Historical Background: Lake Evendim and the Evendim
Hills.
Summary: Early history of the Elven kingdom of Lake
Evendim, (completely uncanonical!)
Disclaimer: Characters and settings all belong to
either the Tolkien estate or New Line Cinema. No
infringment of their rights is intended.
 ******************************************

 Long ago, before the Sun and the Moon were made and
when the Firstborn of Eru were newly come into the
World, they were summoned by the Valar to join
them in the Undying Lands of the West to dwell there
in bliss and the light of the Two Trees. Not all
accepted the summons and of those who did there were
some who strayed from the long road, prefering the
wide lands and starlight of Middle Earth to the
promises of the Valar.

 These were known as the Nandor, Those Who Turn
Back. And some of this people came into the lands
between the Misty Mountains and the Blue, that would
one day be called Eriador, and settled on the shores
of a great lake whose still waters reflected the
starry skies and was fed by dozens of sparkling brooks
and streams flowing down from the high, wooded hills
surrounding it on three sides. 

 And they called it Nenuial 'Water of Twilight' or,
as later Men translated it, Lake Evendim. And the
forested highlands around it were named the Emyn Uial,
or Evendim Hills. And there they dwelt through all the
long ages of the Trees and into the shorter years of
the newborn sun. 

 Now Celeborn Prince of Doriath was a great
huntsman. And at times he would tire of the familiar
forests of Beleriand and pass eastward over the
mountains into the wider, wilder lands of Eriador and
there dwell for a time among the Nandor on the shores
of Lake Nenuial. 

 It so fell out that he was there in the east at the
time of Melkor's return and so, though he shared the
Nandor's wonder and awe at the new lights of moon and
sun, he had no knowledge of what they portended and
remained at peace among his friends rather than
returning in alarm to Doriath.

 Now Galadriel daughter of Finarfin was mighty among
the Noldor. And though she dwelt for a time as a guest
in Doriath and learned much of Melian the Queen she
longed for a realm of her own to be ordered by her
will and no other.

 All the lands of Beleriand were already claimed by
either the Lords of the Noldor, her kin, or the Sindar
or the Laiquendi so she decided to pass east over the
mountains and to make herself a realm in the unsettled
lands beyond the Ered Luin.

 And so she led a great company, for she had many
followers among the Noldor, through the passes at the
foot of Mount Dolmed and into the wide forests of
Eriador. There she encountered a wandering company of
Nandorin Elves who told her of Lake Evendim and its
many clear streams and it sounded to her like a fair
place and one where she might make her seat.

 Now the Elves of Nenuial learning of the approach
of so large and warlike a company, took fright and
thought to flee into the high hills. But Celeborn
counseled against this and promised to go forth
himself and challenge these invaders, threatening them
with the vengeance of Thingol should they attempt any
violence against the people of the lake.

 And so Celeborn of Doriath first laid eyes on
Galadriel of the Noldor at a formal parley and found
her very fair. And she thought that she had never seen
so kingly an Elven lord even among the great ones of
the West, and their hearts were turned one to the
other.

 From Galadriel Celeborn learned of all that had
passed, both in Aman and in Beleriand, and was greatly
afraid. Not for Doriath, safe under the protection of
Melian, but for the Nandor of Eriador who were a
simple folk and easy prey for Morgoth and his
creatures. 

 And so he advised the Lake Elves to welcome the
Noldor and learn from them that which they would need to
know to defend themselves in the Dark times to come.
And to this they agreed on condition that Celeborn,
who they knew well and trusted, would be their lord
and protect them from both the Shadow and the strange,
fell Elves from across the sea.

 Celeborn accepted the charge and he and Galadriel
plighted their troth on the shores of Lake Evendim in
the presence of all their peoples. And Galadriel
treated with the Dwarves of Belegost, who dwelt not
far away in the Blue Mountains, to delve for them
splendid halls like unto those of Menegroth and
Nargothrond. And the craftsmen among her company
adorned them with their art until Rhauth Uial, the
Caves of Evendim, were the fairest Elven dwelling east
of the Mountains and the most splendid.

 Then Celeborn and Galadriel left their new realm
for a time, passing westward over the Mountains, so
they might be wed with all ceremony in the presence of
their kin. But they soon returned to their own country
and remained there throughout the long peace and
through the battles that ended it until news came to
them of the Ruin of Doriath. Then Celeborn, in great
grief and wrath, led his host over the Mountains to
avenge his kin.

