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| - For all that the power and wealth of Arthedain flew from Fornost Erain, jewel of the North Downs, the heart of the nation had always been the Hills of Twilight (S. "Emyn Uial"). Here were hills of which the greatest poets sang, and the rippling waters whose sounds musicians attempted to match on their lyres and mandolins. It was an unproductive land by southern standards, where steep hillsides strained the knees of the shepherd, and narrow vales possessed soil too thin to forgive a farmer's careless seeding or over-sharp hoe. Every sheaf of grain and basket of apples, every rack of mutton and bundle of herbs was brought forth from the hill country by dint of hard, careful labor. Fields were surrounded by stone walls composed of rocks that once were strewn amongst the crops. Streams were da
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| abstract
| - For all that the power and wealth of Arthedain flew from Fornost Erain, jewel of the North Downs, the heart of the nation had always been the Hills of Twilight (S. "Emyn Uial"). Here were hills of which the greatest poets sang, and the rippling waters whose sounds musicians attempted to match on their lyres and mandolins. It was an unproductive land by southern standards, where steep hillsides strained the knees of the shepherd, and narrow vales possessed soil too thin to forgive a farmer's careless seeding or over-sharp hoe. Every sheaf of grain and basket of apples, every rack of mutton and bundle of herbs was brought forth from the hill country by dint of hard, careful labor. Fields were surrounded by stone walls composed of rocks that once were strewn amongst the crops. Streams were dammed to prevent flooding, slopes were terraced to retain their soil, groves were planted and thinned to ensure the growth of wood. In spite of it all, the hills gave an impression of wildness, as though the gorse, heather, and grass, if not carefully watched, were ready to spring forth and engulf the little works of Men. In fact, the Twilight Hills, if not as wild as lands closer to the Angmarean frontier, were not so tame as the fields of the Ethir Gwathlo or of Lebennin in Gondor. Steadings were a half-day's march apart here. Increasingly harsh winters caused the more exposed hills to acquire a permanently brown cast, forcing shepherds to bring the flocks in closer to the valleys. The rain that gave the hills their lush green covering seemed eager to wash away the soil behind the terraces and retaining walls. The constant cool dampness bred a hardier stock of Men by taking away the newborn and the aged alike with chilling fevers and fluxes of the throat and lungs. Yet, the Commons of Arthedain, and particularly the Men of the Twilight Hills, were said (for all their reputation for bland frugality of speech and coin) to be happier than most. Law and peace ruled in Arthedain—amazingly so to folk from other parts of strife-torn Eriador. "In that Realm [they say,] a man can still walk the country from the River to the Downs with naught in his hand but a stick to ward off the stray dogs." The Dunedain who ruled were stern and aloof, but also just and fair-spoken to all. The lords of the the Twilight Hills would have words with strangers who caused a fuss among their people, but would repay a fair answer with hospitality freely given and advice, whether requested or not, for the road. The roads in this part of Arthedain were hardpacked earth when crossing flat terrain, stone-shouldered and paved where steep, which was fairly often. A traveller would always arrive where he was headed, or so said the locals; as a feudal state in constant threat of war, Arthedain needed a good road net to mobilize swiftly on any of its frontiers. Tinkers and peddlars were common wayfarers, moving from steading to steading, selling their goods and doing odd jobs They were a good source of news, equal to the merchants who shared the roads, and a good deal friendlier. For a small fee, a tinker worth his salt could also provide local gossip as well as less savory knowledge about activities that might be beyond good manners or outside the law. Even in such a peaceful land, strange and unsettling events did occur.
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