Upon reaching the Crossroads of the Fallen King, Thelron alighted and sat by the monument to get some rest and regain his strength. As he gazed at the red sun setting down in the west, he recalled his last conversation with his father; and it occurred to him then that it was quite strange and sad that Aldanur, a distinguished soldier, the heir of great lords, and a keeper of the medallion of the Queen of Númenor, should end his days alone and unremembered in an obscure corner of the realm.
A few minutes into his repose, he heard the sound of hoofsteps to the north and turned his head at once in that direction. A smile soon began to draw itself on his lips as he started to make out the face of the approaching rider: it was the noble elf he had met years before in Osgiliath, on the banks of Anduin. After exchanging cordial greetings, the captain asked the son of Elrond about the purpose of his journey to Gondor, and Elrohir's face at that moment turned grave. "I ride now to Emyn Arnen," he said, "to discuss with the Steward a matter of great import; for I have come upon disturbing information about that mysterious black figure who hides behind a red mask."
On hearing those words, Thelron's brow furrowed; for the image described by the elf was not unfamiliar to him. Then he remembered: it was that of the strange black rider he had seen years before during the Barkum attack on the fort at the Crossing of Poros.
"You must know of whom I speak," continued Elrohir, seeing the puzzlement in the man's face, "that enigmatic entity who is said to be working in secret to undermine the reign of King Elessar."
At that moment, a look of astonishment came over Thelron's face as a connection was made in his mind. It was now clear to him that the black rider espied at the crossing and the shadowy new enemy mentioned during the Council of Emyn Arnen were one and the same. At length he lifted his eyes and said to the elf, "I have seen him, though I knew not who he was at the time."
"You have seen the masked figure?" said Elrohir with amazement.
"Indeed," replied the captain. "He watched us from several dozen lengths away as we fought off the Barkum during the King's visit to our outpost."
"Things in the South are even more twisted than I feared," said the elf. "Perhaps you should come with me to Emyn Arnen."
They arrived at the Prince's Palace on the following morning. As the two entered the council room, they found Faramir seated at the table along with Elboron and Lord Filegaer. The newcomers soon took their places, and following that Elrohir began, "I come to this house in great disquiet; for I have reason to believe that one inside the realm is in the counsel of our dark foe."
"Perhaps," said Filegaer, "the one to whom you refer is Captain Doron, the former head of the Desert Watch, who was found to be in fact an agent of the enemy."
"Perhaps," replied Elrohir, unconvinced. After a moment he added, "May I ask what led you to conclude that the captain was a traitor?"
The nobleman assented with a nod and then said, "A few weeks ere the King set off on his journey to the South, I began to notice inconsistencies in the reports provided to me by the captain; wherefore I sent forth an envoy to summon him to Pelargir for questioning, but Doron disregarded my orders." He paused to have a drink from his cup and then continued, "Upon returning home, my emissary informed me of the construction of an enemy fortress a few miles from our border, a fact that was deliberately omitted from the captain's reports."
"I see," said Elrohir. "And did you not warn the King of the enemy's plans?"
"Unfortunately, this information reached me after the King was already come to the Crossing of Poros," said Filegaer; "but my envoy, captain Faenuir, did alert the commander of the garrison stationed there ere His Majesty's arrival."
Upon hearing the last remark, Thelron turned suddenly towards Filegaer and gazed at the nobleman for a moment with a furrowed brow. A few seconds later, ere Filegaer had finished his recount of the events that preceded the King's visit to the crossing, Thelron interrupted him abruptly, "So it was your man, and not Captain Doron's scouts as I had assumed, who informed Commander Hérion of the Barkum fortress."
Surprised and irked by the interruption, Lord Filegaer turned towards the captain with a look of contempt. "And why I ask," he said, "is this matter of such import that I should be shown so little regard by a common soldier such as yourself."
The Lamedonian gazed keenly at the nobleman for a moment, and then said sternly, "Because the report of the Barkum fortress was naught but a ruse to draw us away from the crossing ere the arrival of the King."
"I share not your conclusion," replied Filegaer; "but even if that was indeed the case, my envoy, I am certain, had no part in that ploy save that of an unwitting instrument of the enemy."