 He found that Beren and the Green Elves of
Ossiriand had already destroyed the Dwarf army of
Nogrod. But Celeborn and his host remained for a time
in Doriath, helping repair the ravages of war, and
even after his men has gone home he stayed on to
advise the new King, Dior Eluchil.

 And so Celeborn was there when the Sons of Feanor
descended upon Doriath in the second Kinslaying and
fought with Dior against them. But the King was slain
with his wife, and his sons lost. And the little
Princess Elwing was carried away to refuge in the
south by her nurse.

 Then Celeborn led such of the people who had not
already fled south, eastward to join his own people by
Lake Evendim. And the realm of Celeborn and Galadriel
was then the only great Elven Kingdom left in all
Middle Earth and they knew it was only a matter of
time before they were assailed as well.

 So Queen Galadriel called upon the arts she had
learned of Melian and wove a great web of protection
and defense around the Kingdom of the Lake. Wakened
trees were her watchmen and birds and beasts her
messengers. And for the unwelcome intruder the paths
went all awry, leading them ever northward into wild
and barren hills.
 
 And Morgoth did indeed assail them, even as they
expected, with a great host of Orcs mounted on wargs
and led by his servant Gorthaur, (known also as
Sauron) and his guard of werewolves. And there was
fire and war in the forests of Evendim but the
enchantments of Galadriel held and the army of
Celeborn drove the enemy from their borders, slaying
many Orcs and Wargs and Werewolves too.

 And Gorthaur fled in terror of Galadriel's power
and Celeborn's sword, and filled with anger and shame
returned to his master. Fearing punishment he lied to
Morgoth claiming the Kindom of the Lake had been
overthrown and its King and Queen slain.

 And the Dark Lord was decieved and turned his power
on the last stronghold of the Noldor in Beleriand,
that of Maedros and Maglor on Amon Ereb. And they were
driven into the sea and forced to take refuge on the
Isle of Balar with the other Exiles. And Morgoth
rejoiced that all Middle Earth was now in his hand,
but it was not so.

 For bands of Men and of Sindar and Laiquendi still
lived in hiding in the lands of Beleriand, and at
times came forth from their secret fastnesses to do
the Enemy what hurt they could, and those hurts were
not pinpricks but great wounds. And so the battle was
carried on, not by the Noldor who had come in pride
and defiance and lay under the ban of the Valar, but
by the Dark Elves of Middle Earth and the Elf-Friends
of the Three Houses, their allies.

 When the Host of the Valar came out of the West
Eonwe the Herald, its commander, refused the swords
of the Exiles for they still lay under the Doom of
Mandos. But called to his banner the Men and Elves of
Middle Earth.

 Celeborn led forth his Sindar and Nandor, but the
Noldor among the People of the Lake remained behind
with Galadriel the Queen. And the host of Evendim
fought beside that of the Valar in the War of Wrath
and saw the breaking of Thangorodrim and the downfall
of Morgoth. 

 But when Eonwe called upon all Elves to quit Middle
Earth and go into the West Celeborn was among those
who refused. and Galadriel was one of the few Exiles
who were not forgiven, for her heart remained proud
and she did not repent. 

 And she returned to the Lake together with those of
their people who had also chosen to remain. But
Celeborn lingered in Lindon, broken fragment of sunken
Beleriand, to order there a new realm for the
surviving Sindar and Laiquendi. And among those who'd
sought refuge there he found the long lost sons of
Dior, Elurin and Elured, who he and all of their kin
had mourned as dead.

 It seemed that after they were abandoned to starve
by the cruel servants of Celegorm the boys were
succored by birds, (sent perhaps by Melian their
foremother) who fed them on berries and nuts and small
game and led them by secret ways to Tol Galen, the
green isle where they had been born. And there they
had remained, alone save for the birds of Melian,
until the tumult of the final battles had driven them
forth to flee, like many others, to the feet of the
Ered Luin. 

 And there Celeborn recognized them by their
likeness to their father and by the silver fair hair
they had from their mother, Nimloth, who was his
niece. And proclaimed them the rightful heirs of Elu
Thingol and lords of the remaining Sindar. But they
were shy and wild and untaught, unfit to govern, and
Celeborn remained long with them in Harlindon,
instructing them in all they should know.

