Elessar

This man… he is different; mysterious.

He is a man who would lead armies to battle,

whom men would follow to whatever end.

He reminds me of… a sword.

Not just any sword.

A sword fit for kings.

A sword like Andúril.

See him in your mind's eye:

Kingly, long, broad-hilted.

The smooth pommel, curved to fit under the hand,

to slide in and rest as if it were merely

an extension

of the hand that now holds it.

The hand grip, wrapped in dark, time-worn leather,

sleek and supple

bound with hair-thin silver wire

too elegant, too strong to be made by mortal Men.

The graceful bloodchannel, carved, flowing down

the deadly length of this yet beautiful weapon,

to the delicate, glittering tip.

He is made for killing, for slaughter,

bred to rejoice with the black blood

dripping down the noble blade, soaking the dark leather even darker,

steaming in the dust as it drips from the delicate, glittering

tip.

The runes traced on its gleaming, silver-red blade are not

those of lesser Men.

They are mystical, powerful, potent

hiding a strength of savage will and might

its heritage of nobility shining through,

from Númenor.

It is a keen blade,

a slender edge of sharpened death

honed to perfection for the slaughter

polished to flash like the dark burning eyes

behind its intricate patterns of mind-dazzling light.

There is no flaw in this sword.

The sword flickers in the grey twilight

the blade reflects the white stars of an age gone by long ago

the runes sing a song of victory

of inheritance claimed at long last and the promise

of a future king come into his own.

This sword is the sword of kings.

Andúril.

Flame of the West.