The Complete Tolkien Companion

by J. E. A. Tyler

  Carl Cotton – The youngest son of Tolman Cotton (Farmer Cotton), Hobbit of the Shire. He was known within the immediate family circle as ‘Nibs’.

  Cam Dûm – The chief city of the Witch-realm of ANGMAR. It was situated near the northernmost peak of the Misty Mountains, to the immediate south of the great Northern Waste. From this fortress the Witch-king carried out his long – and ultimately successful – assault upon the surviving Dúnedain kingdoms of the North.

  Carnimirië ‘Red-jewels’ (Q.) – A rowan-tree of the Forest of Fangorn, much beloved by the Ent Quickbeam (Bregalad). Many rowans were destroyed by Orcs of Saruman, arousing the anger of this (relatively) impulsive Ent.

  Carnen – The Red River, which flowed from a source in the western range of the Iron Hills to join the Celduin (River Running) north of Dorwinion. The enlarged river emptied into the great inland Sea of Rhûn.

  Carnil ‘Red-star’ (Q., from carnë-êl) – The star Betelgeuse, created for the lighting of Middle-earth by Varda.

  Carrock – A huge boulder, carved with stairs and a high seat, which lay in the river Anduin some miles north of the Ford which bore its name (linguistically related to the Sindarin word Carach, ‘fang’).

  Castamir the Usurper – From 1437–47 Third Age, the twenty-second King of Gondor. His accession to the throne was brought about by the great civil war, the Kin-strife.

  King Eldacar was the son of Valacar, who had wedded Vidumavi, a fair lady of Rhovanion, but of a lesser race than the Dúnedain accounted themselves. To these disaffected princes and nobles, it was unthinkable that one of mixed blood (and of shorter lifespan) should inherit the crown. Therefore, when Eldacar succeeded his father in 1432, there was rebellion in Gondor.

  Led by Castamir, the Captain of the Fleets, the rebels besieged Eldacar in Osgiliath, finally driving the young King from the burning city in 1437. Castamir then ordered the execution of Eldacar’s son, Ornendil, and put the city to the sack. Though a cruel and haughty man, he commanded the allegiance of the fleets, and of the southern fiefs: thus he proclaimed himself King. But the Usurper’s initial support quickly faded when it was seen that he neglected the land. A seaman, his main concern was for the Fleet, and he soon made preparations to remove the royal seat to Pelargir, the ancient haven near the Mouths of Anduin. In 1447 Third Age – when Castamir had ruled for a mere ten years – Eldacar, who had been gathering support in the land of his mother’s kin, Rhovanion, marched south with a host at his back, gaining forces as he moved ever southwards. His armies finally met those of Castamir at the Crossings of the river Erui, in Lebennin. There, the rightful King personally slew Castamir, but the Usurper’s sons escaped and took refuge at Pelargir. They later sailed away to Umbar and founded there a refuge for the foes of Gondor. See CORSAIRS OF UMBAR.

  Causeway Forts – Twin bastions guarding the road from Osgiliath to Minas Tirith, at the point where it passed through the Rammas Echor into the fields of the Pelennor.

  Caverns of Helm’s Deep – See AGLAROND.

  Caverns of Narog – See NARGOTHROND.

  Caves of the Forgotten – According to a legend of the Dúnedain, the Caves of the Forgotten are grots in the eastern sides of the Pelóri, wherein lie buried the hosts of Ar-Pharazôn – and the last King of Númenor himself – who assailed Aman the Blessed and so brought destruction upon the Ancient World.

  Celduin – The River Running, which flowed out of the lake of Esgaroth to join the Carnen (Red River) north of Dorwinion. The enlarged river emptied into the inland Sea of Rhûn.

  Celebdil ‘Silver-tine’ (Sind.) – One of the three great peaks of the Misty Mountains, below which lay the ancient Dwarf-realm of Moria; the other two were Caradhras (the Redhorn) and Fanuidhol (Cloudyhead). The Dwarves knew the mountain as Zirak-zigil. High in its peak – and remembered only in Dwarvish tradition – was the legendary Endless Stair, which climbed in unbroken spiral from the lowest Deep of Old Moria. This titanic work was constructed in the days of Moria’s glory by stonewrights of Durin the Deathless. At the head of the Stair, carved into the living rock, was set a chamber and high ledge known as Durin’s Tower.

  Celeborn ‘Tall-Silver-[tree]’ (Sind.) – A Grey-elven lord and a kinsman of King Thingol Greycloak. He later wedded the Lady Galadriel, afterwards becoming Lord of Lothlórien, where he dwelt until the beginning of the Fourth Age. He was the mightiest of the Grey-elven princes to remain in Middle-earth after the fall of Beleriand.