 So Galadriel ruled alone in Rhuath Uial and there
were those among the people, chiefly Sindar from
Doriath, who took offense at her Noldorin ways and
many left the Lake kingdom and went eastward over the
Misty Mountains to live among the simple silvan Elves,
away from the proud Noldor and their wars. And among
these were Orophir and his son Thranduil, later Kings
of Mirkwood; and Amdir and his son Amroth, who became
Kings of Lorien. 

 Returning at last to Lake Evendim Celeborn was
disturbed to find so many of his folk, including
friends from his boyhood in Doriath, gone. But those
that remained welcomed him warmly, as did Galadriel
his wife and their daughters; Lorellin and Celebrian.

 And the sons of Dior came to visit their uncle and
Elured's heart turned to Lorellin, the golden haired
elder daughter of Celeborn and Galadriel, and hers to
him. And so they were wedded and Elurin returned alone
to Harlindon.

 Now news came to Rhuath Uial that Noldor of the
following of Celebrimbor had founded a new realm at
the foot of the Misty Mountains in the land of
Eregion. And that their city of Ost-en-Edhil was as
fair as Elven Tirion of old and that the smiths of
that land were wise in craft and makers of many
wonderful things. And Galadriel's heart was fired with
desire to see all this for herself.

 And so she departed, along with most of the Noldor
remaining in the Kingdom of the Lake, to Eregion and
dwelt there. And Celebrimbor and his smiths gave her
much honor and delighted in making fair jewels for her
pleasure.

 But in Rhuath Uial Celeborn was saddened by the
empty halls and silent smithies of his much reduced
realm. And after a few years he gave up the Kingship
to Elured and Lorellin and with Celebrian, his younger
daughter, went to join Galadriel in Eregion nor did
either of them ever return to Kingdom of the Lake. 
 ******************************************

Historical Background: Annuminas
Summary: History and description of Elendil's city of
Annuminas, (completely uncanonical!)
Disclaimer: Characters and settings all belong to
either the Tolkien estate or New Line Cinema. No
infringment of their rights is intended.
 ******************************************

 After the departure of Celeborn and Galadriel
Lorellin, their daughter, and Elured son of Dior were
King and Queen of the Lake. But the realm was much
diminished for the Noldor and many of the Sindar who
had dwelt there departed to other kingdoms leaving
mainly the Nandor who had been there since before the
Sun and the Moon.

 The great city the Noldor had delved beneath the
hills was abandoned and fell into ruin, for the Lake
folk preferred to dwell among the trees in sight of
sky and water. But their King and Queen still held
court in the fair palace wrought for Celeborn and
Galadriel.

 When Sauron destroyed Eregion and spread his power
over the western lands the Lake Elves did not answer
Gil-Galad's summons. Instead Elured and Lorellin wove
new protections of shadow and confusion about their
realm and their people stayed secure within these
defenses. But many dark things wandered into the woods
of Evendim and were unable to escape, and the hills
became the haunt of terrors.

 Even after Sauron was driven back and the West was
at peace the Lake Elves did not fare forth nor remove
their shadowy walls and the Men of Arthedain feared
the haunted wood and told strange stories about the
Enchanted Lake and the King and Queen who ruled it.

 Now after the Downfall of Numenor storms drove the
ships of Elendil northward to the Grey Havens. And his
wife, Tar-Vardamire, was taken as queen by the
Numenoreans in Exile for she was the last of the blood
royal. And the little lordships of Arthedain also
accepted her suzereinity. For their people were close
kin to the Numenoreans, like them descended from 
the Edain of Old. 

 Then Elendil fared forth seeking a place to build
the capital of the new realm and his eye fell upon the
Lake of Evendim, midway between the lands settled by
the Numenoreans and the lands of the Edain of Eriador.
And it seemed to him both a fair and fitting site for
the new city.

 And so, though the Men of Arthedain warned against
it, he entered the enchanted forest. But such was the
strength of his will that the webs of shadow and
deception availed not against him. And his company
came even to the shores of Lake Evendim, the first Men
to look on it in many hundreds of years. And on the
southeastern side Elendil found a green and treeless
vale and chose it as the site for his city.

 Then the Elves of the Lake fell upon them.
Recognizing their kind Elendil bade his Men to lay
down their weapons and suffered himself to be taken
and led as a prisoner before Elured and Lorellin.

 Now Elured was the brother of Elwing, mother of
Elrond Half-Elven and Elros Tar-Minyatur, and he
recognized Elendil as his kin and made him welcome.
Nor did the Elven King begrudge the Mortal the land he
desired but made him a free gift of it, for the Elves
dwelt only on the northwestern side of the Lake.

