron was eventually defeated and driven back to Mordor by the Elves of Lindon and the Men of Numenor. But Eregion had been completely destroyed, and it was abandoned. Many of the survivors fled to Edhellond or the Grey Havens to set sail to the Undying Lands. Still others, possibly including Galadriel and Celeborn, went to live in Lothlorien. In the Third Age, Eregion was an empty and uninhabited region, and nothing remained of the realm of the Elves but a few overgrown roads and ruins. The Fellowship passed through the region in January of 3019. Legolas said of the Elves who once lived there: "... the trees and the grass do not now remember them. Only I hear the stones lament them: deep they delved us, fair they wrought us, high they builded us; but they are gone." Eregion -HOLLIN. HollinSee also OST-IN-EDHIL.

ERYN VORN. The name Eryn Vorn means "Dark Wood" from the word eryn meaning "wood" and vorn from morn meaning "dark." Forest in Eriador. Eryn Vorn was located on a cape on the coast of the Sea in the region of southern Eriador called Minhiriath. The Brandywine River flowed into the Sea just north of Eryn Vorn. Eryn Vorn was a remnant of the great forests that once covered Minhiriath and Enedwaith. Most of the trees had been cut down during the first part of the Second Age by the Men of Numenor, who used the timber to build ships. The inhabitants the forests of Minhiriath tried unsuccessfully to stop the Numenoreans from destroying their home. The survivors fled to the forest on the Cape of Eryn Vorn. They were mainly hunter-folk who had little contact with outsiders.

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Eryn Vorn

FAR DOWNS. See SHIRE

FELL WINTER. 1A0495. Beleriand. See CALENDARS FELL WINTER. 3A2911. Middle-earth. See CALENDARS

FORD OF BRUINEN.

Ford of Bruinen-FORD OF RIVENDELL. Ford of Rivendell

FORLOND and HARLOND. See BELERIAND

FORNOST. Town. See ARNOR

FOROCHEL. Forochel means "northern ice" from for meaning "north" and heleg meaning "ice." The Icebay was also called the Bay of Forochel. A cape is a point of land extending into water. Region in Eriador. Icebay of Forochel & Cape of Forochel

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Bay and cape in the far north of Middle-earth. The Icebay of Forochel was on the northwestern coast, opening onto the Sea. South of the Icebay was Eriador, and to the east was the northern wasteland of Forodwaith. A long strip of land called the Cape of Forochel projected into the bay on the northwestern side, making the entrance to the bay relatively narrow. There were no ports on the Icebay of Forochel, and it was rarely used by ships. As its name suggests, the Icebay was in a cold climate and the waters froze during the winter months. A people called the Snowmen, or Lossoth, lived on the shores of the bay, particularly on the Cape of Forochel, though they also camped on the southern shore near the Blue Mountains. The Snowmen built homes out of ice and snow and used sleds and skis for transportation. In 1975 of the Third Age, King Arvedui of Arthedain fled to the shores of the Icebay to escape the Witch-king of Angmar. The Snowmen gave Arvedui and his men food and shelter. Cirdan of the Grey Havens sent a ship to rescue Arvedui in March, but the bay was still frozen far out from the shore. The leader of the Snowmen advised Arvedui to wait for the spring thaw, but Arvedui did not heed his advice. The Snowmen pulled Arvedui and his men across the ice in their sleds and a boat from the ship picked them up. Before the ship exited the Icebay, a great blizzard came and drove the ship back against the ice. The hull was crushed and the ship sank. Everyone aboard was killed. Arvedui had been carrying two of the palantiri - the Stone of Annuminas and the Stone of Amon Sul - and they sank to the bottom of the bay and were lost forever. Forochel

FORSAKEN INN, THE. Inn. See MEN OF BREE

GLANDUIN = SWANFLEET. River.

GREY HAVENS, THE. Ports on the northwestern coast of Middle-earth. The Grey Havens were west of the Shire beyond the Tower Hills. The Grey Havens are also called the Havens. A haven is a harbor or port. The Sindarin name is Mithlond which translates as "Grey Havens" from mith meaning "grey" and lond meaning "haven." Port on the northwestern coast of Middle-earth. The Grey Havens were the place from which the ships of the Eldar sailed westward across the Sea to the Undying Lands, where the spirits called the Valar dwelled. At the end of the Third Age, many Eldar left Middle-earth from the Grey Havens, and the Ringbearers Frodo and Bilbo Baggins also embarked from there so they could find peace and healing in the Undying Lands. The Grey Havens were located at the mouth of the River Lune. The Lune flowed into the Gulf of Lune which opened onto the Sea. The Elvish lands of Lindon lay on either side of the Gulf. The Great East Road ran to the Grey Havens across Eriador from Rivendell. The Grey Havens were founded by the Eldar in the year 1 of the Second Age. Cirdan the Shipwright was the Lord of the Havens and a number other Eldar lived there with him including Galdor. In the year 600 of the Second Age, the first ship of the Men of Numenor came to the Grey Havens captained by Veantur. Veantur brought his grandson Aldarion to the Grey Havens in 725. After that time many ships from Numenor sailed to the Grey Havens and were welcomed by the Eldar. During the War of the Eldar and Sauron, Sauron overran Eriador and besieged the Grey Havens. In 1700, Admiral Ciryatur brought a fleet of ships from Numenor to the Gulf of Lune and Sauron's forces were driven back. In 3320 after Numenor was destroyed, Elendil sailed to the Grey Havens and founded the North-kingdom of Arnor in Eriador east of the River Lune. The Wizards came to Middle-earth from the Undying Lands around the year 1000 of the Third Age. When Gandalf the Grey arrived at the Grey Havens, Cirdan gave him Narya, one of the Three Rings of the Elves, for he perceived that the Wizard had an important and difficult task before him. In 1975, Cirdan sent a ship from the Grey Havens to rescue King Arvedui, who had been forced to retreat to the Icebay of Forochel by the Witch-king of Angmar. But a great blizzard came from the north and despite the efforts of Cirdan's mariners the ship was driven against the ice and its hull was crushed. All aboard were killed including Arvedui. Shortly afterwards, a great fleet arrived at the Grey Havens from Gondor led by Earnur. There were so many ships that there was hardly room for them all in the Gulf of Lune. The combined forces of the Elves and the Men of Gondor defeated the Witch-king in the Battle of Fornost and drove him from the North. Grey Havens HoweAs the Third Age came to an end, many Eldar left Middle-earth for the Undying Lands, never to return. Some of them passed through the Shire on their way to the Grey Havens to board the ships into the West. On September 29, 3021, Gandalf returned to the Grey Havens. Cirdan was there to greet him and a ship was moored at the quay ready to set sail to the Undying Lands. Then the Last Riding of the Keepers of the Rings arrived at the

