3432
"I am afraid;" a voice said.
"I know;" Amroth answered; "a sword can make sound even in its scabbard."
"Tell me what this is, are we in peril," she continued.
Amroth said; "we are not in peril now, but we evil in the south is growing and my father has received a request from the Noldor to help them."
Nimrodel was chocked; "help the Noldor! These were the ones who brought evil to Middle Earth!"
Amroth said; "they tried to fight another great evil. Remember the singing voice you said filled you with fear many years ago? It was the evil the Noldor tries to defeat."
Nimrodel replied; "I know of whom you speak of but fear you will become like him if arm yourself. Even when fighting a just cause you will lose your innocent."
Amroth said; "I have to follow my father; will you be here when I return?"
Nimrodel revealed herself to him; "it depends on who you when you return."
In the vale of Nanduhirion, everything was silence, as it had been for many years.
The guards at the stone of Durin was surprised to see a lonely woman approaching them.
"Who are you and what is your business here?" A guard said.
The elf stopped, she had obviously no weapons; "I am here to ss my friend Durin;" she replied
The leader of the dwarves came forward and approached Galadriel; "if you speak the truth you will know his name in our tongue"
Galadriel replied; "this I do not know, but I know the name of the Durin who came before him and the Durin before him too."
She whispered in the guard's ears
The guard quickly ran towards Khazad-dum and returned a few hours after."
"Our king is ready to meet you;" he said.
Galadriel approached the wall and the king of Khazam-dum appeared at the top.
Galadriel said; "many years ago I gave advise to your king Durin III. He was my friend. He and his ancestors followed my advice and hit their treasures deep under these mountains. Khazad-dum has been safe from the outside even since. However, the world of elves is in peril, and I have come to seek the help of the longbeards in the war ahead of us."
The king was silence for a long time; then he said; "Once we made a choice not to be part of this struggle between the east and the west. We belong to ground of Middle Earth. If I assist you I fear, we will eventually become part of this war, and it will be our end."
Galadriel then said; "if an end comes to Khazad-dum, it will not be from this place, as I promise to defend your realm with all my power. I promise this because I knew your ancestors, and where others saw only a stone hroa, I saw a heart created by Mahal in the same spirit which created us."
Durin said; "I know you can be trusted Zabad. Please stay and I shall return with my answer."
Galadriel stayed outside the wall for several days until one morning they opened.
Out came fifty armed dwarves. They did not speak save for the last one.
"Tell you master we are under his command!" He said,
The group continued alongside Kheled-Zaram and Galadriel followed them. She stopped for a moment and looked back at the gates closing. On top of the wall Durin IV stood. He raised his fist to salute the queen and she responded with the same gesture.
In Osgiliath the sky to the east was silence, there were no Nazgul to be seen under the dark clouds.
Anarion said; "how long time do you believe we have?"
Glorfindel present among the Numenoreans said; "he is waiting for you to make a mistake; he will not attack until his armies arrives."
Isildur said; "However, we will surprise him! The ships in Pelargir are ready and he is not aware that I know the southern pass into the land. I will sail to the coast close to Edhellond and ask the men of the mountains. Celeborn and the Falathim there will help us man the ships and sail for the Harnen next spring."
But before Isildur could leave Vorondome came to him.
She said; "I know you and our three sons are going to be in great danger. I cannot stop you or them in following you into war, but I can protect our youngest son. I wish to return to the north with Valandil until this is over."
Isildur was surprised; "My sons are strong and brave, and they have chosen to stand with me in this fight for our very existence."
Vorondome said; "But you cannot choose for Valandil. I dare not think of it, but should the enemy prevail, he should be safe."
To Vorondomes surprise Isildur smiled; "Then travel with Valandil. In time you will receive news of our great victory using the Palantir in Annuminas. Then your sons and I will return north and meet you and Valandil again."
However, Vorondome did not smile back. She gathered her sons and Meneldil to bid them farewell. Elendur and his brothers were in a good mood as they hugged their mother. Only Meneldil seem sad.
"I hope to see you again;" he said.
"I helped when you arrived in this world, and I promised your mother I would take care of you. You have always been like a son to me. Live Meneldil and remember you are the last person born in Numenor;" Vorondome said.
Soon Vorondome and Valandil together with a hundred followers of women and children headed for Annuminas over Angrenost.