  At the beginning of the Second Age Celeborn dwelled in Lindon (last remnant of Beleriand), later travelling to Eregion with Galadriel, most noble of the High-elven Exiles. When Eregion fell, Galadriel and Celeborn – and his kinsman Thranduil – journeyed east over the Misty Mountains to establish realms among the Silvan Elves of the forests far away. Thranduil took the northern part of Greenwood the Great for his kingdom; Celeborn and Galadriel passed further south to the ancient Elf-realm of Lórien.3 There they dwelt through the Ages that followed: their power and wisdom – and the grey-feathered arrows of the Wood-elves – keeping all foes at bay. When Galadriel finally returned over Sea at the end of the Third Age, Celeborn abandoned Lothlórien and dwelt for a while in Rivendell, together with the sons of Elrond. No record remains of the date when he finally grew weary of Mortal Lands and sailed west from the Grey Havens.

  Note: this name is also applied to the White Tree of Eressëa (a seedling of the Tree of Tirion, Galathilion) in records of the First Age.

  Celebrant ‘Silver-course’ (Sind.) – The Silverlode River. Rising from icy sources in the Dimrill Dale, it flowed through Lothlórien to join the Anduin at Egladil, southernmost point of the Naith of Lórien. The Nimrodel stream was one of its tributaries. Its source in the Dimrill Dale was known to Dwarves as Kibil-nâla.

  Celebrían (Sind., from the older form Celebriande; meaning not known) – The daughter of Celeborn and Galadriel, wife of Elrond and mother of Elladan, Elrohir and Arwen Evenstar. In the year 2509 Third Age, while travelling from Rivendell to Lórien, she was waylaid by Orcs of the Mountains, who captured and tormented her until a swift rescue was accomplished by her sons. Though her poisoned wound was healed by Elrond, she lost all desire to stay in Middle-earth and passed over Sea the following year.

  Celebrimbor ‘Silver-fist’ (Sind., from Q. Telperinquar) – At the end of the First Age, a number of the High-elves (Noldor) who had survived the War of the Great Jewels were forbidden by the Valar to return to their ancient home in Valinor. Chief among these Exiles were the princes and queens of the Royal Houses of Fëanor, Finarfin and Fingolfin. Celebrimbor was the last lord of the House of Fëanor and the greatest of all Eldarin craftsmen to survive the War. He was the son of Curufin the Crafty, and therefore a grandson of Fëanor, and he dwelt with his father’s people in Himlad after the return to Middle-earth – until the Battle of Sudden Flame, which broke the northern Elf-kingdoms and overthrew the Siege of Angband. Then Curufin, Celegorm and Caranthir and their sons and people were driven south and west in disarray. The people of Caranthir joined with kin of the brethren Amrod and Amrast in the south; while Celegorm, Curufin and their sons and people passed south-west, to the Kingdom of Nargothrond, then ruled by Finrod Felagund of the House of Finarfin.

  They came as vassals, but they were driven by need; and between the Houses of Fëanor and Finarfin there was no little ill-feeling. Therefore the dispossessed brothers, together with their following, instead of being grateful for the sanctuary afforded them, planned to seize this strong, Dwarf-delved domain under the hills from its rightful lord; but they bided their time. Then Beren son of Barahir came to Nargothrond, at the outset of his quest (for a Silmaril), invoking the pledge of friendship made years before to his father by Finrod King of Nargothrond. Finrod agreed to honour his words with deeds, and prepared to join with Beren on the quest; and at this time the Sons of Fëanor, Celegorm and Curufin, made their move. They played skilfully upon the fears of the Elves of Nargothrond, so that Finrod was forced to abdicate his kingship – in favour of themselv
es – before setting out. But after a while, tidings came back to Nargothrond of Finrod’s heroism and death, and then the Elves of Nargothrond turned upon the brothers, for they regretted of all that had been done, and perceived for the first time that the ambition and unscrupulousness of the Sons of Fëanor lay behind Finrod’s fall. In that hour Celebrimbor the son of Curufin grew ashamed of his father’s deeds, and repudiated them and him, and remained in Nargothrond when Curufin and Celegorm – now entirely without a following – were cast out.

  It is not known how Celebrimbor came to survive the wreck of Nargothrond or the battle on Tumhalad. In all probability he, and the remnant of the Noldor which he now led – the last of the house of Curufin – afterwards went to dwell in the coastlands, or where they might; and took no further part in the War. It is also not known for certain whether the ban laid by the Valar on the return of the most prominent of the Exiles applied to Celebrimbor; at all events, in 750 Second Age he led his folk across the Blue Mountains to the lands west of Moria, where it had been reported that mithril, a metal most beloved by the Elves, had been discovered under the mountains. There they established a realm called Eregion (Hollin), built their city of Ost-in-Edhil, and engaged in trade with the Dwarves of Moria. The friendship that grew up there was the closest that had ever been known between the two races; Celebrimbor himself etched the designs in the Hollin-door of Moria as a token of their mutual esteem.

