Bruinen (Loudwater)

Bruinen or Loudwater was a river in eastern Eriador. It began with two tributaries flowing
from the western slopes of the Misty Mountains, one of which came from the High Pass
where Goblin-town existed. The Bruinen terminated when it joined the Mitheithel River. The
southern arm of the Bruinen flowed through the deep valley where Elrond founded the
refuge of Rivendell. The Bruinen had only one known ford, the Ford near Rivendell.

The river formed the eastern border of the Kingdom of Arnor and later the petty-realm of
Rhudaur. It also formed the northern border of Eregion.

High Pass
The High Pass was a pass over the Misty Mountains. On its western end was the refuge of
Rivendell, and from there the Great East Road climbed into the mountains until it reached
the mountain under which lied the Goblin-town.

There were actually two passes at this location. The lower pass was more prone to being
blocked by Orcs, hence most travellers used the higher pass outside of those rare
occasions when the Orcs were suppressed.

History
The High Pass was first created during the First Age by Oromë the Vala, in order to allow for a
crossing of the mountains by the Eldar.

Later the High Pass was used by the Dwarves, who connected their roads (the Great East
Road and the Men-i-Naugrim through Mirkwood) with it.

In the Second Age the High Pass was used by the army of Gil-galad and Elendil when they
marched to Mordor in the War of the Last Alliance of Elves and Men. After this war Isildur was
slain by Orcs watching the way towards the pass.

The Pass became dangerous again because of the Orcs. Only with the War of the Dwarves
and Orcs, which nearly wiped out all Orcs of the mountains, did it became safe again.
Nevertheless in T.A. 2940, the goblins of Goblin-town had burrowed their way back to it, and
Bilbo Baggins and the Dwarves of Thorin were captured the next year during the Quest of
Erebor.

Names
The High Pass was also known as the Pass of Imladris. In Sindarin, the pass was called Cirith
Forn en Andrath ("the high-climbing pass of the north"); cirith + forn + andrath).
Goblin-town
Goblin-town was a Goblin (or Orc) dwelling which lay under the Misty Mountains, ruled by the
Great Goblin.

The main gate of the town was in one of the passes of the Misty Mountains, but as travelers
avoided that dangerous road, the goblins opened another under the safer High Pass (the
Front Porch). Goblin-town was a series of tunnels and caverns, which went all the way
through the mountains, with a "back door" (the Goblin-gate) near the Eagle's Eyrie in
Wilderland, which served as a means of escape, and an access to the Wilderland. The cave
of Gollum was deep beneath Goblin-town yet was connected to the Goblins' tunnels, with
one passage leading to the "back door".

In T.A. 2941during the journey to Lonely Mountain, Thorin and Company were captured by the
Goblins of Goblin-town. They were brought before the Great Goblin, who accused them of
spying, and was enraged when he found that Thorin was carrying Orcrist, a sword the Great
Goblin remembered from Gondolin. With the help of Gandalf, the Great Goblin was slain and
Bilbo and the Dwarves escaped, pursued by force of Goblins.

The Front Porch

The Front Porch was the name that the Goblins of Goblin-town gave to a cave that opened
onto the High Pass in the Misty Mountains. It was marked by a large rock standing in the
path, behind which was a low arch and narrow opening into the mountain. The cave was just
large enough to accommodate Thorin, the other dwarves, Bilbo Baggins, Gandalf, and all
their ponies during the thunder-battle in the mountains.

The Goblin-town had a main gate in one of the passes of the Misty Mountains from which
they assaulted travelers. As that way was eventually too dangerous and abandoned,
travelers took the (seemingly safer) High Pass, so the goblins opened the Front Porch at
some point before T.A. 2941 as an alternate means to snatch people.

Fíli and Kíli discovered the cave and reported it empty. Upon entry, Gandalf lit his wand and
explored it thoroughly. Satisfied, the company dried out and relaxed before falling asleep.
Fortunately, Bilbo had a nightmare about a crack opening in the wall of the cave and upon
waking found that his dream was partially true. Goblins had already stolen the ponies
through a real crack in the wall when Bilbo let out a very loud yell. The goblins then captured
Bilbo and the Dwarves, but the yell had woken up Gandalf, who escaped with a lightning-like
flash that killed several of the goblins.

After their escape, Gandalf hoped to convince a "more or less decent Giant" to block the
cave and make the passage safe again.