Good Night, Good Rhudaur

side, possessed three arches, stood a mile from the ravine that Aragorn took up into the northern hills on the eastern side, and had lasted until the end of the Third Age. The Last Bridge must have been worth protecting, and there had probably been a Numenorean fortress in the area at one time, perhaps even a small town or city. It seems that the Last Bridge would be the best location outside the Angle for a Numenorean dynasty to make its seat. Bridges were important to the Numenoreans. Osgiliath and Tharbad were both built on or around major bridges. There was no bridge at Cair Andros, but the armies were able to cross the Anduin there and Gondor maintained a garrison on the island for many years. The Undeeps, in northern Calenardhon, were also fortified against invasion. Even the Bridge of Stone Bows, which crossed the Baranduin, remained a place of activity and settlement in the Shire at the end of the Third Age. If the Last Bridge marked the location of a Numenorean fortress or town, it may also have been the place where Valandur died. Or at least where he launched his campaign from. He could have followed the Mitheithel north, or met a force of Easterlings marching south along the river, and prevented them from taking control over the bridge. If the king's death in battle means that his army was driven back, they would not have suffered defeat for long. The Last Bridge was located at the heart of Rhudaur, but also sat upon the border of Cardolan. If an enemy marched through Rhudaur from the east, the Last Bridge would have to be defended to protect Cardolan. Thus it may be that the Numenoreans of Rhudaur concentrated their numbers around the Last Bridge. It would be the focal point of their society, and the most important of their fortresses. When Rhudaurian kings launched wars against Arthedain and Cardolan for control over the Weather Hills, they could assmbled their forces at the Last Bridge. Cardolan would, in fact, have to expend considerable resources to defend itself against an invasion from Rhudaur. And by building up its border forces, Cardolan would give Rhudaur just cause to build up its own border garrisons. Hence, if the Kings of Rhudaur could not maintain a standing army, they would have to rely upon local lords to defend points of entry along the Road and

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