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Places in Middle-earth

Mound of the Riders, The

Type: Other Constructions

Region: Rohan

Other Names
the Mounds at the Fords of Isen

Location: A burial mound on the island in the Fords of Isen; Théodred and the others slain in the two Battles of the Fords of Isen lie there.

Description: They rode down to the river, and as they came the wolves ceased their howling and slunk away. ... The riders passed over to the islet ...

And they saw that in the midst of the eyot a mound was piled, ringed with stones, and set about with many spears.

'Here lie all the Men of the Mark that fell near this place,' said Gandalf.

'Here let them rest!' said Éomer. 'And when their spears have rotted and rusted, long still may their mound stand and guard the Fords of Isen!'

'Is this your work also, Gandalf, my friend?' said Théoden. ...

'With the help of ... others,' said Gandalf. ... 'But here beside the mound I will say this for your comfort: many fell in the battles of the Fords, but fewer than rumour made them. More were scattered than were slain; I gathered together all that I could find. Some ... I set to make this burial.' ...

With that the company said farewell to the island and the mound, and passed over the river, and climbed the further bank. Then they rode on, glad to have left the mournful Fords.

The Two Towers, LoTR Book 3, Ch 8, The Road to Isengard

Over the plains Shadowfax was flying, needing no urging and no guidance. ... they had reached the Fords of Isen and crossed them. The Mound of the Riders and its cold spears lay grey behind them.

The Two Towers, LoTR Book 3, Ch 11, The Palantír

[25 February 3019, the First Battle of the Fords of Isen:]
... Elfhelm rushed to the eyot. ... there he found Grimbold fighting two great axemen for possession of Théodred's body. One Elfhelm at once slew, and the other fell before Grimbold.

They stooped then to lift the body, and found that Théodred still breathed; but he lived only long enough to speak his last words: Let me lie here -- to keep the Fords till Éomer comes!

Unfinished Tales, Part 3, Ch 5, The Battles of the Fords of Isen

It is told that [Grimbold] set up on stakes all about the eyot the heads of the axemen that had been slain there, but above the hasty mound of Théodred in the middle was set his banner. "That will be defence enough," he said. [Author's note.]

Unfinished Tales, Part 3, Ch 5, The Battles of the Fords of Isen: Notes, Note 8

Contributors: Elena Tiriel 15Jan05

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