Withywindle

The Withywindle is a significant river in J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth, notably appearing in his novel *The Return of the King*. It flows through the region of Rohan, forming the western boundary of the Fangorn Forest. The river is described as slow-moving and marshy, with deep, muddy banks. Its waters are often depicted as murky and somewhat forbidding, contributing to the wild and ancient atmosphere of the surrounding lands.

The Withywindle plays a crucial role in the narrative when Merry and Pippin, having escaped the Orcs, venture into Fangorn Forest. They are guided to the river by Treebeard, the Ent, and it serves as a meeting point and a place of relative safety for them. The river's presence reinforces the boundary between the civilized lands of Rohan and the primeval wilderness of Fangorn. Its name itself, possibly derived from "withy" (a willow branch) and "windle" (a type of basket or snare), suggests its connection to the marshy, overgrown environment.