The Ford of Bruinen, also known as the Ford of Loudwater and the Ford of Rivendell, was the crossing of the Bruinen River on the Great East Road leading to the path to Rivendell. Its waters were under the power of Elrond.
On 20 October T.A. 3018 Aragorn and Glorfindel led the hobbits (with Frodo riding Glorfindel's horse, Asfaloth) towards the Ford. Suddenly the Nazgûl came down upon them and Glorfindel ordered his horse to flee. Asfaloth galloped madly ahead and just cleared the black horses that tried to cut off the escape. Frodo and his mount made it across the river where Frodo defied the Riders. Laughing, the Riders entered the Ford to capture Frodo but a sudden flash flood swept them away.
In the house of Elrond, Frodo learned that his friends had lit flaming brands and rushed at the Riders when the flood appeared, which maddened their horses and caused them to plunge into the raging waters. Stating that Elrond had caused the waters to rise, Gandalf could not resist mentioning that he added the horse-shapes to the flooding waters.
In 3019 Gandalf and the Travellers again crossed the Ford on 6 October, when Frodo felt a return of the pain from his stab-wound.