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Havens, including Elrond, the keeper of Vilya, and Galadriel, the keeper of Nenya, and a number of other Eldar who were leaving Middle-earth including Gildor Inglorion. With them were the Hobbits Bilbo Baggins and Frodo Baggins, who had both carried the One Ring. Mortals were not normally allowed to sail to the Undying Lands, but because of the great burden they had borne, Frodo and Bilbo were given special permission. It is thought that Gandalf, as an emissary of the Valar, may have granted this favor at the request of Arwen. Sam Gamgee, Merry Brandybuck, and Pippin Took came to the Grey Havens to say goodbye to their friends. Then Frodo kissed Merry and Pippin, and last of all Sam, and went aboard; and the sails were drawn up, and the wind blew, and slowly the ship slipped away down the long grey firth; and the light of the glass of Galadriel that Frodo bore glimmered and was lost. And the ship went out into the High Sea and passed on into the West, until at last on a night of rain Frodo smelled a sweet fragrance on the air and heard the sound of singing that came over the water. And then it seemed to him that as in his dream in the house of Bombadil, the grey rain-curtain turned all to silver glass and was rolled back, and he beheld white shores and beyond them a far green country under a swift sunrise. But to Sam the evening deepened to darkness as he stood at the Haven; and as he looked at the grey sea he saw only a shadow on the waters that was soon lost in the West. There still he stood far into the night, hearing only the sigh and murmur of the waves on the shores of Middle-earth, and the sound of them sank deep into his heart. Beside him stood Merry and Pippin, and they were silent. Sam Gamgee returned to the Grey Havens long afterwards in the year 61 of the Fourth Age. There he boarded a ship and followed Frodo to the Undying Lands. It is said that Cirdan remained at the Grey Havens until the Last Ship set sail into the West, but when that was is not known. Grey Havens -HAVENS THE.-MITHLOND. (S). MithlondElf-havens

GREAT PLAGUE. See CALENDARS

GREYFLOOD. The original Sindarin name given to the river was Gwaithir meaning "River of Shadow" from gwath meaning "shadow" and hir from sir meaning "river." The name referred to the shadows cast on the river by the dense forest on its banks. Later when the Numenoreans discovered the marshy Swanfleet at the source of the river they changed the name to Gwathló - "the shadowy river from the fens." The element lô is from loga meaning "wet, soaked, swampy." The name of the river in Adunaic – the language of Numenor – was Agathurush, meaning "flood under shadow." The Common Speech name was Greyflood. Greyflood (Gwathló)River on the southern border of Eriador. North of the Greyflood was the region of Eriador called Minhiriath and south of the Greyflood was an area called Enedwaith. The Greyflood was formed by the confluence of the River Hoarwell and the marshy lower course of the River Glanduin known as Swanfleet. The city of Tharbad was located at the juncture of the Hoarwell and the Glanduin. A bridge originally spanned the Greyflood there, and the North-South Road passed over it. The Greyflood flowed southwestward to the Sea. The port of Lond Daer was near the seacoast on the southern bank of the Greyflood. Lond Daer was founded in the early Second Age by Aldarion of Numenor. Originally, the land on both sides of the Greyflood was covered by a great forest, which grew down to the riverbanks and cast deep shadows on the water. But the Numenoreans cut down many of the trees. They floated the timber down the Greyflood to Lond Daer and used the wood to build ships. In time, most of the woods were destroyed, and open grasslands lay on either side of the Greyflood. In 1701 of the Second Age, the Battle of the Gwathlo was fought along the Greyflood between the forces of Sauron and an army of Numenoreans who landed at Lond Daer. Sauron's forces were defeated. Sauron himself escaped and retreated to Mordor. In the Third Age, the Greyflood formed part of the southern border of the North-kingdom of Arnor. The river was also briefly the northwestern boundary of Gondor at the height of its power under Hyarmendacil I (1015-1149), though later Enedwaith was no longer considered part of Gondor. Tharbad was an important river port. People traveling from Gondor to Arnor often sailed by Sea to the mouth of the Greyflood and then upriver to Tharbad where they continued by land.

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The Greyflood flooded during the spring thaw of 2912 following the Fell Winter. Tharbad was ruined and deserted. The Bridge of Tharbad collapsed and the crossing - though still slow and shallow - became dangerous because of the ruins in the water. When Boromir traveled to Rivendell in 3018, he lost his horse while crossing the Greyflood. The name given by some people to the large river formed by the junction of Mitheithel and Glanduin. The river flowed southwest from Tharbad and marked the boundery between Minhiriath and Enedwaith.

The border between Minhiriath to the north and Enedwaith to the south.The confluence of the Mitheithel and the Glanduin, above Tharbad.Outflow into the Great Sea at Lond Daer.Meaning 'Grey' refers to the shading of the trees of the Second AgeOther names Agathurush, Gwathir, GwathlóThe southern border-river of Eriador.The name given to the lower reaches of the River Hoarwell, known to the Elves as the Gwathló. The Greyflood flowed southwest from the confluence of the Hoarwell (Mitheithel) with the Glanduin, until it reached the Great Sea at Lond Daer. It formed the border between the regions of Enedwaith in the south and Minhiriath in the north, and took its name from the tree-shadows of the great forest that filled those regions during the Second Age.-AGATHURUSH. (N). "Grey-stream", "Shadow-river". The name is a translation of the name Gwathlo. Agathurush-GWATHIR. Gwathir-GWATHLO. (S). "Shadow- ". Gwathló-ODOTHEG. -ODOTHUI. Seventh River (Greyflood); changed from ODOTHEG.

HARLOND and FORLOND. See BELERIAND

HIGH MOOR.

