Movement of the Eotheod

The Eotheod withdrew into the far North. "The new land of the Eotheod lay north of Mirkwood, between the Misty Mountains westward and the Forest River eastward" (p. 295, Unfinished Tales). This was of great concern to Gondor as the Eotheod had long been trustworthy allies against all foes. The two realms still communicated via messengers but that was few and far between. For they now were 450 miles apart as the crow flies, nearly 800 for those traveling on the ground.

When Gondor was raided (by Orcs and Uruks from Mordor and the Cosairs from Umbar) after the Watchful Peace the unguarded North was ever in the Stewards minds. When Cirion became Steward he did his best to fortify the North with what he could spare and sending spies across the lands between Mirkwood and Dagorlad. "He was thus soon aware that new and dangerous enemies coming out of the East were steadily drifting in from beyond the Sea of Rhûn. They were slaying or driving north up the River Running and into the Forest the remnant of the Northmen, friends of Gondor that still dwelt east of Mirkwood" (p. 296, Unfinished Tales). Unfortunately with the strength of Gondor waned and Cirion could not aid the remnant or afford to send out any more spies as too many never returned.

Middle-earth timeline: Third Age, 2489
Today's reading comes from: Unfinished Tales, pages 295-296