Chapter 60

Fallout

The Map of Harmendor will help with this chapter.

Im gur period com/gallery/jHPlDU8

~o~

The fallout took time. Harondor authorities inspected shipments going too far up the River Chelkar. Militias would spend extra time on old-fashioned line drilling. Men of the Mûmikil breeding region below Umbar were told to treat their old allies suspiciously. Several large, established trading firms in Osgiliath were instantly out-of-business and the properties auctioned off with proceeds to the crown or Principality. Righters offered anonymous ideas on who might have been naughty as well. New shadows over the Reunited Kingdom were squelched.

Not so in Harad. Hûk Tulbar consolidated his gains in Kolb Chelkar and Kas Auchel but took a beating trying to seize Bogath from the Khandians. Word reached him through Aumpough that the Gondoran enterprise was destroyed. That was a setback but he regretted losing his witch more. Eastern Harondor, called Imladrim by the Gondor, was still weak and poorly defended. Hûk Tulbar would watch it from his side of the Chelkar River for now. Their time would come. A like-minded warlord was expanding his influence on the lower side of the desert. They or their sons must join or fight someday where their destinies crossed.

~o~

It was only June. Both Barahir and his son Tyaldran brought their wives for a council about the southern border. Nag Kath was asked in for very specific details on troop formations, tactics and gear. Gondor's troops stood ready to defend Gondor, but that presumed the Swertings would conquer Harondor first, not something to be given away meanly. Advisory troops would try to whip the lazy territory into some sort of cohesion. Umbar would protect their side of the Harnen but no further east or north. There was not much time for lore but the Prince and Princess of Ithilien dined with the Kath's twice while they were there.

Nag Kath dropped by Chievon's place at least once a week for the first couple months. She was learning on her own about Minas Tirith and already knew quite a bit about money. The witch had never pilfered any of the cash that came through their organization so what Nag Kath gave her was all she had. It was quite a bit, plus a pair of small diamonds, and would keep her for years. She did not hire servants. Her clothes arrived but that was all she got from the house. Old Keprand had been poorly in the last year with a bad heart. He never left his home again. When he died three months later, his children, estranged because of his marriage to the unsuitable foreigner, quickly returned. Chievon made no claim so they forgot her. Since the only people who knew Chievon were dead or exiled, she had a fairly fresh start. Inariel hoped she would choose well when opportunity knocked.

The harvest came early followed by more intense militia training than the Kingdom had seen in many years. Tactics and formations were specific for known Southron battles. Nag Kath got Corporal Hanieru a favorable position advising the planners about how Tulbar tended to overrun a position and then fall back to loot his winnings. That might work against peasant militias but not cavalry. Horsemen practiced for that too. Nag Kath worked three of the four sessions in Minas Tirith and one in Ithilien, primarily on Orlon. Six of his great, great or three-times-great grandsons were in the call-ups. It wasn't just here. Lebennin saw dirtier soldiers trudging home after training too. Nag Kath prayed it would not come down to central Belfalas holding the line.

~o~

Now that the shadow of Southron operatives skulking across Mrs. Briel's boardinghouse was gone, the Kaths spent more time at his house. As often as not, Lady's maid Hilta came too. One sunny day, the Princess' husband took her outside and downstairs to see the first floor boasting an unimpressive collection of boxes and a large stove protected by a massive warding spell.

Her Ladyship said over-politely, "Nag, this is quite lovely. Why are we here?"

"Your birthday is soon, I have something for you."

She looked at the dusty floor joists above wondering what he was about, but had learned her Elf had a vast reserve of surprises. He stabbed at the bottom of the stove with a Klaus staff, knocking the hardening soil away from front edge. When a large patch of it came out in one piece, Nag Kath got on his knees and reached in. Inariel hoped her present wasn't a rat.

It wasn't. He removed a soiled cloth bundle and tucked it under his arm before showing her up the internal stairs to the main living space. In the bundle were two smaller bags. One he dropped on the table with the unmistakable clank of gold. He sat in his usual chair and unwrapped the second very delicately. The outer layer was the same dirty brown sackcloth. Next was a thick layer of swaddling. The inside layer was pristine white linen. Inariel sat down to watch. He carefully unwound the white bag and withdrew the Elvish hair circlet.

