Fornost
After all matters in this village were settled, King Elessar and Lord Elrond left the next morning. The scouts were still on their way, but were expected back for that day. The king wanted to use this time and already to cover another part of the way to Fornost. It was expected that, should no further incidents occur, they would reach their destination in a few days' march. King Elessar had also sent a messenger to Fornost to inform the mayor of his imminent arrival so that he could make the necessary preparations.
Earenis no longer stayed near the army, but explored more and more the nearer surroundings on her own. The incidents at the inn had made her suspicious and she no longer trusted only the soldiers of the king and Lord Elrond. Even when she listened to the nature around her, she could hear that there was something in the wind that was not good news.
Towards evening, when the camp was set up, the scouts returned whom the king had sent the day before. Even though they spoke to the army commanders, only a short time later the whole camp knew of the news. King Elessar had spoken of a larger orcish unit that was heading towards Fornost. In truth, it was an army of several hundred well-equipped orcs that posed a serious threat to the city. Restlessness arose in the camp, and Earenis also felt anxiety rising within himself. As a mercenary, she had often joined wandering troops of soldiers, but mostly they had been hunting scattered orc groups or bandits. Battles could not be called what she had fought there. It was quickly leaked out that they would reach Fornost before their enemy, because they were busy to fire the country, but it was also clear that she would take part in a siege.
However, Earenis wondered why nobody had done anything against the approaching enemy. The Northern Kingdom, although still under construction after it was united with Gondor under King Elessar, had enough soldiers that could have been called upon quickly enough to meet the orcs. When she watched the king that evening, Earenis noticed his concern as well, apparently he thought the same.
Something was going on here. She hated the uncertainty!
The night was short, the army commanders left early the next morning and marched long. They didn't want to waste a moment to gain enough preparation time. Slowly Earenis wondered what she was thinking, asking Lord Elrond to accompany the small army. For one thing, no one really knew how to deal with her, for she did not have a well-defined role in the well-structured Noldorin army, let alone in that of Elessar's royal army, and for another, she did not even have a solid reason for this journey. Just once again, her feeling…
In fact, they reached Fornost one day earlier than planned. The ancient city had long stood as a ruin in the wild expanse of the north after the collapse of the northern kingdom, inhabited only by the spirits of the past and bandits. Under the reign of King Elessar, it was only shortly after his coronation that, at his behest, work had begun to rebuild it, repopulate it and restore it to its former glory. Construction was still going on everywhere, but it was soon recognised that the urbanisation of the north was making good progress. Already now, the city again had numerous inhabitants, who filled the once dead stones of the city with new life.
The fact that Elessar had announced his imminent arrival meant that all the necessary arrangements had been made. Apparently the news of the unexpected orcish army from the Misty Mountains had reached the city and its inhabitants, and Earenis could quickly see that they were happy and relieved to see them here. Especially the elves, who had come with them, were admired by the people here with big eyes. Earenis herself made sure that she hid between the soldiers, so that the eyes would not be too drawn to her. But Lord Elrond and Lord Glorfindel probably attracted the greatest attention anyway, as they entered the city with the king at the head of the army on their noble steeds.
So this was Fornost, an ancient city of the Northern Kingdom. Now it remained to be seen how the further events would develop.