  Nonetheless the Smiths of the Noldor were ever-thirsty for knowledge and craft-secrets; and, exploiting this desire, Sauron the Great (even then arising again in Middle-earth) seduced them by revealing to them the techniques of Ring-making. Under his tutelage they grew in this craft, making first the lesser Rings, then the Nine and the Seven. The Three Elf-rings were created by Celebrimbor alone – and the One Ring was forged in secret by Sauron himself, ‘to bring them all and in the darkness bind them’. But the instant Sauron put on the Ring, far away in the heart of the volcano Orodruin, Celebrimbor became aware of the spell and hid the Three. Sauron’s forces afterwards invaded Eriador and in 1697 Second Age they razed Eregion – though they were unable to enter Moria. Celebrimbor was slain and the Noldor were driven out.

  Celebrindal ‘Silver-foot’ (Sind.) – See IDRIL CELEBRINDAL.

  Celebrindor ‘Land-of-Silver’ (Sind.) – From 1191–1272 Third Age, the fifth King of Arthedain.

  Celebros ‘Silver-foam’ (Sind.) – A stream of the Forest of Brethil, whose source may have lain on Amon Obel. It flowed westwards, down through the steep woodlands, until finally it fell into the swift Teiglin in a fall called Dimrost, the ‘Rainy-stair’.

  Celegorm the Fair – The third Son of Fëanor, born in Eldamar during the Years of the Trees. During that time he came to be accounted among the following of Oromë the Vala; and Celegorm learned much of the lore of living creatures. He was the most woodcrafty of all the High-elves, being called also The Huntsman of the Noldor. Together with his six brothers, he took the Oath of Fëanor and came back to Middle-earth in a great fleet of ships to make war upon Morgoth, who had stolen the Silmarils. In the first battle fought by the Noldor against Angband, Celegorm played a singular part; for it was he who, passing first of all across the Mountains of Shadow, was in a position to bear down victoriously on the flank of an orc-host: that same host which had previously laid siege to the Havens of the Falas (see BATTLES OF BELERIAND) and which, hitherto undefeated, was moving north to the aid of their comrades fleeing from the Noldor. After this battle Celegorm, together with Curufin, his closest friend and ally among the brethren, took up his abode in Himlad, the region between the Aros and the Celon; there they dwelt for four centuries, until the Battle of Sudden Flame overthrew their realm.

  Celegorm is also renowned as being the master of the Hound of Valinor. This was Huan, who aided the quest of Beren and Lúthien, and who afterwards slew the great Wolf Carcharost. Huan forsook Celegorm in order to aid Beren and Lúthien, twice frustrating evilly motivated attempts by the brethren Celegorm and Curufin to abduct and imprison Lúthien. And although he returned briefly to Celegorm’s service, he later rejoined Beren and Lúthien and fell at last in battle at Beren’s side.

  However, since the Dagor Bragollach and the destruction of the realm that he and his brother had ruled, Celegorm had now fallen into evil patterns of thought. In him, and in the brethren Caranthir and Curufin, the Oath they had taken indeed had wrought most grievous effects. And as they could work no destruction upon Morgoth – or indeed do anything at all to fulfil their Oath – they turned their counsels and their arms against their own kin. In the growing darkness of their hearts they had lost the ability to distinguish friend from foe.

  Soon they came, by guile, to dominate the counsels of Nargothrond, where Finrod Felagund had given them shelter; and they successfully forced him to abdicate in favour of themselves. It was at that time that Lúthien, fleeing from Doriath, came among the Elves of Nargothrond; but Celegorm and Curufin imprisoned her – though not harshly, for Celegorm desired her. But now Huan the Hound of Valinor helped her escape from Nargothrond; and when, at a later time, she was again threatened with capture by Celegorm, Huan, who had meanwhile returned to the service of his master, now abrogated him for ever.

  Soon afterwards Celegorm and Curufin, and Caranthir their brother, fell into the greatest evil of all. For, learning of the Silmaril which was lodged in Menegroth, they determined, according to their vow, to seize it for themselves. For the second time there was battle and murder in the halls of Menegroth in Doriath. In that fight Celegorm was slain by Dior Eluchíl, Thingol’s heir.

  Celepharn – From 1110–91 Third Age, fourth King of Arthedain, father of Celebrindor.