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High Moor

HILLS OF SCARY. See SHIREHILLS OF EVENDIM. See ARNOR

HOARWELL. So called by Men. Also called the Mitheithel in Sindarin. The word Mitheithel comes from the words mith meaning "grey" and eithel meaning "spring, well." The word hoar means "grey." River in Eriador. The source of the Hoarwell was in the Ettenmoors on the west side of the northern Misty Mountains. The place where the Hoarwell rose may have been called Hoardale. The Hoarwell flowed southwest through the Ettenmoors and crossed the Great East Road, where the river was spanned by the Last Bridge. This bridge was the only crossing along the length of the Hoarwell. The Hoarwell then continued south and was joined by the Loudwater. The triangular-shaped land between these two rivers was called the Angle. The Hoarwell bent southwestward to the town of Tharbad on the Greenway. Just above Tharbad, the Hoarwell was joined by the Glanduin and the two rivers merged to form the Greyflood, which flowed southwest into the Sea. Around the year 1150 of the Third Age, the Fallohides crossed the Misty Mountains in the north and came down the Hoarwell into Eriador. The Stoors crossed the mountains at the Redhorn Gate and settled in the Angle between the Hoarwell and the Loudwater. At this time the Angle was part of the Kingdom of Rhudaur and the Hoarwell formed part of the boundary between Rhudaur and Cardolan. By 1356, Rhudaur had fallen under the influence of the Witch-king of Angmar and the Stoors fled. The Kingdoms of Arthedain and Cardolan defended a frontier along the Weather Hills, the Great East Road, and the lower Hoarwell, but in 1409 the Witch-king crossed the Hoarwell and defeated them. The Witch-king was finally driven from the north in 1975. One night in late May of 2941, Bilbo Baggins and the Dwarves of Thorin's company crossed the Last Bridge over the Hoarwell, which was swollen with rains from the hills and mountains in the north. It was that same night that they encountered the Trolls Tom, Bert, and William in the Trollshaws. In October of 3018, Gandalf travelled up the Hoarwell after he was attacked by Nazgûl on Weathertop and he passed through the Ettenmoors and came to Rivendell from the north. On October 11, the Elf-lord Glorfindeldrove three Nazgûl from the Last Bridge and left a green stone on the bridge as a token. Two days later,Strider found the stone and led Frodo Baggins and the Hobbits safely across the Hoarwell. In November and December, scouts were sent from Rivendell up the Hoarwell to its springs in the Ettenmoors, but they found no trace of the Nazgûl there.

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River Hoarwell -MITHEITHEL. (S). Mitheithel ICEBAY F FOROCHEL. See FOROCHEL

LAKE EVENDIM. See ARNOR

LAST BRIDGE. The Last Bridge was so called because it was the last bridge on the Great East Road before Rivendell. It was also called the Bridge of Mitheithel, which was the Sindarin name of the Hoarwell. The Last Bridge was an ancient stone bridge supported by three arches. The Great East Road passed over the Last Bridge. The Last Bridge was the only way across the Hoarwell. Bilbo Baggins crossed the Last Bridge on his journey to the Lonely Mountain in May of 2941 of the Third Age. On October 11, 3018, Glorfindel found three Nazgûl including Khamul waiting at the Last Bridge for Frodo Baggins, the Ring-bearer, who was coming to Rivendell. The Nazgûl fled before Glorfindel. He left a green stone on the bridge as a token that it was now safe to cross and he pursued the Nazgûl westward. Aragorn and the Hobbits came to the Last Bridge on October 13. Aragorn found the stone and led the Hobbits safely across. Last Bridge The old stone bridge that carried the East-West Road over the River Mitheithel, about a hundred miles east of Weathertop. Its three arches crossed the wide river at the bottom of a valley, and to the east the land rose again into the wooded hills of the Trollshaws, in which Bilbo and his companions encountered an unfriendly trio of trolls. Indeed, there is an oblique reference to an 'ancient stone bridge' in chapter 2 of The Hobbit that seems to be a reference to the Last Bridge. No record of its builders survives, but it was most likely constructed by the Dúnedain of Arnor, or perhaps of the later kingdom of Rhudaur, in which it lay. There was no other means of crossing the river for hundreds of miles to the north, and so the Bridge had great strategic value. In the War of the Ring, three Black Riders attempted to hold it against Aragorn and the hobbits on their journey to Rivendell. Their plan was foiled by Glorfindel, who drove them away and left his token, a green beryl, on the Bridge. -BRIDGE OF MITHEITHEL. Bridge of Mitheithel

LITTLE LUNE. The Little Lune was so called because it was a tributary of the Lune. Tributary of the River Lune. The Little Lune began in the Blue Mountains and flowed eastward to join the Lune. The Little Lune was the northern boundary of the Elvish territory between the Blue Mountains and the River Lune. North of the Little Lune was Dwarf country. Little Lune

LOND DAER.

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The name Lond Daer means "Great Haven" in Sindarin from lond meaning "haven" and daer meaning "great." It was also called Lond Daer Enedh meaning "Great Middle Haven" because it was located between the Grey Havens and Pelargir (though Pelargir was not established until 2350 S.A.). The original name was Vinyalondë meaning "New Haven" in Quenya from vinya meaning "new" and londë meaning "haven." Haven Greyflood Eriador.Numenorean port on the west coast of Middle-earth. Lond Daer was located at the mouth of the Gwathlo, or Greyflood. It was in the region of Enedwaith south of Eriador. The city of Tharbad was about 200 miles upriver from Lond Daer. Lond Daer was originally named Vinyalonde. It was established between 750 and 800 of the Second Age by Aldarion, a great mariner and future King of Numenor. Aldarion foresaw that a haven on the coast of Middle-earth could be useful in the defense of Eriador and the Elvish realm of Lindon to the north. Aldarion needed timber to build ships, and he chose the haven's location because there were vast forests on either side of the Gwathlo. Timber was brought downriver to the haven. Ships were built in the shipyards there, and timber was also sent on to Numenor. The native inhabitants of the forests were awed by the Numenoreans but they became hostile as their homeland was gradually stripped of trees. In 843, Aldarion found that the haven had been damaged by the Sea and had been plundered by the forest-dwellers. He tried to rebuild, but on another visit between 863 and 869 he found the haven completely ruined. Lond Daer was rebuilt after Aldarion's reign and was enlarged and fortified. The timber trade continued, and the regions of Enedwaith and Minhiriath around the Gwathlo were almost completely deforested by the Men of Numenor by the middle of the Second Age. During the War of the Elves and Sauron from 1693 to 1701, many of the natives sided with Sauron against the Numenoreans. Admiral Ciryatur of Numenor sent ships to Lond Daer and the Numenoreans defeated Sauron's forces in the Battle of the Gwathlo in 1701. Lond Daer eventually fell into ruin once more. Numenor was destroyed in 3319 and the survivors founded the Kingdoms of Gondor and Arnor. Ships travelling between the South-kingdom and the North-kingdom passed Lond Daer on their way up the Gwathlo to Tharbad, but the haven at Lond Daer was not restored. -LOND DAER ENEDH. Lond DaerLond Daer EnedhThe Great Middle Haven. The fuller name for the port and haven at the mouth of the River Gwathló, more usually referred to simply as Lond Daer, meaning 'Great Haven'. The suffix Enedh meant 'Middle', referring to its position midway between the havens of Lindon to the north, and Pelargir to the south.The first harbour at the Gwathló's mouth was founded by the early Númenórean King Tar-Aldarion, who gave it its original name Vinyalondë ('New Haven'). As time went by, the sea encroached on the Númenórean harbour, and for at least part of its history Lond Daer lay in ruins. There is some evidence that it was ultimately restored, and played a key part in Tar-Minastir's victory of Sauron in Eriador.The Encyclopedia of Arda-VINYALONDE. (Q). “New Haven”.VinyalondëThe ancient haven at the mouth of the Gwathló. A harbour founded by Aldarion and the Venturers at the mouth of the Gwathló; it was one of the first settlements built by the Númenóreans in Middle-earth, and survived (at least in part) into the Third Age as the port of Lond Daer. The Encyclopedia of Arda