Thelron then stood up and walked towards the man from Pelargir. "Tell me Lord Filegaer," he said as he came close, "when Captain Faenuir told commander Hérion of the construction of the enemy stronghold, why did he not also reveal to him that the Barkum had moved three thousand men to the western edge of the Mountains of Shadow?"
"It is obvious," said Filegaer dismissively, "that he was unaware of their troop movements at the time."
"I find that quite unlikely, my lord," replied Thelron; "for the watchmen I came across as I rode towards the Barkum building site were well aware of this when I spoke to them, and had been so for weeks."
Filegaer remained silent, and Faramir's eyes at that moment narrowed with suspicion.
"It is my believe," continued Thelron, "that you and Faenuir were very much aware of the movements of the Southrons and kept that information from the rest of us."
"Nonsense," replied Filegaer, raising his voice. "Your beliefs and opinions are of no concern to me."
At that moment Elrohir stood up and walked towards a map on the wall which contained the area to the south of the Green Forest, and then began, "At the request of King Elessar, I journeyed east last spring to inquire about the activities of our black foe. In answer to my inquiries, the elves of East Lorién revealed to me that they were aware of contacts between members of the Traders Guild and the dark presence that inhabits the wilderness south of Eryn Lasgalen. And so, seeking to learn more about the activities of the merchants, I went to the shipmasters who bear my grandfather's folk back and forth across Anduin," At that point he paused and turned his eyes towards the nobleman from Pelargir, and then concluded, "and learned from them that one fitting Lord Filegaer's description was seen on several occasions riding with the traders east of the Great River."
As the elf finished, Filegaer struck the table with the palm of his hand. "Ah, the truth at last," he said in a loud voice. "The purpose of this meeting and the presence of the commoner at this table are clear to me now. This has been naught but a scheme to ensnare me, to use my candour against me and thus bring forth my downfall."
Faramir exhaled loudly. "Believe as you will, Lord Filegaer," he said, "for it is your wont to see evil intent behind every deed; but the report provided by the Queen's brother, along with the information and arguments put forth by Captain Thelron, make all of this highly disturbing and in need of further investigation. I shall forthwith summon Captain Faenuir as well as the new head of the Desert Watch to this house for questioning."
Filegaer sank back in his chair and for an instant looked like a man defeated, but after some time a sinister grin began to draw itself onto his countenance. "Too late have you uncovered the truth," he said. "I no doubt erred in coming hither and may now ride not hence, but my master shall see to it that our plan is carried through to its fulfilment. And in time not only will your presence in the South be over, but the days of the Northerner on the throne of Minas Tirith shall come as well to an end."
Thelron at once drew out his sword and pointed it at Filegaer's chest. "Speak what you know," he commanded.
Filegaer at first raised his eyes and looked defiantly at Thelron, but after a moment the expression on his face began to relax. At length he said, "And why should I not; doom in the South has already been cast." He then turned his dark gaze upon Faramir and continued, "Soon you shall see of what I speak, for at this very moment five thousand Barkum fighters sail towards the Mouths of Anduin to bring ruin upon your people."
Upon hearing that remark Elboron stood up, walked towards his father and told him that the fleet at Pelargir needed to be alerted of this; but ere Faramir could reply, Filegaer cut in. "I would bother not with the ships, were I you," he said, grinning darkly, "for I have made arrangements that would make it impossible for the fleet to set sail on short notice."
The prince then laid his hand on Elboron's shoulder and asked him if it would be possible for him to ride south and stop the Southrons, but the latter responded that his men were stationed far to the north to counter the threat from the Easterlings, and it would take more than a fortnight to bring them to the South. Upon hearing this, Thelron walked briskly towards the steward. "It appears we are the only ones in a position to stop the Barkum, my lord," he said. "I must make haste and ride to the crossing to inform Commander Hérion."
Faramir summoned an aide and told him to bring a few items to him, and after his servant had returned, the prince wrote something down on a piece of parchment and then handed it to Thelron. "Take this note with you," he said, "that you may be given a fresh mount at each guard post along the way. Farewell and godspeed, captain."
Upon hearing Thelron's account of the meeting in Emyn Arnen, Hérion at once ordered his captains to prepare to march. "We leave for The Hook at dawn," he said. "Thelron, Horngîl and the bulk of the men will be coming with me; Handir and two hundred infantrymen shall remain here to defend the crossing as best they can."
