Beyond the Lune was Elvish country, green and quiet, where no Men went […] At the Grey Havens dwelt Círdan the Shipwright, and some say he dwells there still, until the Last Ship sets sail into the West. In the days of the Kings most of the High Elves that still lingered in Middle-earth dwelt with Círdan or in the seaward lands of Lindon. If any now remain they are few.
– Appendix A: Annals of the Kings and Rulers
Lindon is a region consisting of two separate headlands, Forlindon and Harlindon, separated by the Gulf of Lune. The last part of Beleriand still remaining in the Third Age, it is inhabited by a dwindling population of elves, and is the only place from which the Straight Road to Valinor can be taken. Due to its remoteness, the region is seldom visited by travellers, save perhaps dwarves from their holdings in the Ered Luin.
History
In the First Age, the land that would become Lindon was known as Ossiriand (the Land of Seven Rivers), in eastern Beleriand. It was little affected by most of the events and battles of that Age, being the only part of Beleriand not to be flooded after the War of Wrath. From the Second Age, Lindon was split by the Gulf of Lune, with Forlindon to the north and Harlindon to the south. Gil-galad, the High King of the Noldor, ruled from Forlond, whilst Círdan made his home at Mithlond, the Grey Havens, providing ships for elves to sail west to Valinor with, though most preferred to linger in Middle-earth for the time being. In S.A. 600, the first Númenórean ships arrived on the shores of Middle-earth, at Mithlond, where they began relations with the elves. A little later, Sauron, under the guise of Annatar, requests entrance to Lindon, but is turned back by Gil-galad and Elrond. During the War of the Elves and Sauron, many of Lindon’s inhabitants fled to Valinor, but those who remained assisted their kin in Eregion, and later joined the Last Alliance of Elves and Men. Though Sauron is defeated, Gil-galad too falls at the end of the age, leaving Círdan to rule Lindon from the Grey Havens. In the Third Age, the number of elves in Lindon continues to diminish- they support the Dúnedain kingdom of Arnor and its successor states against Angmar, assisting in the Battle of Fornost in T.A. 1975. After the fall of the northern kingdom, the elves remain isolated and few, as many make the journey to Valinor, now solely accessible from the Grey Havens.
Geography
Lindon is mainly comprised of the two regions of Forlindon and Harlindon, though the Haven of Mithlond is further eastwards along the Gulf of Lune. The two regions are of roughly equal size, and split in twain by the Gulf, both bordered by the Great Sea to the west and the Ered Luin to the east. Harlindon has a short border with Eriador at its southeasternmost extremity. Alongside the harbour at Mithlond, there are two more large havens in Forlond and Harlond respectively, these being the most populous settlements in Lindon. Other, smaller settlements also exist, clustered close to the Gulf and the sea, and many ruins of former villages can also be found. The landscape is a mixture of plains, woodland and rolling hills, which grow in elevation closer to the mountains and the northern coasts of Forlindon, as well as complex deltas and cliff formations in the Gulf of Lune.
Climate
The climate of Lindon is generally temperate, though it grows colder towards the north of the region.
Culture
The elves of Lindon are extremely isolated and self-sufficient. The elves are talented craftsmen, especially as shipwrights. Whilst Forlindon’s population is mostly of Noldor, Nandor elves are more populous in Harlindon. The elves of Lindon make occasional pilgrimages to the Elostirion and Rivendell.
Governance
Though Círdan technically rules Lindon from Mithlond, he has very little actual control over the elves of the region. The last High King, Gil-galad, died thousands of years ago.
Economy
The elves have very little in the way of an economy, as each settlement can usually make what they need themselves. What little trade they do have is likely with the dwarves of the Ered Luin.
