Meduseld, also known as the Golden Hall was the great royal hall of the Kings of Rohan that stood on a terrace on the top of the hill on which Edoras, the capital city of Rohan was built.
Description
On the top of the hill broad high stairs led up from a green terrace to a wide paved terrace on which Meduseld stood. On both sides of the topmost step of the stair were seats made of stone on which guards set.
At the nothern end of Meduseld were doors on great hinges, which were locked with heavy bars. The hall was a long and wide hall with great painted carved pillars that supported its high roof, which appeared to be thatched with gold when seen from far off. A louver in the roof let in light and allowed smoke get out. There were windows high under the eaves on the eastern side of the hall. The floor of the hall was paved with a mosaic of stones in many colours that contained intertwined branching runes and strange devices. Its walls were richly decorated with woven tapestries depicting figures from the history and legends of the Rohirrim, including Eorl on his horse riding to the Battle of the Field of Celebrant. In the middle of the hall was a long hearth with a wood-fire. At the southern end of the hall three steps lep up to a raised dais with a great golden chair on which the King of Rohan sat facing the doors.
Maps
After the Éothéod had settled in Rohan, the Second King of Rohan, Brego, the son of Eorl, built Meduseld on top of the hill of Edoras. The hall was completed in T.A. 2569. During the feast that was held by Brego to hallow the newly built hall Baldor, his first son, vowed to walk the Paths of the Dead. Baldor entered the Paths of the Dead in T.A. 2570, but never returned and his father died of grief in the same year.
In T.A. 2758 the Dunlending leader, Wulf, took Edoras and Meduseld and proclaimed himself king. Helm Hammerhand's son Haleth fell defending the doors of the great hall. Wulf was eventually overthrown by Fréaláf, son of Hild, in 2759.
In the late Third Age, Meduseld was the home of King Théoden.
On 20 September T.A. 3018 the wizard Gandalf came to Meduseld and warned king Théoden that the wizard Saruman had gathered wolves and Orcs in Isengard and was planning to make an alliance with Sauron. However Théoden sent Gandalf away under the influence of his advisor Gríma who was secretly in the service of Saruman.
Gandalf came back to Meduseld with Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli on 2 March T.A. 3019 and freed Théoden from the influence of Gríma and Théoden decided to lead his forces to defend Rohan against the invading forces of Saruman.
After King Théoden died in the Battle of the Pelennor Fields his body was brought back to Edoras on 7 August T.A. 3019, where he lay until his funeral three days later. After his funeral Meduseld was decorated with beautiful hangings and filled with light and the greatest feast since the time of its construction was held in the Golden Hall.
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