LONG WINTER. 1A. Beleriand. See CALENDARSLONG WINTER. 3A2758-59. Middle-earth. See CALENDARS

LUNE RIVER. Called the Lhûn in Sindarin. Lune is a Common Speech adaptation of Lhûn. The word lhûn means "blue" and is apparently an earlier version of luin, the more commonly used word for "blue" as in Ered Luin, the Blue Mountains, from which the Lhûn sprang. The name given by Men and Hobbits to the river the Elves called the Lhûn, in imitation of that name. It flowed from the eastern Ered Luin to meet the sea in the great Gulf of Lhûn, and the Grey Havens stood at its mouth.

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River in Eriador. The River Lune began in the northeastern Blue Mountains and flowed southward for about 300 miles. The Lune had two tributaries: a river from the Blue Mountains called the Little Lune merged with the Lune from the west, and a river from the Hills of Evendim joined the Lune from the east. The River Lune flowed into the Gulf of Lune, which opened onto the Sea. The Grey Havens were located where the River Lune flowed into the Gulf. The Gulf of Lune was created at the end of the First Age when Beleriand was destroyed and the Blue Mountains were divided. It was at that time that the River Lune changed its course to empty into the Gulf. The River Lune's original course is not known. The Grey Havens were established at the mouth of the River Lune in the year 1 of the Second Age. Elves embarked from the Grey Havens to sail to the Undying Lands. Cirdan was Lord of the Havens and he lived there with many Elves. More Elves dwelled in the surrounding region called Lindon, which lay mainly west of the Blue Mountains but also included the area east of the mountains to the River Lune and as far north as the Little Lune. North of the Little Lune was Dwarf country. Sauron invaded Eriador in the middle of the Second Age and his forces were stopped at the Lune by Gil-galad, who defended the river to prevent the Grey Havens from being captured. In 1700, a fleet sent by Tar-Minastir of Numenor arrived in the Gulf of Lune and Sauron's forces were driven back. When Elendil escaped the destruction of Numenor in 3319 of the Second Age, he sailed up the River Lune and settled with his followers in the lands east of the river. The Lune became the western boundary of Arnor, the North-kindgom of the Dunedain. There were a number of Dunedain settlements along the River Lune. Arnor was divided into three kingdoms in 861 of the Third Age and the River Lune became the western boundary of Arthedain. In 1974, the Witch-king of Angmar invaded Arthedain and drove most of the Dunedain across the Lune into Lindon. But in 1975, help came from Gondor to the Gulf of Lune, and the Dunedain along with many Elves of Lindon recrossed the Lune into Arthedain. The Witch-king thought he could drive them back into the Lune, but his forces were defeated in the Battle of Fornost and he fled from the North. River Lune. The Hobbits’ name for the River Lhûn.

Lune -LHUN. Lhûn

MIDGEWATER MARSHES. The Midgewater Marshes are named for the small insects called midges that lived there.

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Marshes in Eriador. Marshes in Eriador. The Midgewater Marshes were east of Bree. The Chetwood was on the western side of the marshes and the Weather Hills were on the east. The Great East Road curved around the southern edge of the Midgewater Marshes. The land in the marshes was boggy and treacherous and there was no permanent path. There were many pools and reeds and rushes. The marshes were home to birds, flies, tiny biting midges, and loud cricket-like insects that Sam Gamgee named Neekerbreekers. The Hobbits were led into the Midgewater Marshes by Strider on October 2, 3018 of the Third Age, their third day out of Bree. They spent two uncomfortable days and nights in the marshes. Midgewater Marshes

MINHIRIATH. The name Minhiriath means "between the rivers" in Sindarin in reference to the Brandywine and Greyflood. The word min means "between" and hiriath is from siriath meaning "rivers." Region of southern Eriador. Minhiriath was located between the Brandywine River on its northern border and the Greyflood on its southern border. The Shire was north of the Brandywine across Sarn Ford. The region called Enedwaith was south of the Greyflood. The eastern border of Minhiriath was probably around the North-South Road. On the west, Minhiriath had a coast on the Sea. The forest of Eryn Vorn was on a cape on the coast of Minhiriath. The city of Tharbad was on the Greyflood on the border between Minhiriath and Enedwaith. The area around Tharbad was swampy. The port of Lond Daer was also on the Greyflood where it flowed into the Sea. Minhiriath was originally covered with a vast forest. Many Men lived in scattered communities throughout the forest. These people were akin to the People of Haleth - one of the Three Houses of the Edain who migrated to Beleriand in the First Age and later gave rise to the Numenoreans. In the Second Age, many trees in Minhiriath were cut down by Men from Numenor. The felling of trees was begun in the late 700s and the 800s by Aldarion, a mariner of Numenor who used the timber to build ships. The port of Lond Daer was established to receive timber from up the Greyflood. As the devastation increased, the forest dwellers became hostile to the Numenoreans and attacked them and Lond Daer. The Numenoreans responded by cutting down even more trees without replanting any. They expanded their timber operations deep into Minhiriath and the native people fled to Eryn Vorn. During the War of the Elves and Sauron from 1693 to 1701, many of the natives of Minhiriath sided with Sauron against the Numenoreans and the Elves. The natives acted as spies and guides for Sauron's troops. Many more trees were burned and destroyed as the war raged. Sauron was defeated and driven out of Eriador in 1701. After the war, the majority of the woodlands were gone and most of Minhiriath became wide open grasslands. A few forested areas remained, most notably the forest of Eryn Vorn. Forest folk continued to live in Eryn Vorn but they had little contact with outsiders. In 3320, the North-kingdom of Arnor was established by the survivors of the destruction of Numenor, who became known as the Dunedain. Minhiriath was within the boundaries of Arnor. After Arnor was divided into three Kingdoms in 861 of the Third Age, Minhiriath became part of Cardolan. The last prince of Cardolan was killed in battle against the forces of Angmar in 1409. Many of the inhabitants of Minhiriath died during the Great Plague of 1636. The Dunedain of Cardolan were wiped out. In 2912, Minhiriath was devastated by floods in the spring thaw following the Fell Winter. Tharbad was ruined at this time. After the War of the Ring at the end of the Third Age, the North-kingdom of Arnor was reestablished by Aragorn, King Elessar. Minhiriath and other regions of Eriador were repopulated during the Fourth Age. Minhiriath

MISTY MOUNTAINS . See MIDDLE-EARTH

NORTH DOWNS. Hills. See ARNOR

NORTH-SOUTH ROAD. The North-South Road was called the Greenway in later years by the Bree-folk because it had become disused and overgrown with grass. It was sometimes called the North Road and the Old South Road. The North-South Road and the Great West Road were collectively called the Royal Road or the Great Road. (Note that the Great East Road was also referred to as the Great Road.)