Nag Kath gave it to her with both hands and said "I have had this for one hundred and thirty years. I believe it is pure mithril. I found it in a wall in Orthanc and Gandalf gave it to me when I left to make my way in the world. I never told my wives because I never wanted them to feel I wished they were Elves. They were women and I loved them as such; deeply and completely. I hope you like it."

She placed it on her head. It fit beautifully. Inara ran like a child to the large mirror upstairs. She was an Elvish Princess, just like in the stories. She wished her mother could see her. Nag Kath slipped in behind her and kissed on the neck, "Happy Birthday, my dear."

~o~

Autumn folded into winter. Nag Kath and Inariel did what they usually did. Delandreth and Hastor had their Syndolan party and they saw all generations of the family often. News from Dol Amroth was good as well. Nag Kath sent several letters to the family in Dale after he left the ice cave but never heard back. That troubled him less as the years rolled by.

Being almost neighbors, they saw Chievon from time to time. She joined them for tea in January. Her Westron was improving. She made a friend who did embroidering and was about the age she looked. They went shopping occasionally. The woman had even learned how to tell a funny story. She went to the herb shop and the young lady nearly fainted. Her father came out with his sword and she was able to convince them that she was not dangerous and promised not to buy tulus. She even giggled after telling it.

Nag Kath asked, "Chievon, what powers do you have left?"

She furrowed those delicate eyebrows and said, "Confuse … make to not think is gone. Never so good as you. Still bring to me." She flexed her hand and Inariel's spoon flew across the table into her palm. "Uhm, fire is strong."

Her fellow sorcerer asked, "You use the Nieutul drug and draw through?"

"Oh no, for that you must store and send." He had been doing it backwards.

She didn't notice his bewilderment and continued, "Cats are not scared away now. That was Melkor the Morgoth?"

"Nasty brute."

Unlike many of the women in Nag Kath's past, Inariel did not have a matchmaking bone in her body. Even she wondered about Chievon's prospects. On the face of it, the woman was exquisite, dressed well and not poor – maybe a little too good looking. Inariel had never needed to fend-off unwanted attention. For Chievon; she thought setting men on fire was probably effective. Working against was; being a witch, being twice as old as she looked, concubine to a Haradrim warlord against the interests of the King with another living husband. Eligible suitors might be few and far between.

As usual, the orc in the family said something beyond outrage, "Chievon, you should get a divorce."

Impossible at her station in life, Inariel wondered why these things came out of his mouth. Chievon asked, "Do you mean sunder the union?"

"Yes, precisely."

"Why, best of sirs?"

His fourth wife was ready for that one too. He explained, "Because you are lovely and there may be men with good hearts who would like to court you but will not because you belong to another. With a public declaration that you renounce your troth to the villains, you state your availability to the right sort of gentleman."

She thought about that and said, "That makes much sense. Would I need to divorce them all?"

"Only Mantouh. I think our rules would consider that your marriages to Hûk Tulbar and Mr. Keprand were not valid."

She smiled, a habit she had lost in her servitude. "Yes, I see. How does one do such a thing?"

"I will have a gentleman contact you who arranges these matters."

"Oh, Mr. Kath. I am much appreciate!"

"My pleasure."

~o~

Walking back to his house, the astonished Quenda said, "I must hand it to you; that was a good idea. Are you worried that Harad spies will take a dim view?"

"Just the ones that can read the common-tongue. As things stand now, only the sort of man she does not need will be interested. I learned these things from the leading practitioners of their time."

That got Inariel to thinking, "Why do you think she did not have children?"

"That could be for many reasons, all good. Most men with powers are not interested in intimacy. More importantly, she was possessed by a tiny part of the darkest lord. Her body may have warded itself against bearing a child with the wrong fathers. Otherwise, we have to do this again."

Again, her husband astonished. She took him home and snuggled against a coming storm. She would try again to walk on snow. There were only a few flakes falling when Nag Kath visited the Notary to have a writ of separation filed against the husband who surrendered Chievon to his Lord. Since neither her husband nor the tyrant had good references, it shouldn't take long.

