 | |
| Bridge | |
| Last Bridge | |
|---|---|
| General Information | |
| Other names | Bridge of Hoarwell[1] Bridge of Mitheithel[2] |
| Location | Eastern Eriador, where the East Road crosses the Hoarwell |
| Type | Bridge |
| Description | Ancient stone bridge |
| Gallery | Images of the Last Bridge |
The Last Bridge,[3] also known as the Bridge of Mitheithel[2] or the Bridge of Hoarwell,[1] was an ancient stone bridge[4] that carried the East Road over the River Hoarwell (Mitheithel), about a hundred miles east of Weathertop and roughly the same distance west of Rivendell.[5] Its three great arches crossed the river at the bottom of a short steep slope[6] and to the east the land rose again into the wooded hills of the Trollshaws.[5] It was the only practicable crossing point south of the river's sources in the Ettenmoors.[3]
History
How ancient the bridge was is unknown. It may have been as old as the East-West Road, which possibly dated to the First Age or or it may have been built or improved by the Númenóreans in the Second Age.[7] In the Third Age, the bridge was within the bounds of the realm of Arnor,[5] and then on the border of two of its three successor realms, Cardolan and Rhudaur,[8] and probably these two realms kept up the maintenance of this strategic structure.
In T.A. 2941,[9] Thorin and Company passed over the bridge on their way to the Lonely Mountain. After the crossing one of the ponies bolted back into the river and its load of food was lost. This loss of provisions and the dwarves' inability to ignite a fire in the wind and rain led to the encounter of Bilbo Baggins and his companions with the unfriendly trio of trolls.[4]
On 11 October T.A. 3018,[10] three Black Riders were guarding the bridge against Aragorn and the hobbits on their journey to Rivendell. Their plan was foiled by Glorfindel, who drove them away and left his token,[2] a green beryl, on the Bridge. Two days later,[11] Aragorn found the beryl, took it as a sign that the bridge was safe, and led the hobbits over it.[6]
Other versions of the legendarium
In the 1960 abandoned rewrite of The Hobbit, the Last Bridge was more prominent in the story. When the Company came to the bridge they found its single arch broken (J.R.R. Tolkien had forgotten in this draft that the bridge had three arches in The Fellowship of the Ring - see above). The company had to cross the dangerous ford instead. Gandalf (not yet vanished as in the published story) tried the crossing first on his horse Rohald. His success led to the dwarves crossing, followed by Bilbo, although one of the pack-ponies still bolted back into the river.[12]
The 1960 rewrite ended in the next chapter just as the Company came to the edge of the valley of Rivendell. In a note regarding contents yet to write it was stated "Ch. III should make clear Elrond's care for roads etc. from Greyflood to <Mountains>".[13] This would explain how the Last Bridge got fixed before Frodo Baggins arrived and found the structure intact.
Portrayal in adaptations
2002: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring video game:
- While the Last Bridge is absent from the home console and PC versions, it is featured in the GBA version. In addition to the bridge itself, there is also a small, populated village built on the western end. It is here that Frodo's Morgul-wound is treated by a local healer instead of by Elrond in Rivendell.
2007: The Lord of the Rings Online:
- The Last Bridge marks the border between the Lone-lands and the Trollshaws regions of the game.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 The Chronology of The Lord of the Rings, p. 36
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, "Flight to the Ford", p. 210
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, "Flight to the Ford", p. 200
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, "Roast Mutton"
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, "The West of Middle-earth at the End of the Third Age" [map]
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, "Flight to the Ford", p. 201
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "The Disaster of the Gladden Fields", "Notes", note 6
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The Númenorean Kings", "Eriador, Arnor, and the Heirs of Isildur", p. 1039
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Third Age", entry for the year 2941, p. 1089
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Great Years", entry for the year 3018, October 11, p. 1092
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Great Years", entry for the year 3018, October 13, p. 1092
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, John D. Rateliff (ed.), The History of The Hobbit, Return to Bag-End, "The Fifth Phase", "New Chapter II. The Broken Bridge", pp. 795-6
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, John D. Rateliff (ed.), The History of The Hobbit, Return to Bag-End, "The Fifth Phase", "New Chapter III. Arrival in Rivendell", p. 803
| Route of Thorin and Company |
|---|
| Bag End · Green Dragon · The Shire · Lone-lands · Last Bridge · Trollshaws · Trolls' lair · Rivendell · High Pass · Front Porch · Goblin-town · Goblin-gate · Eagle's Eyrie · Carrock · Beorn's Hall · Wilderland · Forest Gate · Elf-path · Mirkwood · Elvenking's Halls · Forest River · Lake-town · Long Lake · River Running · Desolation of the Dragon · Ravenhill · Back Door · Lonely Mountain · Great Hall of Thráin |