Bruinen or Loudwater was a river in eastern Eriador. It began
with two tributaries flowing from the western slopes of the
Misty Mountains, one of which came from the High Pass where
Goblin-town existed. The Bruinen terminated when it joined the
Mitheithel River. The southern arm of the Bruinen flowed through
the deep valley where Elrond founded the refuge of Rivendell.
The Bruinen had only one known ford, the Ford near Rivendell. At
the beginning of the War of the Ring Frodo Baggins was carried
on Glorfindel's horse towards the Ford of Bruinen, with the
Ringwraiths in hot pursuit. At the Ford Frodo, poisoned by a
deadly wound, made his stand, and defied the Lord of the Nazgûl.
This lured the Ringwraiths into the Bruinen, and Elrond and
Gandalf released a great flood, which took the form of horses
made out of water due to Gandalf's magic. This flood killed the
horses of the Ringwraiths and their physical forms, buying the
Fellowship of the Ring some time. Like most rivers in Eriador,
the Bruinen had a Westron