Razing Arnor: How real were the Dunadan conspiracies?

authority or were external influences at work? Suppose Amlaith's younger brothers had gone south to Gondor and served under Tarannon in the Army (or Navy) of Gondor. They could have joined in the campaign(s) Tarannon led in Enedwaith and therefore played a role in pacifying a land which had threatened Arnor. Amlaith, as the King's Heir, probably would not have been permitted to go adventuring, so his brothers could have earned much glory which could have lain the seeds of disloyalty among the people of Cardolan. Although Gondor had access to the Elves of Edhellond, there is no real indication that Gondor maintained close relations with either the Elves of Lindon or the Elves of Rivendell. The Elves of Lorien were permitted to pass through the kingdom unmolested, so the people of Gondor were still friendly or at least tolerant toward the Elves, but it appears that the true Elf-Dunadan friendship was maintained in the north alone. There, after the division of Arnor, Tolkien notes (in The Peoples of Middle-earth) that only Arthedain retained the Dunedain's ancient friendship with the Elves, particularly with Cirdan's people. Tharbad was Arnor's chief (and perhaps only) port, and it probably was included in the kingdom of Cardolan. Since the lands between the Baranduin and Lhun belonged to Arthedain it's possible there was a harbor at the mouth of the Baranduin, but Tolkien never mentions such a town. So Lindon may have become Arthedain's chief route to the sea. It would have behooved Amlaith to maintain good relations with Cirdan. But Amlaith, the King's Heir, may also have interacted with Cirdan more than his brothers. If the younger princes had indeed gone south to Gondor (and, who knows, maybe Arnor asked for Gondor's help in putting down the troublesome clans of Enedwaith -- the Dunlendings did eventually become strong enough to attack Rohan more than once), they may never have developed much of a rapport with the Elves. A close association with the kings of Gondor would, in fact, help explain why Rhudaur and Cardolan came to fight over Weathertop. The palantir there would have been their only means of direct communication with Gondor. The boundaries of Arthedain are given as the Baranduin as far north as the east-west road, and then east to the Weather Hills. But since the other two realms fought over Weathertop it seems that hill was not part of Arthedain. In "The Heirs of Elendil" (The Peoples

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