Greyflood

The Greyflood, known in the Elvish tongue as Gwathló, was one of the great rivers of Eriador, flowing from the junction of the Hoarwell and the Loudwater in the east down to the distant Sea. In the days of the North Kingdom, its banks were well-travelled and its crossings guarded, but by the time of the War of the Ring, the lands through which it passed had fallen into waste and fear. The river marked the southern edge of the old realm of Arnor, and the ancient North Road, called the Greenway, ran beside it for many leagues, linking the lost city of Fornost to the fords at Tharbad. That once-important town, a crossing point on the Greyflood, had been ruined and deserted after the great floods of 2912, leaving the road broken and the region empty. The river itself became a boundary between the dwindling lands of the North and the encroaching shadow of Mordor, a silent witness to the long decline of the Dúnedain.

Geography and Course

The Greyflood was formed by the confluence of the Hoarwell and the Loudwater, two rivers that rose in the Misty Mountains and flowed south-west through Eriador. From that meeting point, the Greyflood continued its course, widening and deepening as it passed through the region of Enedwaith, until it reached the Bay of Belfalas. Its lower reaches were broad and navigable, and in earlier ages, ships from the Númenórean haven of Pelargir could sail upriver as far as Tharbad. The river's valley was once fertile and well-populated, but by the late Third Age, the land on either side had become largely deserted, given over to marshes and wild heath. The only major crossing was at Tharbad, where the North Road forded the river; the bridge there had long since collapsed, and the ford was treacherous, especially after heavy rains.

Historical Significance

During the Second Age, the Greyflood formed part of the border of the realm of Eregion, and its waters were used by the Elven-smiths for transport and trade. After the Downfall of Númenor and the founding of the Realms in Exile, the river became a vital artery for the North Kingdom of Arnor. The great North Road, which ran from Fornost to the south, followed the Greyflood's course for much of its length, and the town of Tharbad grew up at the principal crossing. In the days of the Ship-kings of Gondor, the river was patrolled and its banks were guarded, but as the power of both Arnor and Gondor waned, the region fell into neglect. The last blow came with the Great Plague of 1636, which devastated the population of Enedwaith and Minhiriath, and the subsequent floods of 2912 finally destroyed Tharbad, leaving the crossing impassable and the road abandoned.

The Greyflood in the War of the Ring

By the time of the War of the Ring, the Greyflood marked the edge of the known and relatively safe lands of the West. Beyond it lay the wild and dangerous country of Dunland and the approaches to Isengard. The river was a barrier that the forces of Saruman and Sauron could not easily cross in force, but it also served as a route for spies and raiders. When Gandalf the White rode from the Shire to Rohan, he crossed the Greyflood at Sarn Ford, a ford far to the north, and later, when Aragorn led the Grey Company south, they passed through the desolate lands west of the river, where the Dead Men of Dunharrow had once dwelt. The river itself was never a scene of major battle, but its presence as a dividing line between the fading peace of the North and the gathering storm of the East gave it a quiet, ominous significance. The Rangers of the North kept watch along its banks, but their numbers were few, and the river's ancient role as a highway of trade and alliance had long since passed into memory.