Enedhwaith

**Enedhwaith** or **Enedwaith**, the Central Wilderness, originally referred to both a region of Middle-earth between Eriador and Calenardhon, and the men that inhabited it; the region Enedhwaith retained that name even when the Enedhwaith people were no more.

The boundaries of the Enedhwaith were defined in the north by the rivers Gwathló and Glanduin, to the east by the Hithaeglir, and to the west by Belegaer. The southern border was less clear, but was probably formed by the river Isen. Since the late Second Age, it was defined as the wilderness seperating Arnor and Gondor, and was nominally shared by both.

## History

During the First and early Second Age Enedhwaith was deeply forested, but the arrival of the timber-hungry Númenóreans, from the seventh century of the Second Age onwards, began eating away at the dense forests from their haven in Vinyalonde, later Lond Daer Enedh.

The Enedhwaith themselves "were forest dwellers, scattered communities without central leadership." They were distantly related to the Haladin of old, but this wasn't recognized in time by Númenóreans, who were mainly descended from the First and Third Houses of the Edain, and therefore spoke a language which was not related. The Enedwaith were not ranked as Middle Men, friends and distant kin of the Edain, but were ranked among the "people of darkness", enemies and aliens.

The denuded forests of Enedhwaith, and much of those to the north in Eriador, were finally destroyed by the War of the Elves and Sauron around S.A. 1701, during which much of what had survived was burnt. Only remote corners like Eryn Vorn survived in Eriador, and the Old Forest still further north. Many surviving natives took refuge in the eastern highlands of Enedhwaith, "the foothills of the Misty Mountains", which ultimately became Dunland.

After S.A. 3320, Enedhwaith formed the most northern part of the new Kingdom of Gondor, at least officially. The south-east was still "in places well-wooded", but elsewhere Enedhwaith was by this time "mostly grassland."

Enedwaith was said not to belong to either Arnor or Gondor, sharing an interest in that region. The hold was nominal as it wasn't settled by them, due to the hostility of the Gwathuirim. The only settlement was a fortified town and haven at Tharbad, a garrison populated by soldiers, mariners and engineers.

Following the Great Plague in T.A. 1636 the region fell quickly into decay; and back into wild fenlands however, Gondor's authority permanently lapsed throughout the region. At some point the Isen marked the western bounds of Gondor but it was of little concern other than the patrolling and upkeep of the great Royal Road.

Tharbad, originally one of two ancient cities on the Gwathló, and the only one to survive beyond the early Third Age, was finally abandoned following devastating floods in T.A. 2912, leaving behind a treacherous ford. Thereafter, only two groups survived in Enedhwaith: the Dunlendings in the far east, and a "fairly numerous but barbarous fisher-folk" wandering the coast.

Dunland became host to refugees from Erebor, and some Dwarves continued to live there until Erebor was refounded. The Fellowship intended to go by way of Enedhwaith before an encounter with Crebain from Dunland made them aware of the dangers of that road, but used it on their way back north