Arador is killed by hill-trolls north of Rivendell. Imladris loses another of her fosterlings. Lord Elrond suspects the Shadow is encroaching on his haven of peace.

Troll Autumn

Imladris, Quelle, T.A. 2930

Dear Journal

I think I am turning into a sentimental old fool of an elf. I should have learnt by now not to get too attached to those little boys who come through Imladris to be fostered to Lord Elrond. I think the other members of the household probably feel the same. Perhaps Lady Arwen is right in staying away in Lothlorien. Just caught Glorfindel sniffling in the back garden. He was always fond of Arador. He has asked Lindir to compose a fitting ballad in the memory of his late protégé.

Which brings me to the gist of this entry – Chieftain Arador of the Dunedain is no more. Poor lad had a run-in with some hill-trolls just north of the valley while on his way to winter with us. He had been travelling with two younger companions and one of them is still lying in the House of Healing with a very dire prognosis. We buried his brother at dawn. As soon as we got word from the border patrol on the incident, the twins rode out with a rescue party but it was too late. They brought back what was left of poor Arador in a bucket after they scrapped him off the cave-floor. A curse on all trolls and their ilk.

A messenger has been dispatched to the Bree where Mithrandir and Arathorn are currently staying and they should be reaching Imladris within the next few days – unless Mithrandir has hauled Arathorn off to Gondor or the Blue Mountains. Really, I know Lady Gilraen is in good hands with her naneth but she is awfully young to have her first child. Elrohir and Elladan dropped by her farmstead some weeks ago and were pleased to report she was holding up well. Still, she would definitely prefer her husband to be around for the birth.

Erestor and Elrond are highly concerned as the trolls have never ventured so close to the valley and it would seem that Arador's capture was a well-planned ambush. The twins also state that contrary to troll habits, Arador had not been devoured, unlike the animal, human and dwarf bones littering the cave would suggest was the fate of other guests the trolls brought home to their cave. Elrond believes the Shadow has a hand in this. Hill-trolls so near to Imladris and preying on one of the main highways of Eriador is a threat we must deal with swiftly. Gildor Inglorion's party has been hanging out east of the Misty Mountains for the past decade or so in Lothlorien. A fortunate thing they really took to Lady Galadriel's hospitality as I doubt any of the Merry Company could stand up to a troll.

Glorfindel is mustering a posse of stalwart elves to eradicate the nest. Elladan and Elrohir have already put their names down to ride with them once Lord Elrond agrees to the campaign. Elrond is reluctant to give his captain the go-ahead. He believes we lack the necessary numbers and will need aid from the Dunedain. Moreover, with the shorter days and the weather, we are lucking out. Only fools go troll-hunting in winter.

Arador has been buried with due honours as befit a Chieftain as we deemed it better Arathorn remembers his adar as he was in life – not as a bucket of mangled flesh and bone. At 57, he is still considered young by Eldar standards and he will need all the help he can get.

Yes, Erestor, the dentition of trolls is quite interesting. Do you mind getting that chewed-up ox femur out of my face?

Imladris, Hrive, T.A. 2930

Dear Journal

Lord Elrond is livid as his captain, sons and the new Chieftain of the Dunedain have wilfully chosen to ignore his wise counsel and ride out to slay some hill-trolls. It was fortunate Mithrandir was with them. Otherwise we might have the sad task of explaining to Lady Gilraen what happened to her husband. Chieftain Arathorn II managed to convince the Rangers of the North to send a troop of twenty men through some really inspirational speech about protecting the people of Eriador.

Some Dwarves of the Blue Mountains (who were for some reason hanging out with Mithrandir at The Prancing Pony) wanted in on the action after hearing news their caravans have been picked off by Dwarf-eating trolls. Personally, I am surprised the trolls did not choke on all those garrulous Dwarves. I hear they are still seeking their missing king Thrain II after he went missing a few centuries back. Perhaps old Thrain II was one of those piles of old bones in that troll-nest.

Heard from Glorfindel that the Dwarves and Rangers proved their mettle in battle by luring the trolls out into the open and trapping them there until sunrise. We can credit Mithrandir with that strategy, and the Valar's blessings we had a clear sunrise instead of the miserable sleet so common this time of the year. After which, the dwarves vented their anger by smashing the petrified trolls to gravel-dust. Elladan kindly brought me a sack full for use on the herb garden path. Imp. Methinks I will dump the lot at the far end of the valley into the Bruinen, lest the herb gardens be haunted by troll-ghosts.

Arathorn II has ridden home in victory to his wife and people in the company of the twins, who narrowly dodged being grounded with stable-duties until next spring. Fin is less fortunate and Elrond has sentenced him to transcribing the Annals of Gil-galad's Court into Sindarin and Westron under Erestor's supervision. I don't know why Erestor is crying – he is not the one being punished.

Author's Notes:

Arathorn II has proven himself in battle avenging his father's death, though his foster father is not amused by the foolhardy risks taken.