 Thus the city of Annuminas, (The Tower of Sunset)
rose on the shores of Lake Evendim at the behest of
Elendil, built by masons and artisans of Numenor and
embellished by the Elven craftsmen of Lindon and
Rivendell.

 Her buildings were of fine white stone adorned with
pillared arcades, sculpted figures and fretted
carvings. And their wide casements were set with
devices of colored glass that glittered like jewels.
And the pinacles of her many towers and her many domes
were covered with fine gold that caught the light of
the sun and filled the vale with radiance, winning her
the name of Annuminas the Golden. And she was the
fairest city ever raised by the hands of Men,
surpassing even Armenelos of the Kings in Numenor, and
rivalling, (it was said) the glory of Elven Tirion
beyond the sea.

 Broad tree lined avenues there were, and squares
paved with wonderful designs in colored marbles. And
there were gardens and parks filled with rare trees
and flowers saved from lost Numenor. And everywhere
the glitter of water in channels and pools and a
thousand singing fountains.

 Defended by enchantments the city was unwalled,
filling the vale and extending on piles over the lake.
And the Great Lords built themselves fair villas on
the southeastern shore and hunting lodges under the
eaves of the forest. For the Dunedain found sport in
slaying the evil things laired in the wood and through
their efforts it became a cleaner place, though still
perilous.

 Two ways there were into the city: By water up the
Baranduin and along the lake shore to the warves of
the merchants, (for most of the city's trade was by
water). Or by the road Elendil cut through the hills
behind his city. And this road was defended by five
gates, wrought by Elven smiths for the Kings of Men.

 First came the Gate of Winter; an iron grill
wrought in the forms of leafless trees with
intricately interlacing boughs, set between high
towers of dark grey stone crowned with spikes of iron.
Beyond this gate was a wide, white paved road lined
with great trees, shapely and bare of leaves, wrought
of black iron.

 Next was the Gate of Autumn guarded by towers of
reddish stone crowned by spikes of bronze. And between
them hung brazen gates decorated with autumn trees,
their limbs rich with red-golden leaves. And the road
beyond ran between great trees with boles and boughs
of bronze and leaves of beaten copper.

 Third came the Gate of Summer, and its towers were
of honey colored stone with parapets of fine gold. The
gate was also of gold, the woven trees glittering with
leaves of beryl and fruits of garnet, topaz and
tourmaline. And beyond it the road was bordered with
golden trees laden with leaves and fruit of sparkling
gems. 

 Fourth was the Gate of Spring and it was of fair
silver set between towers of shining alabaster crowned
with silver parapets. And the trees which formed the
gate glistened with young leaves of pale peridot and
jeweled blossoms. And the road behind the gate was
lined with new budding trees wrought of silver and
jewels.

 The fifth and final gate pierced a bank of green
sward. This was the Gate of the Two Trees and its
posts were towering images of Laurelin and Telperien
wrought in gold and topaz, and silver and pearl. And
between them hung gates of interlaced silver and gold
adorned with figures of the sun and moon. 

 Beyond this gate the road entered the city itself
and became a fair avenue lined with fragrant evergreen
trees of oiolaire, lairelosse, nessamelda, vardariana,
taniquelasse and yavannamire, Elven trees brought long 
ago to Numenor from fair Eldamar. And the avenue ran 
straight over low arched bridges above lily filled water 
courses,through green and flowering parks and stately 
squares to a terraced plaza in the heart of the city.

 This was the Place of the Kings and it was filled
with the music of golden fountains and adorned with
images of heroes and Kings, carved of stone or cast in
metal, looking down from their high pedestals. And on
its topmost terrace stood the Palace of the Kings with
its high golden domes, and soaring over all the gold
tipped Tower of Elendil.

 And under the largest of the domes, beneath stars
of Elven crystal, stood an image of the White Tree of
Numenor wrought of mithril and laiquin *1 and jewels by 
Enerdhil, second only to Feanor among the Elven smiths 
of old. Its flowers were of opal and pearl and the 
delicate leaves, dark green above and silver below, 
thin and veined like those of a living tree, moved, 
chiming one against the other, as the air stirred
them, filling the great chamber with a soft music. 

