Imladris.

Rivendell..

Last Homely House.

Imladris, the home of Elrond, a refugee and stronghold of the Elves in Eriador in Second and Third Age. Established by Elrond in S.A.1697 during the War of Elves and Sauron.

It was lying between the wells of Bruinen close to most Southern stream named Merrill well hid from unfriendly eyes in the deep treecladed valleys at the foothills of Hithaeglir. Across the river were a bridge to the long steep wounding path that led out of the vale of Rivendell to the Fords of Bruinen and the high moors.

The old magic of the elves were lying over the house, as Bilbo told it was 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. Merely to be there was a cure for weariness, fear, and sadness.

The house must be big and in two plans with at least an Eastern porch. Around the house were gardens. Sam came into Frodo`s room to see if he was ready to come down and he led him by many passages and many steps out into a high garden above the steep bank of the river so the house was also close to the river. There Frodo met his friends in a porch on the side of the house looking East were the sound of the river-water was loud and the scent of trees and flowers from Elrond`s gardens still lingered even it was autumn.

Downstairs was Elrond`s Hall with his seat, a great chair at the end of a long table upon a dais, at the walls were hung woven cloths and at the middle of the table up against the wall was a chair under a canopy; the chair of Arwen.

In one end of Elrond`s Hall were doors leading to a wide passage across the passage were another hall, the Hall of Fire. There were no tables in this hall but a great hearth with a bright fire between carwen pillars. This was a place where songs and tales at feasts would be told but in normal it would be empty and quit for those who wanted peace and thought, yet all year round there was a fire burning.

In the South side of the house, downstairs was Bilbo`s room its windows looked out across the South garden and the ravine of the river towards the steep climbing woods at the other side.

Outside the house went a path East on the terraces above the river through threes and bushes to a stone seat, it is not certain it went East but most likely since when Frodo and Sam walked along it they say the Sun rise and Sam looked now and again at the great white peaks of Hithaeglir. Somewhere around the house may also have been a forge where the Elven-smiths forged anew the sword of Elendil and was renamed to Anduril by Aragorn. A stable may have been there too for the horses.

Related Links.: Battles.: War of Elves and Sauron.