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Part of the Royal Road linking Arnor and Gondor. The North-South Road was approximately 600 miles long. It ran between Fornost in the north and Isengard in the south. At the Fords of Isen the North-South Road merged with the Great West Road. The northern half of the North-South Road was in Eriador. From Fornost, the Road ran south to Bree. Outside the West-gate of Bree, the North-South Road intersected with the Great East Road. At this major crossroads was the inn called the Prancing Pony, where travellers brought news from the South as well as goods such as pipe-weed which first came to Bree and the Shire via the North-South Road. The North-South Road then passed through the narrow passage called the Andrath between the Barrow-downs and the South Downs. South of the Andrath, a road to the Shire branched off the North-South Road. The North-South Road then curved southeastward through the region of Minhiriath. At the city of Tharbad, the Road crossed the River Greyflood on the southern border of Eriador. Originally the Road went over the Bridge of Tharbad. On either side of the Bridge, the Road was built up on causeways to traverse the surrounding marshland. But the Bridge was destroyed by floods in 2912 of the Third Age and all that remained was a dangerous ford. The southern half of the North-South Road passed through Enedwaith, which at one time nominally belonged to Gondor but was essentially a borderland between Gondor and Arnor. East of the Road in Enedwaith was Dunland at the foot of the Misty Mountains. At the southern end of the Misty Mountains, the North-South Road curved eastward through the Gap of Rohan and ended at the Fords of Isen. Just west of the Fords a road branched north to Isengard. East of the Fords was the Great West Road to Minas Tirith and Osgiliath. Together the North-South Road and the Great West Road formed the Royal Road, or Great Road, which was the main route by land between Gondor and Arnor. The two Kingdoms were founded in 3320 of the Second Age. Each was responsible for maintaining their own stretch of the Road, and together they built and maintained the Bridge of Tharbad and its causeways. After the Great Plague in 1636 of the Third Age, Gondor and Arnor were considerably weakened and could no longer keep the Road and Bridge in repair. The North-kingdom fell in 1974 and Fornost at the northern end of the North-South Road was abandoned. The causeways near Tharbad eventually disintegrated and the marshes encroached on the Road. In the spring of 2912 after the Fell Winter, floods caused the Bridge to collapse. Fewer and fewer travellers used the North-South Road and it became overgrown with grass so that the people of

Bree called it the Greenway. However, during the War of the Ring at the end of the Third Age, unwelcome travellers began to come up the North-South Road from the South. Some were honest refugees, but many were troublemakers including agents of Saruman. Early in 3019, there was fighting in Bree and the Shire was taken over by Saruman's agents. The Hobbits expelled the Men from the Shire in the Battle of Bywater on November 3, and the Rangers of the North returned from the war and dealt with the other troublemakers. The North-kingdom was reestablished by Aragorn, King Elessar, and the North-South Road was open to travellers once more.

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North-South Road-GREENWAY. Road in Bree. Greenway-ANDRATH. “Long Climb”. The Greenway south from Bree. Andrath -NORTH ROAD. North Road The road to the North-kingdom.

OLD FOREST THE.

Forest on the east side of the Brandywine River bordering Buckland. The trees of the Old Forest had a strange reputation. They appeared to be able to communicate with each other. The trees were said to dislike people and

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would sometimes drop branches of stick out roots unexpectedly. It was rumored that the trees would even surround intruders on occasion. Something in the forest made paths, but they would shift. The Hobbits of Buckland had erected a tall, thick hedge called the High Hay which ran over 20 miles along the outskirts of the Old Forest from the Brandywine Bridge to the mouth of the River Withywindle at Haysend. But the trees of the Old Forest attacked the High Hay and the Hobbits retaliated by cutting a swath through the trees at the edge of the forest and burning them. A bare patch still remained and was known as the Bonfire Glade. The Brandybucks sometimes visited the Old Forest and had a secret gate in the Hedge. On September 26, 3018 of the Third Age, Merry Brandybuck led his companions through the gate. Though the trees crowded around them, they made it to the Bonfire Glade and found a straight path that led them to a bare hill where they rested. But when they continued on they discovered that instead of heading north toward the Great East Road as they intended, they were being forced south and east into the valley of the River Withywindle - which was said to be the center of all the queerness in the Old Forest. Soon the Hobbits were at the River Withywindle itself. Drowsiness overcame the Hobbits and they felt compelled to stop and rest. Merry and Pippin sat against a willow tree, while Frodo sat on one of its roots and bathed his feet in the water. Only Sam remained awake. Suddenly the tree pushed Frodo into the river and held him under with its roots. Sam pulled him out and they discovered that Merry and Pippin had been trapped inside the willow tree. Frodo and Sam threatened the tree with fire but were forced to stop when the tree started squeezing Merry. Not knowing what else to do, Frodo ran down the path and called for help. His call was answered by Tom Bombadil, who rescued Merry and Pippin by singing to Old Man Willow and telling him to release the Hobbits. From Tom, they learned that the Old Forest had once been part of a vast woodland and that the ancient trees that remained resented the peoples who walked the earth. Old Man Willow was the most dangerous of these, and he had spread his dominion over all of the Old Forest. Later, in Fangorn Forest, Treebeard told Merry and Pippin that the Old Forest was once part of the great wood that stretched from Fangorn to the Blue Mountains in the northwest. Treebeard was not surprised to learn that darkness still lingered in the trees of the Old Forest, because he knew of similar bad patches in Fangorn. Bonfire Glade was a place in the Old Forest.Old Forest -BUCKWOOD. -FOREST THE. BONFIRE GLADE. Place in Old Forest. A glade is a small open space in a forest. A bonfire is a controlled outdoor fire used for informal disposal of burnable waste material or as part of a celebration. Celebratory bonfires are typically designed to burn quickly and may be very large. The name "bonfire" is from "bone-fire".Clearing in the Old Forest. The Bonfire Glade was located near the western edge of the forest not far from the High Hay which divided the Old Forest from Buckland. From the gate near the middle of the High Hay, a path sometimes led to the Bonfire Glade, but the trees in the Old Forest moved and paths changed direction. The Bonfire Glade was a wide, circular clearing. The trees formed a thick wall around the edges. No trees grew in the Bonfire Glade but the ground was covered with grass and tall plants. The Bonfire Glade was created by the Hobbits of the Shire after the trees of the Old Forest attacked the High Hay. The Hobbits cut down hundreds of trees and built a great bonfire. The trees ceased their attack but remained hostile to Hobbits who entered the forest. On September 26, 3018 of the Third Age, Merry Brandybuck led Frodo Baggins, Sam Gamgee, and Pippin Took to the Bonfire Glade as they began their journey through the Old Forest.

