Stonewain Valley

=Stonewain Valley= Stonewain Valley Stonewain Valley was a long narrow straight valley in the easternWhite Mountains, deep within the Druadan Forest. Its eastern end opened just to the northwest of the Rammas Echor that encircledMinas Tirith.[1]

[edit]  History
A road, four horses wide, had been made in ancient days by the Men ofGondor,[2]  as a route from the quarries beneath Min-Rimmon to Minas Anor.[3]  By the time of the War of the Ring, it was all but forgotten. However, on 13 March T.A. 3019, King Théoden met with Ghân-buri-Ghân in the Druadan Forest[4]  and the headman of the Woses revealed the existence of the old road. During the next day the Rohirrim used the road in Stonewain Valley to avoid the Orcsblocking the main road to come to the Battle of the Pelennor Fields.[2]

[edit]  Etymology
The name was given because of the "wains (sleds or drays) passed to and fro from the stone-quarries" along the long, narrow defile.[5]  In Quenya it was called Nand' Ondolunkava or Ondolunkanan(do), in Sindarin Nan Gondresgion and in Rohirric Stānwægna Dæl.[3]  Another Sindarin name, a translation of "Stonewain Valley", wasImrath Gondraich, where imrath meant "a long narrow valley with a road or watercourse running through it lengthwise."[6]