Tower Hills of Emyn Beraid
When the Gulf of Lhûn was formed by the great
cataclysm that split the Blue Mountains at the end of the
Elder Days, a portion of the range's foothills were severed
from the rest. Since they were east of the mountains, the
shifted cluster of hills were declared part of the lands of
the Siranna Elves. Gil-galad, nevertheless, built one of his
twin ports on the western side of the hills, and placed three
beacon towers on their crests. They became known as the
Emyn Beraid (S. "Tower Hills").
The Númenórean Faithful, with the permission of Gilgalad,
used the towers on the Emyn Beraid as observatories.
Elendil modified the tallest of them, Elostirion,
permitting it to house a Palantir. The Stone looked only
westward over the seas, towards drowned Westernesse
and Valinor; both Elves and Dúnedain had the use of it.
In negotiations that set the boundaries of Lindon and
Arnor at the beginning of the Third Age, the Siranna
Elvish province of Siragalë was joined to the Dúnadan
Realm. The Tower Hills became a religious refuge for the
more aesthetic of the Dúnedain. The Kings, as time
passed, visited the Palantir less and less, and many forgot
that the Seeing-stone was there.
In later Years
The next mention of the Tower Hills in Dúnadan lore
occurs when Aranarth bids his companions to take the
oath that forms the Rangers of the North. Their vows ate
spoken in Elostirion before the one remaining Palantir in
the North. There being nothing in the Emyn Beraid of
practical use to the surviving Dúnedain, the hills are left
to slip into legend.
As more and more of the Sirannar flee on the ships
bearing the Elves over the sea, Old Sylvana, between the
western boundary of the Shire and the Tower Hills, is
gradually emptied of population. Aragorn II, who travels
most places in Middle-earth, knows this well; in consultation
with the Lords of the Elves, he grants the abandoned
land to the Hobbits as the Westmarch of the Shire
in F. A. 31. Fastred Fairbairn and his wife Elanor Gardner,
the daughter of Master Samwise, are made Wardens of the
Westmarch. They live in the new village of Undertowers,
where the Menatar Romen climbs the eastern slopes of the
Tower Hills, passing within sight of Elostirion.
Founders
Type
Military, Camp
Population
8,000
Location under
Owner/Ruler
Ruling/Owning Rank
Owning Organization
Comments