OLD ROAD.The road running east through EriadorA name sometimes used for the East-West Road that lead through Eriador to Rivendell, and especially for its eastern reaches beyond the town of Bree.The fact that the Road led to the Ford of Bruinen strongly suggests that it was made after the founding of Rivendell in the mid-Second Age. Its most likely construction date would be the first few centuries of the Third Age, at the time when Eriador was still under the united rule of Arnor, but there is no direct evidence for this.

OST-IN-EDHIL. The name Ost-in-Edhil means "Fortress of the Elves." The word ost means "fortress," in means "of" and Edhil means "Elves." City of the Elven-smiths of Eregion. Ost-in-Edhil was probably located along Sirannon, the Gate-stream, though its actual location is unknown. (See the map under Eregion.) A road ran from Ost-in-Edhil along the Gate-stream to the

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West-gate of Khazad-dum. The Eldar of Eregion and the Dwarves of Khazad-dum were friendly and traded with each other. Ost-in-Edhil was built starting in 750 of the Second Age. The Eldar of Ost-in-Edhil were craftsmen and called themselves Gwaith-i-Mirdain, the People of the Jewel-smiths. The chief smith was Celebrimbor. They worked in the House of the Mirdain and kept many of their treasures there. In 1200, Sauroncame in disguise to Ost-in-Edhil and deceived the Elven-smiths. He claimed to be an emissary of the Valar and he promised to teach them new skills. The Elven-smiths began forging the Rings of Power under Sauron's instruction around 1500. Around 1600, Sauron returned to Mordor and forged the One Ring to rule the others. The Elven-smiths realized their mistake and hid their Rings from Sauron. Sauron declared war on the Eldar. In 1697, his forces destroyed Eregion and ransacked the House of the Mirdain in Ost-in-Edhil. Celebrimbor was captured on the steps of the House and was tortured and killed. Sauron retrieved the Nine Rings and six of the Seven Rings but the Three Rings remained hidden. The Elves were joined by the Men of Numenor and they defeated Sauron in 1701. But Eregion and Ost-in-Edhil were ruined and abandoned and the Elves did not return there. Ost-in-Edhil -HOUSE OF THE MIRDAIN. The guildhouse of the jewelsmiths of Eregion in Ost-in-EdhilThe guildhouse and chief dwelling of Celebrimbor and the jewelsmiths of Eregion, destroyed by the forces of Sauron when he invaded Eriador. House of the Mírdain

PASS OF RIVENDELL. The High Pass was also called the Pass of Imladris because of its proximity to Imladris, or Rivendell. The Sindarin name was Cirith Forn en Andrath, meaning "high-climbing pass of the north." The word cirith means "pass," forn means "north," and andrath means "long climb" from an meaning "long" and rath meaning "climb." The High Pass was also called the Pass of Imladris. Pass in the Misty Mountains. The High Pass was located east of Rivendell. From the eastern side of the High Pass, the Old Forest Road ran across the Anduin and on through Mirkwood. The High Pass was narrow and dangerous and overlooked a deep valley far below. Stone-giants lived on the other side of the valley and they sometimes threw rocks and endangered travellers. Orcs also lived near the High Pass in Goblin-town beneath the Misty Mountains. Before 2941 of the Third Age, the main gate of Goblin-town opened onto another pass nearby that was easier and thus more frequently used by travellers. People stopped using that pass because of the danger, so the Orcs made another gate that opened into a cave they called the Front Porch at the top of the High Pass. Thorin& Company took shelter from a storm and the Stone-giants in that cave on their way to the Lonely Mountain in 2941. Bilbo Baggins saw a crack open up in the back of the cave. Orcs emerged and captured them and brought them before the Great Goblin. The Dwarves escaped with the help of Gandalf, but Bilbo became lost. Deep under the mountains he found the One Ring and encountered Gollum before being reunited with his friends. At the time of the War of the Ring, the High Pass and the ford across the Anduin were guarded by the Beornings, who charged tolls to travellers. The efforts of the Beornings ensured that passage from the Lonely Mountain and Dale in the east to Eriador in the west remained possible. -CIRITH FORN EN ANDRATH. Cirith Forn en Andrath-HIGH PASS. High Pass -PASS OF IMLADRIS.

RHUDAUR. Region. See ARNORRIVENDELL. Region. See RIVENDELLSHIRE, THE. (Incl. BUCKLAND). See SHIRE

SOUTH DOWNS. Downs in Eriador. The South Downs were located south of Bree and east of the Barrow-downs. The North-South Road ran through a narrow pass called Andrath between the Barrow-downs and the South Downs. Dreary, partly wooded downs south of the Great East Road between Bree and the Mitheithel,

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South Downs

SWANFLEET/GLANDUIN. The name Glanduin means "border river" from glan meaning "border" and duin meaning "river." The name was usually applied only to the swift upper course of the river, while the marshy lower course was called Swanfleet. It was also called the Swanfleet river because it was the river that fed the marshlands of Swanfleet. The word fleet is an archaic term for an estuary - the mouth of a river - from the the Old English fleot. The Sindarin name was Nîn-in-Eilph meaning "waterlands of the swans." The word nîn means "waters." The word eilph is the plural of alph meaning "swan." Wetlands on the southern border of Eriador. River on the southern border of Eriador. The Glanduin began in the Misty Mountains south of Moria and flowed westward. Sirannon, the Gate-stream of Moria, may have been a tributary that joined the Glanduin. The Glanduin merged with the Hoarwell to form the Greyflood, which flowed into the Sea. The upper course of the Glanduin ran swiftly. The river could be crossed at an old ford. West of the ford was a waterfall. Beyond the falls, the lower courses of the Glanduin became a marshland that was called Swanfleet because it was inhabited by swans. The city of Tharbadwas located on the Greyflood near the point where the Glanduin and Hoarwell merged. The Glanduin and the Greyflood formed the southern border of Eriador. In the Second Age, the Glanduin was also the southern boundary of the Elvish realm of Eregion. South of the Glanduin was Dunland. Frodo Baggins and his companions crossed the Glanduin on their way home in September 3019 of the Third Age. Swanfleet (Nîn-in-Eilph) Wetlands on the southern border of Eriador. Swanfleet was a region of swamps, pools, and eyots - or small islands. Many water birds lived there among the reeds, particularly swans. The Glanduin flowed west from the Misty Mountains into the wetlands of Swanfleet. At its eastern end, the waters of Swanfleet merged with the River Hoarwell and formed the Greyflood. The city of Tharbad was located near this juncture. The construction of Tharbad had required drainage and the building of dikes, but by the end of the Third Age, Tharbad was deserted and the area had returned to wild wetlands. On their way home in September 3019 of the Third Age, Frodo Baggins and his companions crossed the Glanduin and saw the meres and eyots of Swanfleet away to the west. The text of The Return of the King refers to the Swanfleet river (lowercase r). Tolkien later clarified that by this he meant the Glanduin as the river that flowed into Swanfleet. Swanfleet Swanfleet

