Weathertop

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Weathertop (Sindarin Amon Sûl, "Hill of Wind") is a significant hill in the Eriador region of Middle-earth, the southernmost and highest summit of the Weather Hills.

Weathertop overlooks the Great East Road east of Bree, about midway between The Shire and Rivendell. The hill rises a thousand feet above the level lands round about, and was the site of a watchtower in the days of Arnor. The watchtower and fortifications were burned and destroyed in T.A. 1409, but the top is still flat and surrounded by a ring of stones. A path leads from the top northward, connecting to the other fortresses of the Weather Hills. The tower originally held one of the seven Palantíri.

In the Fellowship of the Ring, Weathertop served as a campsite for Strider, Frodo, Sam, Merry, and Pippin. In the movie, Aragorn gives the Hobbits short swords to wield and leaves to scout the area. The hobbits, in a naive and ultimately costily move, lit a fire to roast food, which at once draws Nazgul to the area. The hobbits and no experiance with weapons and could not stand up to immortal and powerful Nazgul even if they had. They cast the other hobbits aside, and the Witch King of Angmar himself stabbed Frodo in the chest with a Morgul Blade.Had it not been for the arrival of Aragorn, it is likely that all four hobbits would have persihed there and then, and the ring taken to Sauron. But Aragorn, wielding a flaming brand in one hand and his sword in the other, fought a battle that he would have lost had it not been for the Ringwraith's fear of fire. It took incredible swordsmanship and bravery to hold off and drive away four or five Nazgul, but he succeeded, and the hobbits were rescued and saved from a grim death. In the Fourth Age, it is likely that Weathertop once again became an operating watchtower, Amon Sul.


Inspiration

  • Possibly the Rednal Hill of the Lickey Hills, Worcestershire, England.
"The boys [Ronald and Hilary] had the freedom of these grounds [Rednal, Worcestershire], and further afield they could roam the steep paths that led through the trees to the high Lickey Hill"
J.R.R. Tolkien: A Biography

References