~o~

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The late snowstorm was the first of many. The Anduin would flood in spring. Nag Kath wondered if Chievon had healing powers. He might take her with him if he went to the floodplain.

Winter in the north was the time to move in the hot south. Hûk Tulbar indeed held all land from the Chelkar to Khand. Refugee traffic slowed. He was building his army the way dominant lords of those lands always had. If scanty reports were true that a like warlord along the western Harnen was bringing those lands under his banner, they would need to combine to push west or fight themselves where the rivers met at Amrûn. Umbar would watch closely.

That possibility would busy the Lords of Gondor for years. It was the first viable threat since the Ring War. There were other terrible, bloody battles in the last century but those were largely cleaning-up remnants. This was a growing enemy. Delaying them when they did made the rest of Harad consider their fortunes. Nag Kath bumped into Corporal Hanieru. He was still on staff and dressed better than a bricklayer. Daughter Hailu and her brother Vungsh were learning to read. The twice-disgraced Colonel's son resigned as soon as he arrived but was quickly snapped-up as a militia officer with no residual taint. His mother was the one with the money and whispered in the right ears.

The Anduin flooded. Fevers were mild and largely confined to the Anórien north plain. Nag Kath had a large tent erected for the ill. He asked Chievon to join him. She seemed to have no useable healing talent. That ran in the family. For several days she fetched towels and applied athelas compresses, some to men who thought their infirmity called for her extended care. It was over in ten days. Few died. The cities counted themselves fortunate. Having caused as much trouble as he could in Minas Tirith, Nag Kath thought it was time to take his bride to Dol Amroth again. They would spend the summer with the Ivandreds and the fall in Alas Forten. Inariel would have gone too but she was sick as well, no worse than the usual patient, but that wasn't Elvish. She was fine in a few days.

King Eldarion spent time with both before they left. It was no secret that the Principality of Belfalas had not maintained readiness. Forces on the water were still strong but if anything was coming from Harad, it would be a land-war since Umbar would not ally with them as they did under Sauron. Gondor had contingency plans to send ships of Marines up the Harnen for supply or combat so the Belfalas lads better know their left from their right.

Colonel-Lord Kath was created for him to discuss that with the top-heavy Dol Amroth government. One of Gondor's advantages was that with only two Kings, there were few extraneous royals with fancy uniforms. Aragorn's first priority was creating a professional army that promoted based on merit but it was primarily small, crack regiments that could move at speed. Eldarion needed to revive old-fashioned militia readiness. There were varied talents involved. The King presumed the Elf could manage the political aspects of the role as well as the fighting.

~o~

They took their horses to Lossarnach to stay a week with Milli and Gervaith. This was Gervaith's last trip on horse and would use a carriage next time. It bothered them but they had always known this would happen. She was in the same boat as her mother. Living twice as long as a spouse was not that much different than living forever. They were practical. She would survive, respect her mourning and might remarry or find a companion to share her optimism.

The woman also wanted her brother-in-law to attend her change-in-life difficulties. Anticipating that, he brought a fresh supply of herbs and remedies. This was a very personal examination and treatment. She had to disrobe and allow him to hold her abdomen and neck. No physician had ever done that. They hadn't been very effective either. With her bloodlines, she was seldom sick. The treatment helped and would be repeated in a week. The woman ordered her chambermaid to firmly remind her to take her tea and roots if she dithered. Her daughter and her family had come with them and promised to have granna Milli take her medicine.

At this time of year, the first of the mares were coming into season. Lossarnach let them wait at least a year after foaling to recover. That did not stop them from wanting to try. Stallions on the other side of the farm thought the same. It was noisy at night.

With two Ministers and their guests on the public side and Millicend's family and staff, the place seemed less lonely than if the Kaths were here alone. He wondered if the grooms would let him in the Dukks game. Milli's second healing was also effective so the day after, Nag Kath and Inariel rode to the river and hailed a ferry that could take horses.

In Pelargir, Nag Kath paid a freighter captain extra to sail the long way south around the island of Tolfalas on the way to Dol Amroth. Traveling the hundred-mile length of the island only in daylight added four days to the trip. Captain stayed as close as he could to the shore without risking known shoals. The Elf had seen the west side of the island twenty times but never the east. If Chelkar forces made it to the sea, those old pirate havens would need to be secured.

Menalgir and Halita's granddaughter Callistriana and her husband Poldarin took Caladrion's home which made them neighbors when the Kath's arrived in Dol Amroth. As always, dinners were organized. Pale wine was consumed. Groats were found. The family retained Cal's boxes at the theater now only a month away.

The couple would be at the citadel more this visit. Prince Armandor knew Eldarion had concerns about the fief's preparedness. Hereditary officers were persuaded to take their overdue retirement. New men, half without noble blood, were moved into position by the time Colonel-Lord Kath arrived to advise on training in the interior. He and different combinations of the Prince and his staff met several times to discuss getting farmers ready to fight.

~o~

Nag Kath drifted in strange currents. He was a born warrior who should have died with those like him. He lived in an age where warriors became less important and he hoped it would stay that way. A century after the peace, old enemies were rebuilding. They always had. Without magic, they could not seriously challenge men of the west. The Elf saw his job to keep it that way.

The new man in charge of Belfalas militia training was Colonel Paevon Pelandarith. PP was from Rosuldrié, one of the two large counties in the north where most of the soldiers were based. Promoted to Dol Amroth two years before, the man respectfully chafed at the leadership of old Lord Jurandor.

Belfalas did not a storied history of infantry but the north was where one found them. Imrahil traveled upriver with his knights and seven hundred foot soldiers in the Ring War, most of them from PP's home or Edhelion just north. Pelandarith paid more attention to greater Gondor than most ranking officers in Dol Amroth. Every generation they had to figure-out that Nag Kath was not as he seemed. PP knew people who met the Elf fifty years ago and that he was to be taken seriously, being the King's brother-in-law notwithstanding.

They met privately the second time. Wisely, the new militia chief asked his Lordship's opinion. Nag Kath said, "I have trained both in Gondor and Dale for long years. I confess; the sorriest soldiery I've seen is on my own property. If this business with Harad is to be taken seriously, these men need to be trained to fight so they could join with other companies under the same flag, and they have to think they can win."

Colonel PP asked, "How is your lot set for armor and weapons?"

"Weapons; fair. Armor; next to none. One hundred and eight showed in the district. I don't even know how many able-bodied men Belfalas has."

"The regular army has eighteen hundred, half of them in Rosuldrié. They are good. Four hundred are horse. You know the Marines as well as me. Militias outside of the capital; we get three thousand a year. Pushing we could raise four thousand but getting them out of those mountain valleys on time in any sort of order is like herding squirrels. Lord Kath, you have worked with more successful militias than me. What are your impressions?"

The Elf was succinct, "Make training two weeks. The first; they work on skills. The second; they go someplace and come back. Teach them how to make camp, organize their kit, not pee upstream."

PP liked the audacity but admitted, "Convincing general staff on two weeks will be hard. Maybe you can soften them up for me. Failing that, they march in the mornings and train in the afternoon somewhere other than their local public house." The soldiers talked about archers, horse, making due with local officers and signals. If men left home, they would need food. It would take years they didn't have to rebuild, but they should be doing it anyway.

Pelandarith came from a well-off family with long military ties. With the command of the militias, he was promoted from Major to Colonel which helped keep his family in the expensive city of Dol Amroth. They preferred Rosuldrié, but with a dozen senior officers put to pasture, this opportunity would not come again. The most important thing he got from Nag Kath was the conviction to tell his superiors he wanted fifty more regular army sergeants seconded to the hinterlands for backside-kicking. That was how Dale did it, and it worked.

The Catanard season was upon them. It wasn't the same without Cal, but then, it wasn't the same without dear Legorn before. New relatives and friends made their own memories to treasure. The highlight of the season was when a young man Callistriana Libron was seeing made his singing debut. It was not a featured role, but he was on the biggest stage in the musical form. Uncle Nag kept the wine coming and encouraged the younger members to visit their cousins in the capital and Emyn Arnen, or even Dale for the adventurous.

They created a system of fewer bows to Her Ladyship; once hello and once goodbye. Sometimes she would shake hands too. Royalty did that if they wanted but Elves did not use physical touch in their greetings. She let the ladies kiss her cheeks and learned to like it.

One attribute that was coming slowly was wakeful rest. She was a heavy sleeper and still needed a few hours a night. Nag Kath showed her what he did but was sure that was wrong. Inariel used to watch her mother, she thought secretly, but Arwen knew and let the little Princess enjoy. Her Elf started lying with her in his arms for his rest to see if that would transfer. She needed less regular sleep after a few months. Doing it on-her-own would be a while longer. Inara was getting stronger, but she was still quite human at times.

By the end of July, good men were in place in Dol Amroth including a new High Quartermaster with fresh Princely coppers. PP got his two weeks and his sergeants after a blunt presentation to the general staff by the King's brother-in-law. Knowing he had support, PP moved his headquarters to Rosuldrié where the bulk of the regular army was stationed beside a long and cordial relationship with Lebennin to supply them from the Gilrain River.

The Kath's left for Alas Forten a little early this summer in view of the Colonel-Lord's expanded role in defense. Majordomo Lieutenant Kouphal, formerly a crack soldier, had the same unspoken view of local militia training as his employer. In the last week of July, he, Sarn't Brittanal and Nag Kath went to Rosaldrié where PP moved his headquarters. They spent two weeks learning or relearning how the regulars trained. With Brittanal up to speed, they did not need one of the loaner-Sarn'ts for their little piece of Dudhrandir but they traveled back with several who were dropped on the way.

Nag Kath had beater swords made from the hard local wood. Local swords were a mix of old and older but most were in fair condition. They weren't supposed to kill anyone in training so beaters and blunted spears would serve until proper weapons could be hammered in the forges of the Peace.

~o~

After a fair harvest, one hundred and thirty-one men, mostly farmers, arrived a mile away from Alas Forten at the town of Forten. Nag Kath let the Lieutenant and Sarge move men around and do the organizing. He taught archery, basic swordsmanship and worked with recruits on horses. Trainees weren't worked ragged to prove a point but they had aches and pains for their duty.

The travel week was more revealing. The basic plan was a four day march around Lake Galibur, some ten miles north. These weren't parade soldiers. They didn't have to walk in step. Sarn't taught them a few songs to keep their pace consistent. Only the Lieutenant was mounted. Nag Kath walked with the rest and showed men how to pad their pack straps to not dig into their shoulders. Six men could not take the pace and were given permission to return home. The rest trudged. Nag Kath bought extra socks expecting blisters.

Who would cook, clean, dig fortified trenches and take the watch was not consistent with civilian life, on purpose. There were a few arguments. Some men had easier jobs than their employers. The second night there was a fist-fight between two farmers over a long-standing boundary dispute. Sarge rewarded them with latrine duty for the rest of the excursion. Day three was uneventful and on the fourth, they returned with some sense of camaraderie. That was the intent. Hopefully it would not be needed, but if an officer of the regular army gave an order, it had a better chance of being obeyed.

~o~

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The Kath's settled into their fall routine at the beautiful estate. They walked, practiced wakeful resting, read, wrote and painted. They enjoyed the first Coloma fruit from trees that could not have survived.

Nag Kath continued to advise on the military situation along the Harondor border. It remained the same. Imladrim was no stronger but that was because there was little reason to go there. It was a desert surrounded by mountains except for the fertile banks of two rivers flowing from the corner of Mordor to the Harnen. Tulbar could take it any time he wanted. He could not feed his army if he did. To take useable territory, he had to push south on the Chelkar River and challenge for control of the confluence of the Harnen and the Chelkar at Amrûn. Hûk Sakûn had conquered the eastern Harnen from Khand to just below Amrûn. Khanates supported by the Umbars had finally reinforced their garrisons at Amrûn maintaining trade routes from the sea to both upstart Southrons. The next war would be below Gondor. The losers were the peoples of the small states under the conquerors. No one would free them. No one would try. It might not be much different than before.

~o~

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