–GLANDUIN. River Glanduin

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-NIN-IN-EILPH (Nîn-in-Eilph). (S). Nîn-in-Eilph-WATERLANDS OF THE SWANS.. Waterlands of the SwansThe fenlands of the lower Glanduin. The Waterlands of the Swans. The river Glanduin rose in the Misty Mountains near Moria, and flowed westward to meet the Mitheithel and form the great Gwathló that flowed to the Sea. Where they met, the Glanduin's waters ran into an immense network of marshes and fens dotted with islets, apparently dozens of miles in length. There were no habitations of Men in this watery area, but it was filled with water-fowl, and especially swans. From these it took its name of Swanfleet, the Waterlands of the Swans, or Nîn-in-Eilph in Elvish.

THARBAD. (S). The name Tharbad means "crossway" from thar meaning "across" and bad meaning "beaten track, pathway." Town in southern Eriador at the meeting of the Glanduin and Mitheithel. The Old South Road crossed the Mitheithel at a ford here.3A2912: The town was ruined by great floods and deserted. City on the southern border of Eriador. Tharbad was located between the North-kingdom of Arnor and the South-kingdom of Gondor. The North-South Road connecting Gondor and Arnor ran through Tharbad. Tharbad was at the head of the Greyflood, where the river was formed by the merging of the Hoarwell and marshy lower course of the Glanduin known as Swanfleet. The city was about 200 miles upstream from the Sea and the seaport of Lond Daer. Tharbad was originally founded by the Men of Numenor under the leadership of the mariner Aldarion. The Numenoreans came up the Greyflood seeking timber from the great forests on either side of the river. Aldarion visited Tharbad sometime after he became King of Numenor in 883 of the Second Age, and there he met Galadriel who lived in the nearby Elven-realm of Eregion. In 1700, during the War of the Elves and Sauron, Sauron's forces captured the Crossing of Tharbad, which had been lightly guarded. But in 1701, Sauron's forces were defeated in the Battle of the Gwathlo (Greyflood) and he was driven out of Eriador. Tharbad became an important river port during the height of the Kingdoms of Gondor and Arnor, which were founded by the survivors of Numenor in 3320 of the Second Age. People traveling from Gondor to Arnor frequently sailed by Sea around the coast to the Greyflood and upriver to Tharbad, and then continued up the North-South Road into Arnor. The Men of Gondor and Arnor were jointly responsible for maintaining the port of Tharbad. Many soldiers, mariners, and engineers were stationed there. The land where Tharbad stood was marshy, so great drainage works and dikes were required in order to build the city and docks capable of receiving seagoing ships. A fortress was built on raised earthworks. The great Bridge of Tharbad was erected to span the Greyflood. The North-South Road led to the bridge on elevated causeways on either side. The port of Tharbad thrived until the middle of the Third Age. In 1636 of the Third Age, the Great Plague decimated the populations of Gondor and Arnor and the population of Tharbad declined as well. Gondor and Arnor no longer had the resources to maintain the drainage works at Tharbad, and the marshland began to expand into the city once more. The North-South Road fell into disuse and became known as the Greenway because it was overgrown with grass. In 2912, the spring thaw following the Fell Winter caused massive flooding that ruined Tharbad, and the city was deserted. The Bridge of Tharbad collapsed and the crossing - though still slow and shallow - became dangerous because of the ruins in the water. When Boromir traveled to Rivendell in 3018, he lost his horse at the Crossing of Tharbad. It is not known whether Tharbad was rebuilt in the Fourth Age after the Kingdoms of Gondor and Arnor were reunited. It seems likely at least that the Bridge of Tharbad would have been repaired to facilitate travel up and down the North-South Road between the two kingdoms. Tharbad

TOWERHILLS. See SHIRE

TROLL-FELLS. -ETTENDALES. Ettendales-ETTENMOORS. EttenmoorsThe element etten is from the Old English eoten meaning "troll, ogre." A moor is a high, barren land, and dales are valleys. The Ettenmoors were also called the Troll-fells. The word fells is synonymous with moors. Coldfells was

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probably also another name for the Ettenmoors, though it may have been the name of an area in or near the Ettenmoors. Troll-infested region in Eriador. The Ettenmoors were on the western side of the Misty Mountains north of Rivendell. The River Hoarwell began in the Ettenmoors and flowed southwestward through the region. The Ettendales were valleys in the Ettenmoors that ran up into the foothills of the Misty Mountains. The Ettenmoors had rough terrain and were dangerous because of the Trolls that lived there. When the North-kingdom of Arnor was founded in 3320 of the Second Age, the Ettenmoors were on the northern border of the region called Rhudaur. In 1300 of the Third Age, the Lord of the Nazgûl established the realm of Angmar north of the Ettenmoors. After the Lord of the Nazgûl was defeated at the Battle of Fornost in 1975, he rode off into the Ettenmoors and then vanished from the north. In 2930, Arador, the Chieftain of the Dunedain, was captured and slain by Trolls in the Coldfells north of Rivendell. It is likely that the Coldfells were the same as - or possibly a part of - the Ettenmoors. Arador was the grandfather of Aragorn, King Elessar. In October of 3018, Gandalf rode into the Ettenmoors after battling the Nazgûl at Weathertop. He hoped to lead the Nazgûl away from Frodo the Ring-bearer, and four of them pursued him for a while. Gandalf had to part with Shadowfax in the Ettenmoors because the ground was too rocky for a horse. -BERGRISLAND. -COLDFELLS. ColdfellsAn upland region north of Rivendell. A hilly region in which Aragorn's grandfather Arador was captured and slain by hill-trolls. -DIMRILL DALE(S).-DIMRILL-DALE(S).-DIMRILL-LANDS-ENTISH DALE(S). -ENTISH LAND(S). -HOARDALE(S). -NEN FIMRED. Earlier name. See Entish Land.-NENVITHEM. Earlier name. See Entish Land. -STONE HILLS.-TROLL-COUNTRY.