 And the golden throne of Tar-Vardamire was set
beneath the shining tree with a simple silver chair
for her consort at its side. And here she held her
court in a round hall walled with frescoes of fair
Numenor before the Downfall, under a starry dome
upheld by golden pillars shaped like laurinque trees
with spreading boughs and a fretwork of golden
blossoms.

 But Tar-Vardamire did not live long, her heart
broken by grief and horror she laid down her life
after a few short years, leaving the scepter of the
High Kingdom to Elendil her husband. And he put away
her golden throne prefering his silver chair. And for
a scepter he used the Silver Rod wielded by the Lords
of Andunie of Old.

 To the west of the the city rose a tall hill, made
even taller by the arts of the Numenoreans, where
Elendil made a Hallow for the worship of Eru. Amon
Dinen, the Hill of Silence, rose in a smooth cone high
above the surrounding forested hills. And a wide stone
stair wound round it to a crown of shining, tapered
white stones encircling its summit. Within these was a
grassy hollow, large enough for thousands to gather to
hear the Three Prayers said. *2 And in its center were
three low blocks of black marble, marking the stations
of the King, the Queen, and the Heir.

 By ancient tradition only the King, acting as
intermediary for his people, could speak aloud in the
Hallow and then only to offer the ancient prayers. *3
But any Man or Woman might climb the Hill at any time
to sit in the silence and listen for the Voice of Eru
in their hearts.

 As the realm expanded eastward Fornost, the White
Tower of the North, became more important because of
its closeness to the troubled northern and eastern
borders. And the King's Heir made his seat there and
had the title Prince of Fornost. 

 Earendur it was who divided the realm, creating the
sub-kingdoms of Rhudaur and Cardolan and giving their
scepters to his youngers sons. But the ancient heart
of the realm, Arthedain and Dunhirion, passed to
Amlaith his eldest son with the the Silver Scepter of
the High Kings.

 But Amlaith chose to keep his court at Fornost, as
he had as Heir, for he loved the high downs. And it
became known as Fornost Erain, the Northern Fortress
of the Kings. But Annuminas remained the official seat
of the realm, and here both the High Kings and the
Lesser Kings would repair at times to take council
together and to hold the great ceremonies of state
when they recieved their scepters, took their Queens
or named their Heirs. And there the High Kings still
came to say the Three Prayers in the Hallow Elendil
made for Eru. 

 Then the Witch King arose in Angmar and the people
of the Dunedain moved eastward to confront their foe,
and the population of Annuminas was diminished as was
that of all the westlands. But the City of Elendil was
not utterly abandoned until the time of Aranarth, when
the King laid down his scepter and with his people
went into hiding, abandoning their cities and
fortresses to the ravages of time.

 And so for a thousand years the Dunedain of the
North wandered the Wilds as Rangers, and fought in
secret the foes of Men. And the King of the Lake
watched over the City of Elendil so it did not fall
into ruin but rather slept, awaiting the promised
Return of the King.
 ********************************************

1. Laiquin is a dark green metal created by Goldomir,
son of Enerdhil. (Fanon!)

2. The Three Prayers were: The Erukyermie, spoken on
the first day of spring, asking the blessings of the
Father on the year to come. The Erulaitale, said in
midsummer, offering Him praise. And the Eruhantale,
made at the end of autumn, giving Him thanks for his
goodness to Men. (Canon!)

 The Three Prayers are not in Quenya but an ancient
Adunaic dialect, indicating the great age of these
observances and their purely Mortal origins. (Fanon)

3. The King is intermediary only in the sense he
represents his people by saying the Prayers on their
behalf. He does not pretend to speak for Eru, or to be
closer to Him than any other Man. (Assumed from Canon)
 *********************************************
 
  Historical Background: Daer Lond and Ost-en-Dunhirion
By Morwen Tindomerel
Summary: Description and history of the two major
seaports of the North Kingdom.
Disclaimer: All rights reserved to the Tolkien Estate
and/or New Line Cinema with grateful thanks.
 *****************************************
 
 The first foundations for Lond Daer were laid at
the mouth of the Gwathlo by Tar-Aldarion (r. 883-1075)
but remained unfinished, and were allowed to fall into
ruin by his daughter Tar-Ancalime. 

 It was her son, Tar-Anarion, (r. 1280-1394) who
completed the work begun by his his grandfather, and
Lond Daer became both a shipyard and a timber port
exporting wood from the vast forests of Minhiriath and
Enedwaith to Numenor.