  Celon ‘Falling-water’ (Sind.) – A tributary of the river Aros; the eastern border of Himlad. Its source was in the Hills of Himring.

  Celos – A river of Lebennin, draining the southern slopes of the White Mountains into the Great River. It was not a major stream, being a tributary of the larger Sirith, which it joined some twenty-five leagues north of Pelargir. Also spelt Kelos.

  Cemendur – From 158–238 Third Age, the fourth King of Gondor.

  Ceorl – ‘Churl’ or ‘fellow’ in the tongue of Rohan.

  Cerin Amroth – The name given in Lothlórien to the dwelling-mound of the Elven-prince Amroth. ‘Upon it, as a double crown, grew two circles of trees: the outer had bark of snowy white, and were leafless but beautiful in their shapely nakedness; the inner were mallorn-trees of great height, still arrayed in pale gold. High amid the branches of a towering tree that stood in the centre of all there gleamed a white flet.’4

  The mound, which was not natural but had been piled by the labour of many Elves, was regarded by many of the Elves as the ancient heart of the forest. Cerin Amroth was also the place where Aragorn II and Arwen daughter of Elrond plighted their troth; and it was where Arwen lay down to die after the death of her husband and lord, many years later.

  Cermië (Q.) – The seventh month in Kings’ and Stewards’ Reckoning and the fourth in the New Reckoning, being roughly equivalent to our July in all three systems. The Dúnedain called this month by its Sindarin name Cerveth. The Hobbits of the Shire knew it as Afterlithe, while in Bree it was called The Summerdays.

  Certar – The Quenya word for ‘runes’, referring in particular to the ALPHABET OF DAERON. They were known to the Sindar as certhas (or Cirth) the name for the system as a whole.

  Certhas – See CERTAR above.

  Cerveth – See CERMIË.

  Chalcedony – A mineral composed of pacted silica, usually banded, translucent, of a waxy lustre and extremely beautiful.

  Chamber of Mazarbul – The Chamber of Records of Old Moria, situated on the seventh Level near the twenty-first Hall of the North End. In it were originally kept many chests containing inscribed stone tablets and ancient books of the Dwarves. But following the flight from Moria by the Dwarves – after the coming of the Balrog in 1980 Third Age – the Chamber was plundered by Orcs. None of the orig
inal records survived at the time of the War of the Ring.

  The Chamber of Mazarbul was later used by Balin son of Fundin as a throne-room after his expedition entered Moria (2989 Third Age). Following his death, the remnant of his colony fought to the last in this chamber, falling finally in defence of Balin’s tomb.

  Chambers of Fire – A translation of the Sindarin words Sammath Naur; a massive tunnel and shaft delved into the cone of the volcano Orodruin to gain access to the vast furnaces of the Mountain: the Cracks of Doom. Here Sauron forged the One Ring.

  Chetwood – A sizeable stretch of wooded area commencing on the north-eastern borders of the Bree-land and running for two days’ march into the wild country beyond.

  Chieftains of the Dúnedain – For the three thousand years following the establishment of the Númenorean realms-in-exile, Gondor and Arnor, both kingdoms were under almost constant assault by foes of the Men of Westernesse. In Gondor, though the Line of Elendil ultimately failed, the Realm survived and the Dúnedain of the South were then ruled by the House of the Stewards. But in Arnor, even though both the kingship and the state were destroyed, the Line of Isildur Elendil’s son endured against all odds.

  In 1974 Third Age, with the passing of Arvedui ‘Last-king’ – and the realm of Arthedain, last remnant of ancient Arnor – the surviving Dúnedain of that land forsook open royalty and passed into the shadows as Rangers of the wild. The Heir of Isildur was then known as Chieftain of the Dúnedain of Arnor, as an affirmation that, one day, the North-kingdom would be re-established. The first to take the title was Aranarth, son of Arvedui. There were fifteen Chieftains before Aragorn II and the renewal of Arnor’s royalty. Their names were: Aranarth, Arahael, Aranuir, Aravir, Aragorn I, Araglas, Arahad I, Aragost, Aravorn, Arahad II, Arassuil, Arathorn I, Argonui, Arador and Arathorn II. Though their self-imposed tasks of watchfulness and guardianship went largely unthanked (and unnoticed), the Chieftains never lost pride in their lineage – or hope in the eventual restoration of the fortunes of their House. Each Chieftain was brought to manhood in Elrond’s house, where also were kept the Heirlooms of the Line of Isildur: the Sceptre of Annúminas, the Ring of Barahir, the shards of the sword Narsil and the silver circlet, the Elendilmir, worn by the Kings of Arnor.