A range of hills branching westward from the Misty Mountains, about one hundred miles north of Rivendell.Particularly associated with Trolls. A 'fell' is a moorland hill. The Ettenmoors north of Rivendell.The moorland to the north and west of Rivendell, in which the River Hoarwell rose. As its name suggests, this region was known to be troll-country, and its landscape was so rocky that riding was made impossible. The Troll-fells' main entry into history was at the time of the overthrow of Angmar. When the Witch-king fled southwards, it was among these fells that he disappeared.-TROLL-LANDS-TROLL-RIDGES.-TUM DINCELON.-WOLFDALE. Earlier name. See Entish Land.

TROLLSHAWS. See TROLLS

WEATHER HILLS. See ARNORWEATHERTOP. Mountain. See ARNOR

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WHITE TOWERS ON TOWER HILLS. Elostirion & the White Towers Towers in the Tower Hills west of the Shire. Elostirion was the tallest of the three White Towers that were built by Gil-galad for Elendil. The palantir called the Elendil Stone was kept at Elostirion. This palantir was not in accord with the others and looked west across the Sea to Eressea, where the Master-stone was kept in the Tower of Avallone. Elostirion and the Elendil Stone were long guarded by Cirdan and the Elves of the Grey Havens, and when Elrond left Middle-earth in 3021 of the Third Age, Cirdan placed the palantir on his ship. Hobbits said that one could see the Sea from the top of Elostirion, but no Hobbit had ever been known to climb it. At Crickhollow, Frodo dreamed of Elostirion in one of many dreams he had about the Sea: Then he heard a noise in the distance. At first he thought it was a great wind coming over the leaves of the forest. Then he knew that it was not leaves, but the sound of the Sea far-off; a sound he had never heard in waking life, though it had often troubled his dreams. Suddenly he found he was out in the open. There were no trees after all. He was on a dark heath, and there was a strange salt smell in the air. Looking up he saw before him a tall white tower, standing alone on a high ridge. A great desire came over him to climb the tower and see the Sea. He started to struggle up the ridge towards the tower: but suddenly a light came in the sky, and there was a noise of thunder. In the year 34 of the Fourth Age, Samwise Gamgee's daughter Elanor and her husband Fastred of Greenholm moved to Undertowers in the Tower Hills. Their descendants came to be called the Fairbairns of the Towers. Three Towers in the Westmarch of the Shire. Built by Gil-galad for Elendil the Tall after the founding of Arnor. Into the Fourth Age the Towers remained standing. In the tallest tower, Elostirion, Elendil kept a palantir called the Elendil Stone that looked westward across the Sea. -ELF-TOWERS. Elf-towers The three White Towers of Emyn Beraid.-TOWERS THE. -WEST TOWERS. -ELOSTIRION. The name Elostirion is composed of el meaning "star," ost meaning "fortress," and tirion meaning "great watch tower." ElostirionTower. In Elostirion, the tallest tower, a palantir was kept. From this tower one could the Sea. White Tower on the Tower Hills (Emyn Beraid).-TOWER THE,-WESTERN TOWER. -WHITE TOWER.

WILD LANDS. West of the Gap. Wild Lands

WINDLE-REACH. The straight portion of the lower Withywindle between Grindwall and the Withy-weir.

Windle-reach

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A lower part of the river WithywindleA stretch of the Withywindle that ran between the Withy-weir to the landing at Grindwall. It was used by Tom Bombadil on at least one occasion, and was doubtless also traversed by the Hobbits who lived in this region. The Windle of the name is a contraction of the Withywindle, and literally means 'winding', while a reach is a relatively straight and calm part of a river, so the name in full means 'straight course on a winding river'.

WHITE DOWNS. Region. See SHIRE

WITHY-PATH. Withy-pathThe pathway beside the Withywindle. A path that ran along the western banks of the River Withywindle, leading down through the depths of the Old Forest. At its northern end, the path led in the direction of Tom Bombadil's house, and was probably made by him on his journeys along the riverbank (though the trees of the Forest tended to make their own paths on occasion, too). The Withy-path (withy is an old name for a willow tree) was not used in winter, but in the spring, Goldberry the River-daughter used it return to the river and bathe in its waters.

WITHY-WEIR. Withy-weirWeir in the Withywindle above Windle-reach. The weir was most probably made by the Bucklanders.Tom Bombadil passed it during his boat-trip along the river:

Tom came to Withy-weir. Down the river rushing foamed into Windle-reach, a-bubbling and a-splashing..Withy-weir is not mentioned elsewhere nor does it appear in the map A Part of the Shire.

WITHYWINDLE RIVER. Dialect withywind "bindweed". The word withy means "willow" and windle means "spindle" or "reel." Withywind is a type of bindweed, or convolvulus, a harmful weed that twines itself around other plants. The word withywind means "flexibly strong, entangle." The word grind in Grindwall means "fence." The Withywindle River followed a winding course and snared travellers.River in the Old Forest in Eriador. The Withywindle valley was said to be the heart of all the strange happenings in the Old Forest. The Withywindle began in the Barrow-downs and flowed southwest through the Old Forest to join the Brandywine. At the mouth of the Withywindle there was a hythe - or haven - in the north bank called the Grindwall. The Grindwall was beyond the protection of the High Hay, so it was guarded and there was a fence extending into the water. There was a small village named Breredon behind the Grindwall between the end of the High Hay and the Brandywine. The village of Haysend was also located at the mouth of the Withywindle. The Elvet-isle in the Withywindle was home to swans. When Frodo Bagginsand his companions entered the Old Forest on September 26, 3018 of the Third Age, they found themselves drawn toward the Withywindle valley despite their intentions, and on the banks of the river they encountered Old Man Willow, an ancient tree whose hatred of all peoples who walked free on the earth permeated the woods. The Hobbits were lulled to sleep by Old Man Willow's spell. Frodo was pushed into the Withywindle and was held under by the willow's roots until Sam saved him, and Merry and Pippin were trapped inside Old Man Willow. They were rescued by Tom Bombadil. Long ago, Tom had found Goldberry, the River-daughter, in a pool down the Withywindle, and at the end of every summer he would go along the river to gather water-lilies for her. He was on his last trip of the year when he encountered the Hobbits. Withywindle The source of the river was in the Barrow-downs. Flowing through the Old Forest and into the Brandywine River at the southern end of Buckland. In its valley, the Dingle, grew many willow trees. This area was the centre of the evil of the Old Forest. See also Dingle, Elvet-isle, Windle-reach, Withy-weir.

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