 But by S.A. 1700 those forests had all but
disappeared and the Haven was in decline until Admiral
Ciryatur used it to land a portion of the great
armament sent by Tar-Minastir (r. 1731-1869) to the
war against Sauron. 

 After the war Lond Daer was enlarged by
Tar-Minastir's successor, Tar-Ciryatan (r. 1869-2029),
and became rich as a center for trade with the Dwarves
of Moria. The city was magnificently rebuilt between
2155 and 2190, by Tar-Atanamir the Great
(r.2029-2221).

 The harbor entrance was guarded by twin lighthouses,
six sided shafts of polished black basalt two hundred
feet high, topped by great lanterns of crystal and
steel that glittered like jewels by day and shed
silvery radiance on sea and harbor by night.

 Tar-Atanmir's gleaming city of basalt and onyx
marble rose above the dark quays lining both shores of
the Gwathlo mouth. Warehouses and counting houses with
the names of the merchants who owned them inscribed in
gold above their doors gave way to tall houses with
many windows, domed roofs and sleander towers, all
decorated with flutings, scrolls and arabesques inlaid
with precious metals and stones. Grand avenues and
squares were lined with colonnades of massive black
pillars, delicately twined with carven flowers and vines,
fronting rich shops, guildhalls and market halls.
Walled gardens and parks were filled with exotic
plants, birds and beasts brought from distant Lands.
And both parks and squares were adorned with statues
of marble and bronze.

 The grey waters of the Gwathlo divided the city in
two, linked by three long, many arched bridges. The
great black citadel of Lond Daer stood in the eastern
quarter with its massive walls, domed great hall and
lofty tower but the palace of the governor rose on a
hill above the western quarter with its cluster of
onyx domes and elaborate gardens terraced down to the
riverbank.

 A low wall of gleaming basalt surrounded the city
pierced by seven gates of galvorn and gold set with
many jewels. Four of the gates were on the western
side of the river and three on the eastern, and each
had a keystone carved in the likeness of Tar-Atanamir
with stones of adamant for eyes and a golden crown. 

 The Governor of Lond Daer was a King's Man, as were
most of the merchants who dwelt there, but after the
Downfall the city accepted Tar-Vardamire as Queen and
was incorporated into the High Kingdom of Arnor as a
free city subject only to the High King, and later the
King of Cardolan. 

 The port continued to prosper and became known as
Bel Enedhlond, the Great Middle Port, as it stood
between Pelagir on the Anduin and Ost-en-Dunhirion on
the Gulf of Lune. But Daer Lond was hard hit by the
great plague of TA 1636-37.

 For though the Dunedain of the North, (unlike their
kin in Gondor) proved resistant the Men of Minhiriath,
who farmed the land around the city and supplied it
with food, died in great numbers and many of the
survivors fled north where the infection was less
severe. Trade with the Southern Kingdom dwindled after
the plague and much of the traffic with Moria now
passed through Tharbad on the upper Gwathlo. Yet the
city struggled on, dispite a steady loss of Men to the
Witch Wars, until Aranarth took his people into hiding
in TA 1976. 

 Dunlending raiders looted the abandoned Haven,
prying the precious metal and jewels from its walls,
smashing or carrying off statues, defacing carved
reliefs, killing the strang beasts and birds and
uprooting and burning the exotic plants and flowers.
Then the remains were left to fall quietly into ruin
for the next thousand years.

 Rebuilt by Elessar I Telcontar Lond Daer once again
became a great Haven and center of trade in the days
of the Reunited Kingdom, and the seat of the Lords of
Enedwaith and the Admirals of the Middle Seas.
 *********************************************

 Ost-en-Dunhirion, (Citadel of the Lords of the
West) was begun by Tar-Ciryatan while he was still but
the King's Heir and completed after he took the
Scepter. Intended both as a port for trade with the
Elves of Lindon and the Men of Arthedain, and as a
seat for the Kings of Men in Middle Earth.

 The city stood on the green plain beneath the Tower
Hills linked to the Gulf of Lune by a massive canal,
eight leagues long, deep enough for the great seagoing
galleons of Numenor and wide enough for two to pass
each other with room to spare. And lined for its
entire length with fair white villas and their gardens
and parklands. 