As the full moon neared its peak over the Harondor on the fifth night of their journey, the soldiers arrived on the eastern edge of the settlement. Hérion was told that the Barkum were now within a half day of the Hook, and the commander at once ordered all of those settlers who dwelt nigh the margin of the Poros to forsake their homes and seek shelter to the east.
In the last hour ere noontide, a large host, marching under a banner bearing the image of the Three Snakes, reached at last the edge of the settlements. Like a swift tide, their onslaught overwhelmed the Western line and forced the soldiers to give ground; and hoping to stay their advance, Hérion commanded his horsemen to follow him against the enemy's wing. To counter the Gondorian cavalry, however, Ublayr had placed several hundred pikemen on his flanks; and unable to withstand their pointed spears, the Western riders were forced to turn back at once with heavy loss.
Shortly after the ill-fated charge a messenger came to Thelron and informed him that Captain Hérion had fallen during the attack on the Barkum's flank, and the son of Aldanur in that instant felt his heart quicken; for the words of the herald meant that he was now the new commander in the field. Long had Thelron dreamt of the coming of this day, and yet, in his mind, evil were the tidings that told of his old mentor's demise. Nevertheless, the Lamedonian knew that he could dwell not on what had befallen the commander, for the hour grew late and swift action was needed.
After surveying the battlefield and seeing his men forced back relentlessly towards the settlers, he said to Horngîl, "There is but one thing left to us." Following that Thelron summoned one of his lieutenants and told him to gather the horsemen; and once these were in position, he sent forth orders directing the soldiers at the centre of his line to move aside and create a gap.
As the new commander waited for the soldiers to execute his orders, he began to ponder on the magnitude of the weight that was now upon his shoulders. He turned his eyes towards the settlers camp and gazed gravely at the young families huddled together by their makeshift tents. It was hard to believe that these people's future, their very existence, hung on the outcome of this battle. Up until this point, the burden of their guardianship had fallen to another man, but now it was his to bear; and even though he knew not a single one of the settlers, he had become their protector in that hour and would die defending them.
And what about the kingdom, he asked himself. Although a Barkum victory on that day would not critically compromise the security of the realm, it would nonetheless give Ublayr immediate control of the territories beyond the Poros; and this would in turn bring more Southron tribes to his cause, giving Gondor a strong adversary in the South and furthering the designs of their black foe. All of a sudden he found it strange that he, Thelron of Calembel, should be given so great a responsibility. Was it odd chance, he wondered, that had brought that willful young man from Lamedon to this point?
Then he recalled the words that Faramir had spoken to him so many years before: It is my belief that each of us has a part to play in this struggle, especially those in whose veins the blood of Númenor runs true. If this was indeed the case, he thought, then it was not chance which had decided that he, a common man by birth and a Dúnadan by blood, should be the one to lead the men of Gondor in that hour. This was in fact the task appointed to him in the great struggle of the Faithful, and this day would reveal to him what strength was truly in his blood.
Once the centre of the Gondorian formation was vacated, Thelron prepared to head the charge. He drew out Beldram and gazed at the magnificent blade shining in the afternoon sun, and wondered if it too had a part to play in that struggle - if it was meant to be there. Then he thought about the men who forged it, men who had not yet wholly forsaken the lore and craft of Númenor, and for an instant he could almost feel their strength in his hand. Finally, he raised his sword, spurred forth his mount and led his men into the heart of the fray.
The charge at the centre of the enemy formation quickly turned the battle into a disorganised melee. The Gondorian horsemen attempted to chase down the Barkum regular fighters, while the pike-wielding Southerners came after the mounted men. Thelron soon realised that in order to gain an advantage, the pikemen had to be destroyed; and so he dismounted, ordered a group of foot soldiers to follow him, and began to walk briskly clutching his sword in his hand.
After a short while, he caught sight of a distressing scene - the piteous figure of a bloodied soldier wavering on his knees with his head down. At length he raised his eyes to look behind the injured man, and lo! there he was: Ublayr, holding a dagger in his hand. The chieftain, noticing the presence of the Lamedonian, took a step forward, grabbed hold of the broken soldier's hair and pulled back his head. It was Horngîl!
