River Erui

The easternmost and shortest of the many rivers that flowed out of the White Mountains and across Gondor's southern lands. Erui's springs lay in the mountains above Lossarnach, some twenty miles westward of Minas Tirith. From there it flowed nearly southward across Lebennin for approximately sixty miles until it emptied into Anduin upstream from the harbour city of Pelargir.

As it passed through Lebennin, about halfway along its course, the river was crossed by the road between two of Gondor's most important cities. This was the road from the port of Pelargir, which met the river at the place known as the Crossings of Erui before continuing on to Minas Tirith, some forty miles to the north. It's not recorded whether the river was crossed by a bridge or a ford, but given the importance of this route, it seems likely that there was a bridge at the Crossings.

Erui and its Crossings played a part in history when, in III 1447, the usurper Castamir attempted to escape across the river. Castamir had seized the throne of Gondor ten years earlier, forcing the rightful King Eldacar to flee into exile. Eldacar built support and returned, driving Castamir from Minas Anor and pursuing him along the road to Pelargir. It was at the Crossings of Erui that Eldacar caught Castamir and his followers, and in the Battle that followed Eldacar was victorious and the Usurper was slain. Castamir's sons, however, were able to escape along the road to Pelargir, and eventually to sail away and establish themselves at distant Umbar.