 The entrance to the canal was guarded by twin
statues of Tar-Ciryatan, one hundred and fifty feet
high, of white marble their helms, breastplates and
swords overlaid with mithril and gold. And just within
it was a Hallow dedicated to the Lords of the Sea; a
deep blue pool of seawater with three tall pillars set
in its midst. The tallest of these, of grey stone,
represented Ulmo and the other two, shorter and of
blue-green stone, Osse and Uinen. Here mariners would
stop when setting out to ask the blessing of the Lords
upon their ship. And on returning to give thanks for a
safe voyage. 

 The walls of Ost-en-Dunhirion were high and built
of shining white stone pierced by ten great steel
gates each flanked by a pair of tall towers. The canal
entered the city under a gigantic arch carved with two
White Trees and the Seven and One Stars of the Kings
of the West. 

 Inside the canal formed a great ring of water
crossed by ten bridges arching high above the marble
warves where the ships moored and unloaded their goods
into cavelike warehouses hollowed out of the massive
foundations of the city. 

 Another ten gates, wrought of copper, pierced this
inner wall also flanked by towers. Behind them were
the counting houses and guild halls of the merchants
and artisans of the city and their homes all built of
white stone on either side of the broad tree lined
main avenue or on side streets and lanes, interspersed
with small gardens, public parks and market squares. 

 Water flowed through a tunnel beneath the first
circle of the city to form a moat, somewhat less broad
and deep than the harbor, spanned by ten great bridges
with houses built upon them leading to the ten silver
gates of a third wall, towered like the other two,
enclosing the second ring of the city. Here were the
tall white houses of the nobles with their sleander
towers and silver domes set admidst wide gardens with
small wooded parklands and theaters where music and
story might be heard. 

 A third moat ringed the the citadel at the heart of
the city, joined to the second ring by four bridges, 
each with a gatehouse at either end. It rose in terraces 
above many towered white walls and golden gates with 
gardens and groves, halls and guest houses, armories and
treasuries, to the great gold domed palace with its
soaring golden spired towers.

 Because of its nearness to Lindon Ost-en-Dunhirion
became a favorite refuge for 'Faithful' fleeing
persecution in Numenor. They settled the lands between
the Blue Mountains and the Brandywine, which became
known as Dor-en-Dunhirion, (Land of the Lords of the
West) and on the eastern bank of the river Lune.

 The colonists traded and intermarried with the
people of Arthedain, descended like themselves from
the Edain of Old, and were ruled by a governor of
their own choosing. At the time of the Downfall this
was Vorondil, a kinsman of Elendil of Andunie and
husband of his only daughter Elemmire.

 Vorondil and his heirs were named Princes of
Dunhirion by Tar-Vardamire. And, after Elendil and
Isildur fell, Elemmire ruled the the High Kingdom as
regent during the minority of her nephew Valandil.

 Her descendants, the Elemmirioni, held the offices
of Steward of the Realm and Constable of Annuminas
through all the centuries the Kings ruled the North.
They were also Lord Admirals of the Northern Seas and
from their Haven of Ost-en-Dunhirion ships sailed to
explore the Bent Seas after the Downfall. 

 They found wide, unpeopled lands in the new West
full of strange fruits and plants which they brought
back to Middle Earth, (including Galenas, the pipeweed
of the Hobbits, potatoes, tomatoes, corn and other
crops from the Lands of the Sun). 

 The mariners of Arnor found also the last remnant
of Numenor, the mountaintop of Meneltarma and its
Hallow to Eru still above the sea. And here at times
Dunedain of the North would come to mourn and ask the
mercy of Eru for the Downfallen. Yet it was a curious
thing that ships from Gondor, though they searched the
southern seas, never found the Holy Isle or landed
upon it.
 
 And it was said in the North that this was because
the Exiles of Gondor still yearned for life eternal
within Arda and longed to gaze upon the Deathless
Lands of the West, and only those whose hearts were
bent wholly on Eru and desired to join him beyond the
Circles of the World could come to the greatest of his
Hallows.

 When Aranarth commanded the Dunedain to 'disappear'
the Princes abandoned their city and moved northward
to become Wardens of the Evendim Hills. The last of
the Elemmirioni was Ellemir, grandmother of Aragorn
Elessar, in whom was joined the the three lines of
descent from Elendil.

 The city itself, tended by the Elves of the Havens,
did not fall into ruin but waited patiently for the
Return of the King. After the restoration of the the
Reunited Kingdom it was repeopled and became again an
important Haven and the seat of the Admiral of the
North. And the ancient domains of Dunhirion and the
Evendim Hills became holdings of the Crown, and Prince
of Dunhirion was the title of the King's Heir in the
North.