The leader of the Barkum held Thelron's gaze for a short while; and then, ere anyone could react, with a sweeping motion slashed Horngîl's throat. The Gondorian commander stood motionless for an instant, but his fists were clenched and his eyes were as flames. Then he roared to his men, "With me!" and started walking briskly while looking straight at Ublayr with the expression of one possessed. A handful of Southerners attempted to stand in his way, but were quickly hacked down; and fear grew great in the hearts of their comrades as they beheld the figure of the grim warrior and his mighty sword. The Barkum fighters soon began to retreat hastily in the face of the fell Westerner; and at that moment, in his wrath, Thelron appeared to his men a hero of ancient lore, even as Turambar of elder days, tall and terrible.
The emboldened soldiers of Gondor ran to the side of their leader, and the southern fighters were soon pushed out of the way until at last none stood between Thelron and Ublayr. The latter threw down his sword and removed his top, and the Lamedonian in turn dropped his own blade and began to walk decidedly towards his foe. As Thelron came near, however, the chieftain jumped up in the air, spun around and kicked him in the head, knocking him to the ground. The commander nonetheless got up at once and with unabated determination continued towards his opponent. This time Ublayr got low and swept his leg across the captain's feet, causing him to fall to the ground a second time.
As Thelron lifted his gaze to his opponent, the chieftain mockingly arched his eyebrows, slid his hand across his chest and said, "You will die," as he had done several years before on the bridge at the Crossing of Poros. Then, taking advantage of the captain's vulnerable position, the Southerner quickly pulled out a hidden dagger and swung it at his rival's neck; and at that moment a grimace of raving delight twisted his countenance, as he could almost feel the blade run through the Westerner's flesh.
But the doom that lay upon the keeper of Tar-Míriel's treasure was altogether different, as has been told, and ere the chieftain's blade could reach its target, his hand was stayed. Dread soon fell on Ublayr's face as he realised with dismay that his arm was caught firmly in the other man's grasp. He strove frantically to reposition the dagger in his hand, but the pressure on his forearm caused him to drop it. Once again he tried to kick the Lamedonian, but his attempt was blocked, and he nearly fell to the ground. At last, the captain of Gondor began to rise to his feet, slowly and deliberately, as the Southerner looked on with eyes widened. And once he had raised himself to his full stature, the imposing Westerner put his right hand around the chieftain's neck and said coldly, "No, you will die."
Ublayr once more attempted to throw a kick at the captain, but the latter was expecting it; and as the Southerner raised his leg, the Lamedonian slammed him to the ground and thereupon began to apply pressure around his neck. Feeling the vice-like grip crush his throat, the chieftain hacked repeatedly at the captain's arm to no avail, and after a few seconds his body went limp. Thelron then dragged his foe whither his sword lay, picked up the blade, and with a single blow severed Ublayr's head.
The Gondorian commander lifted his gaze for a moment to look into the eyes of the enemy fighters. After that he stooped over his enemy's ruin and reached for the parted head; and grasping the raven hair, he raised it up high and cried out, "Behold your leader!" Following that he tossed the head at a handful of pikemen who stood nearby, and these immediately jumped out of the way as if afraid to touch it. And seeing the fear in their eyes, the Lamedonian then began to walk resolutely towards them with Beldram held high before him, whereupon the Southerners dropped their pikes and ran hastily away.
Thelron and his men continued to seek out the pikemen until most had been killed or put to flight, which in turn unleashed the Western horsemen, who were now able to freely isolate and destroy the enemy's regular units. As time passed, it became increasingly clear that the Gondorians had attained a decisive advantage; and as the sun began to die down in the west on that crucial day, the remaining Southrons abandoned the fight and fled south towards the desert.
The Battle of The Hook, as it came to be known, was a devastating blow to the Barkum; for it is said that not again was such strength as seen on that day gathered under the Banner of the Three Snakes. In the years that followed their survivors continued to attack merchant caravans and harass those settlers who ventured too far south; but as time passed, their numbers dwindled. And not five years after the death of Ublayr his people had disappeared and their deeds had become a distant memory.
- §§§ -
Nigh the end of the 55th year of the Fourth Age, Thelron was summoned to Minas Tirith. Upon arriving in the city, he was ordered to attend an event in the Great Hall of the Royal Palace, the very room wherein his father had witnessed long years before the last union of Eldar and Edain, ere the parting of the Wise. When he entered the chamber he was directed to a table and told to remain there until the reading of an important announcement.
