The Vale of Thrain is an area in Middle Earth on the path through the Blue Mountains to Thorin’s Hall. The Dwarves of the Blue Mountains maintain two outposts in the area, the fortress of Gondoman and and the waystation, Nogrod.

Generally the road to Thorin’s Hall is quiet but if one strays too far from the road, creatures such as lynx and bears have been known to attack. Recently reports of attacks from goblins and Dourhand dwarves have been a concern to the Elves of Ered Luin and tensions have increased between the Elves and the Dwarves of the Blue Mountains.

Many warriors have been enlisted to help ease the tensions between the two factions and to stop the invasions. Their efforts have been successful, for the most part.

Bookmark:

The Last Homely House is the home of Lord Elrond of Rivendell. It is not known precisely when it was built but Lord Elrond came to Rivendell in 1697 of the Second Age and it has been a safe refuge for many a traveller, and home to a number of elves, including the Elf Lord Glorfindel. Aragorn lived there for some time during the Third Age and returned often to visit.

Bilbo Baggins lived there after his mysterious disappearance from the Shire on his 111th birthday and remained there before finally leaving on the ship that sailed from the Grey Havens after the War of the Ring. Bilbo loved The Last Homely House and described it as “a perfect house, whether you like food or sleep, or story-telling or singing, or just sitting and thinking best, or a pleasant mixture of them all.” (FotR, p. 237)

Whoever built the Last Homely House had an appreciation for beauty. The architecture is stunning, the rooms large but comfortable and peaceful. And no visitor to Rivendell was ever in a hurry to leave. And who could blame them?

Bookmark:

After spending many weeks in Lothlorien’s golden woods, the forests in Mirkwood filled Pareth with dread. She could almost smell the evil that prevailed the woods and though she was one of the elite warriors hand-picked by the Lady Galadriel for her bravery to help the Elves secure Lothlorien’s borders, Pareth didn’t feel brave.

In fact, she was very afraid. The orcs here seemed even more brazen than in Moria as if they were confident of their numbers and ability to destroy everything in their wake. The power of the Dark Lord was strong in Mirkwood, and in nearby Dol Guldur, his minions gathered, awaiting his orders to attack Lothlorien.

But the Elves were ready and had enlisted helpers from among the free peoples who were heading east to confront Sauron and his minions. And Pareth was relieved to discover that many of her friends were very much alive and had become heroes in their own right. And they too had been told of Pareth’s deeds and they all spent many a night telling tales of the road and exchanging information.

They didn’t know it then but because of their help, the Lady Galadriel would destroy Dol Guldur and those Lothlorien elves who didn’t leave Middle Earth, would make Mirkwood their home after Sauron was defeated. Until then, many battles would be waged and many a brave warrior would fall.

And so it was that Pareth summoned her courage and together with her companions they travelled throughout Mirkwood, killing many Orcs and other evil creatures that crossed their path.

Bookmark: