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Glorfindel and the five men from Gondor rode fast towards the forest. The plain slowly became forest as the trees and bushes grow ever closer, but the horses did seem to find their way, and stepped on the ground without getting any injuries.
The trees became higher and stood closers to each other of Glorfindel ordered all to stop.
"We cannot ask more of these magnificent creatures," from now on we continue on foot.
One of the men from Gondor said, "Should we no return these horses to Vidugavia. He was kind enough to lend them to us?"
Glorfindel said; "these are the Mearas. I saw them in Numenor, and the Faithfuls brought them here. Once these horses were given to man of Middle Earth by the Earl of Andunie and the Middle Men have kept their blood pure ever since."
Another man said, "but should one of us not ride with the horses to ensure they find their way back?"
Glorfindel answered; "they will find their way back themselves. They moved freely in Numenor but did still recognize their home and would remain faithful to their owner."
Thu,s the men let the horses go and continued on foot. The horses disappeared into the night of the east, and they all stayed together. Glorfindel and the men turned around and walked towards the forest.
After a while, one of the men said; "The forest seems dark, and hostile towards us.
However, Glorfindel said; "I do not fear the darkness, I have stood against the strongest of enemies, even the demon of fire when he wanted to destroy what I oved."
The men found courage in words of Glorfindel and followed the elf into the thick forest.
One of the men said; "we all want to tell others, that we do not fear anything, not even death, but I have heard men, who had said that, scream in fear before they were killed."
Another added, "and there are things to be more frightened of, more than death."
Their commander then said; "fear comes to all, as do courage. The elf lord did not say he was without fear. He just said darkness was not one of them. Fear is infectious, but so is courage, and over fear and courage is honor and the will to protect them we love. I will follow this elf into the darkness, and I hope you will do so, too"
And all the men rode into the forest after Glorfindel.
When Minalcar returned to Gondor, he was received as a hero by the King. King Narmacil recalled the history when mounted men from the north had helped Elendil at the battle of Dagorlad.
He welcomed Minalcar in front of the king house attended by many people.
Minalcar said; "we have found friends, like when Earendur did when he landed on the shores of Gondor before the dark lord was defeated."
Narmacil was insecure on how to react, he said; "then let us make friends, where friendships can be made."
Minalcar then said, "with the king's permission I wish to send my son north to learn the ways of the people of Vidugavia."
The King said, "I support this idea."
The people cheered as raised his hand to celebrate Minalcar.
However, when the king and his brother were alone with Minalcar, the king asked, "what about the construction we promised our father to finish?"
Minalcar answered, "I will attend to this. But first I need to build defenses to secure our eastern borders. I have ordered some of my men to construct a Gondorean stronghole below the northern slopes of Ered Lithui, where the passage into Mordor over the mountains is possible. We need a place where our armies can take refuge for both winter and enemies. Valacar will visit this construction when he travels north.
His father then asked, "and what about the Argonath?"
Minalcar said, "I will attend to this project, when I have secured our borders."
Glorfindel and the five men slowly moved into the forest towards the west.
When they slept, they took turns watching over the others.
One night they were all woken when their watchman scream.
Glorfindel fired an arrow into the forest as the men from Gondor attended to their friend.
"A spider," the man said, "it surprised me and stung me."
The other men at first were released as they had feared a much larger enemy. However, when they saw what the arrow of Glorfindel had hit, fear struck them. The dead spider's body was as big as a large plate and its tentacles were as long as a human arm.
"We cannot go any further," Glorfindel said, "there will be many of these between us and the naked hill."
The men created a stretcher of wood and started to find their way back. Glorfindel attended to the wounds of the man who was stung, but no Athelas grew in the forest and before they reached the eastern fringe. The man had died.
The buried the man and continued their journey to the construction site at Argonath. There were only a dozen men on the eastern border and the construction had not progressed in several years. Glorfindel left the men and crossed the river.
At the same time Valacar came to the eastern fort. The people from Gondor had received help from the Northmen and the building had progressed much. Valacar was well received by the Northmen there and he was eager to learn their language.
He was surprised to seek the Northmen suing women to help with the construction. They carried the huge logs and lifted them into the deep gutter they had dug. Valacar felt he too had to help, and he joined the workers there, earning the respect of both Gondoreans and Northmen.
At one point he tripped when carrying a log. He feared the other people would lose grip of the log and it would fall upon him, but a young woman quickly took his place and the workers placed the log in the gutter.
"You are strong as a man," Valacar said to the woman. The woman did not look like the women of Gondor. She was neither tall nor thin, but her smile warmed Valacar as she addressed him.
"I am Vidumavi, daughter of Vidugavia," she said.
Valacar was surprised, he said, "I am ..."
"I know who you are," Vidumavi said.