Many noblemen and other people of import came into the large hall as he waited, among them the Steward of Gondor, who, to the captain's astonishment, walked straight towards his table and took a seat next to him. Moments later the heirs to the two great princedoms of the old South Kingdom, Alphros of Dol Amroth and Elboron of Ithilien, came into the hall and joined them at the table; and at that moment the Lamedonian wondered whether there had been some sort of mistake, but Faramir assured him that all was as it should be.
Many military matters were discussed at their table while they waited for the king's announcer, but after a few minutes the topic of conversation settled on the treason of Filegaer; and Alphros asked Faramir whether any progress had been made on the investigation into the nobleman's betrayal.
"It seems that Filegaer was not the first of his family to conspire against the realm," answered the prince. "From what we have been able to uncover, his grandfather was in the service of the Dark Lord and provided him vital information about our fleet at Pelargir in the years that preceded the destruction of Umbar's naval power by Ecthelion, my grandfather."
"It would seem then," said Elboron, "that his evident bitterness towards the kingdom has to do with something in his family's past."
"Indeed," replied Faramir. "On being questioned about his motives, Filegaer steadfastly maintains that he is a direct descendant of the usurper Castamir, which I suppose is possible though not very likely. And so he believes that it is he who should sit on the throne of Gondor and not the heir of Isildur from the North."
After a few more minutes had passed, the topic of discussion moved from the fallen nobleman to his mysterious master, whom they now referred to as Herumor, though no one was really certain where or how the name had first surfaced. "What have you been able to find out about him, father?" said Elboron.
"Not very much, I'm afraid," replied the prince. "It is clear by the way they describe him that he is not of the race of Men, at least not one unaltered by the dark powers. Some speculate that he is one of the Ringwraiths, who somehow escaped the destruction of the One; others surmise that he could be a dark elf unaccounted for in the records of Imladris; and others yet believe that this being may be in fact one of the two Istari who went into the East long ago."
The discussion about their mysterious new enemy extended for several more minutes that night in the Great Hall; but in the councilrooms and high chambers of the West, talk of the dark figure would continue for long years thereafter. Yet for all their ruminations and counsels, the lords of the Reunited Kingdom could check not the rise of their black foe; and much evil would come of his dark schemes in the centuries to follow. But of the one they called Herumor no more shall be said here, for of his deeds and ultimate ruin is told in another tale.
Nigh on one hour after Thelron's arrival in the Great Hall, an official came into the chamber to read the royal proclamation. He announced to all those present that in order to better protect the settlers, the territories on the southern bank of the River Poros would be made into a new barony. The region would be given the name March of Hartalf, and upon recommendation from the Steward of Gondor, King Elessar was awarding Thelron son of Aldanur lordship over the new region.
Utterly astounded and pleased was Thelron on hearing King's decision; and yet, among the pride and the joy he felt a pang, for his father had not lived to see the House of Haeron restored to a position of honour. He soon built a city on the banks of the Poros, which he named Gwestrîn, and the banners that flew above it bore the image on the medallion; and because of this, the people of the march soon began to call it 'the City of the Tower', and then simply the Tower. But of the treasure in his care he told no one save his heir.
After the founding of the city, Thelron sought to gain wisdom about his forefathers. Once a year he journeyed to Minas Tirith to study the scrolls in the Great Treasury and learn there of the deeds of the Elendili in their new home in the East. But more frequent yet were his visits with the Prince of Ithilien in Emyn Arnen, where a great friendship arose between the two men. And Faramir's heart was glad, for in the Lord of the Tower he found a kindred spirit, with whom he could discuss the lore of Gondor and the legend of that great realm that existed once beyond the sea.
The southern banks of the Poros were also transformed greatly after the founding of the city. Under the Lamedonian's lordship, part of the river was diverted to irrigate large portions of the land, bringing in many more settlers and in time turning the march into an important bastion of strength in the South. And in the centuries that followed, it is said that the Lords of the Tower came to be regarded among the most prominent captains of the realm, garnering praise for securing the south of Gondor and achieving great renown for coming to the aid of the king in times of need.
But twenty-three hundred years after the death of Thelron the city was sacked. And when its banners were burned and the last heir of Haeron cast the medallion of Míriel into the depths of the Poros, the image of Avallónë at last passed out of the memory of Men.