Good Night, Good Rhudaur

and the Mitheithel. So the best opportunities for Numenorean lads to rise in the social circles would lie in western Rhudaur. When Sauron began stirring again in Middle-earth, and the Hobbits started leaving the Vales of Anduin, the Harfoots entered Eriador and most likely settled in Rhudaur. If northern Rhudaur were controlled by the semi-barbaric hill clans, the Harfoots may have settled along the Road near the Last Bridge. They were too smal to provide Rhudaur with useful soldiers, but the Dunedain could have taught them many trades to expand industrial output. The Kings of Rhudaur may have increased their armies, and thus could fight longer, larger wars. Their chances of dying those wars, of producing fewer heirs, and of losing their heirs, would have increased. Cardolan, threatened by a stronger Rhudaur, would have become more warlike, too. Hence, its kings would also be more likely to die in battle, heirless. The frequent warfare must therefore have opened up opportunities for the hill clans. Although Stoors settled in the Angle in the 12th century, when Angmar arose around the year 1300 the Hobbits decided that Rhudaur was no longer safe for them. The Harfoots and Fallohides began migrating west to Arthedain. Rhudaur must therefore have come into direct conflict with Angmar, and it may be that the Heirs of Isildur, already diminished in number by their feuds with Cardolan and Arthedain, actually died while fighting Angmar. The Dunedain were few in number, the Hobbits had left, and the hill clans forged a secret alliance with Angmar. When Argeleb claimed royal authority over all of former Arnor in 1349, Rhudaur openly sided with Angmar. In the war of 1409, the remaining Dunedain were slain or driven out of the country. The Stoors of the Angle fled west to the Vales of Anduin or south to Dunland. Imladris was cut off from Arthedain, Cardolan, and Lindon. Angmar gained effective control over all the lands east of the Weather Hills as far south as the East-West road. The Last Bridge was lost to the Numenoreans. The hill clans which had seized control over Rhudaur seem themselves to have been swept aside by new Men sent out of Angmar. Why? Were they not subservient enough? Had they been tainted by contact with the Dunedain and the Eldar? Had they refused to attack Imladris, which Angmar subsequently laid siege to? If Elendil's objective in colonizing Rhudaur was to achieve strategic control

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