The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum - View Single Post

Alcuin · 11-01-2006, 01:28 PM

Although no mention is made of it so that it might have been left behind in Arnor or Rivendell, it is quite possible that Elendil wore the Ring of Barahir to Mordor, and that Isildur took it along with the shards of Narsil with him to the Gladden Fields. He gave the shards of Narsil and its sheath to “Ohtar,” who is described as “dear to Isildur and of his own kin,” (Unfinished Tales, “The Disaster of the Gladden Fields”, footnote 17), so it is possible that the Ring of Barahir was also saved by Ohtar or one of his companions.

The war of III 1409 launched by Angmar against Rhudaur, Cardolan and Arthedain was ruinous. The spartan description (in Return of the King, “Appendix A”) seems to indicate that Angmar’s main force struck south across the Hoarwell into Rhudaur, then crossing the Hoarwell again (probably at the Last Bridge) swept into Cardolan from the east, surrounding and destroying Amon Sûl along the way. “A remnant of the faithful among the Dúnedain of Cardolan also held out in Tyrn Gorthad (the Barrowdowns), or took refuge in the [Old] Forest behind.” (Ibid.) That suggests that not all the Dúnedain of Cardolan were “faithful,” but it also strongly suggests that the people who remained in the towns and fields (i.e., farms and homesteads) were slaughtered.

Since the brooch was buried with a woman entombed with the “last prince of Cardolan, who fell in the war of 1409” (that citation was settled by Amarie), it is likely, as Evisse has already demonstrated, that the woman was a close kinswoman or even the wife of that “last prince,” and that she was murdered along with the rest of the people who were captured. She was a noblewoman, someone whom Bombadil (and Goldberry, too, from Tom’s words) plainly recalled with fondness; and as she was a noblewoman, it seems reasonable that she would have taken refuge in a fortification guarded by a garrison. The regular fortifications of Cardolan were overrun by Angmar (the survivors had to hide out in the barrows and the Old Forest, remember?), and if she were captured, it is likely that her death was horrifically cruel.

Bombadil shows a particular interest in the goings-on of Buckland and The Marish, with Farmer Maggot supplying him much of his current information. He seems also to have shown that kind of interest in Cardolan. (Aragorn knew him personally: “‘I need not repeat all that they said to old Bombadil...’” Fellowship of the Ring, “Strider”).

11-01-2006, 01:28 PM	#24
Alcuin Haunting Spirit Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Nurn Posts: 73	Although no mention is made of it so that it might have been left behind in Arnor or Rivendell, it is quite possible that Elendil wore the Ring of Barahir to Mordor, and that Isildur took it along with the shards of Narsil with him to the Gladden Fields. He gave the shards of Narsil and its sheath to “Ohtar,” who is described as “dear to Isildur and of his own kin,” (Unfinished Tales, “The Disaster of the Gladden Fields”, footnote 17), so it is possible that the Ring of Barahir was also saved by Ohtar or one of his companions. The war of III 1409 launched by Angmar against Rhudaur, Cardolan and Arthedain was ruinous. The spartan description (in Return of the King, “Appendix A”) seems to indicate that Angmar’s main force struck south across the Hoarwell into Rhudaur, then crossing the Hoarwell again (probably at the Last Bridge) swept into Cardolan from the east, surrounding and destroying Amon Sûl along the way. “A remnant of the faithful among the Dúnedain of Cardolan also held out in Tyrn Gorthad (the Barrowdowns), or took refuge in the [Old] Forest behind.” (Ibid.) That suggests that not all the Dúnedain of Cardolan were “faithful,” but it also strongly suggests that the people who remained in the towns and fields (i.e., farms and homesteads) were slaughtered. Since the brooch was buried with a woman entombed with the “last prince of Cardolan, who fell in the war of 1409” (that citation was settled by Amarie), it is likely, as Evisse has already demonstrated, that the woman was a close kinswoman or even the wife of that “last prince,” and that she was murdered along with the rest of the people who were captured. She was a noblewoman, someone whom Bombadil (and Goldberry, too, from Tom’s words) plainly recalled with fondness; and as she was a noblewoman, it seems reasonable that she would have taken refuge in a fortification guarded by a garrison. The regular fortifications of Cardolan were overrun by Angmar (the survivors had to hide out in the barrows and the Old Forest, remember?), and if she were captured, it is likely that her death was horrifically cruel. Bombadil shows a particular interest in the goings-on of Buckland and The Marish, with Farmer Maggot supplying him much of his current information. He seems also to have shown that kind of interest in Cardolan. (Aragorn knew him personally: “‘I need not repeat all that they said to old Bombadil...’” Fellowship of the Ring, “Strider”).