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Atanatar returned to his father in Osgiliath. He asked his father to make a deal with the Longbeards.
The king said; "Pelargir was once hidden in trees, but the expansion of our people and building of our navy has changed the landscape. We need more forest to grow before felling more trees. I prioritize our defenses and homes higher than creating statues of those who are not here anymore."
Atanatar said; "But the sons of Elendil founded this realm. There are no one higher than them."
King Hyarmendacil than said; "The lords of the west were higher, but no depictions of them ever existed in Numenor. My decision is final, son."
But his son knew his time as world would come.
King Mallor of Arthedain died and was followed by his son Celepharn. The had been no quarrel with Rhudaur and the men from could travel freely on the great road. Instead Celepharn met Harion, the son of Cirion of Cardolan at the Tyrn Gorthad.
Harion said; "Tharbad has been populated with many people who do not descents from Numenor. We call them Hillmen as they come from the mouintains in the south. The Numenoreans prefer to live here now. Thorondur, my ancestor, choose this place for his burial ground as it reminded him of Emyn Uial where he grew up. As did my father and his father before him."
"This place is indeed peaceful. I trust no harm will come to this place as long as there is blood of the great Thorondur in Cardolan," Celepharn said.
"We are not as many as you," Harion said with sadness, "I fear for the survival of my line. Should we cease to exist, Arthedain is welcome to claim the Kingdom."
The blue wizards arrived in Lindon and met the other members of the white council. Both had travelled far to the east. Cirdan bid them welcome and the first meeting of the nine members of the White Council commenced.
Elrond started by telling that the friendship between Rhudaur and the two other northern kingdoms had been challenged by Rhudaur claiming Amon Sul.
However, Cirdan said; "the Palantir of Rhudaur has been moved to Amon Sul and hid there. No one have looked at it for ten years. I will watch It from Elostirion.
The dark blue wizard said, "I travelled far southeast and I saw the Strongholes of the Blakclocks and Stonefoots. They were hostile to me and did not speak kindly of the Longbeards. Their cities were destroyed by a demon of the past. The people living there claims the terror comes from the great beasts of the south, but I do not believe that, as the terror came from underground. But what eve it was it was not there, for it fears my master. And even though I do not intent to bring his wrath I will stand against any demon. The evil one who controls the beasts of the southeast is not the master of this destruction."
The light blue wizard said, "I travelled to the northeast beyond the iron mountains. There are not many people there. The say some lives under the protection of the white bear people, but the majority lives in fear of the Ice King. Once the Avari was keeper of peace in the area, but I could not find them. I found dwarves though. The Ironfists and the Stiffbears still lives to the northeast and even in the Iron Mountains, but their cities were destroyed many years ago."
The white wizard said, "I too have travelled mountains to befriend the dwarves. I found the Firebeards and the Broadbeams in the Blue mountains, close to this place. However, the once magnificent cities of Belegost and Nogrod was in ruin. I also sought friendship with the Longbeards, but they were the most reluctant of them all."
The grey wizard then said; "I have befriended the Longbeard. The lady Galadriel introduced me to them."
Galadriel smiled, but the white wizard was annoyed that it was not him, who Galadriel had introduced.
He said; "the dwarves cannot be trusted. They stay underground keeping their secrets there. If we are lucky no evil eyes will fall upon them, but I fear their greed will be their doom."
The brown wizards then added, "I did not try to befriend dwarves, but I befriended the men of the great forest where the shadow now reigns. They are strong and can become one with the forest, they will keep me informed of the evils doings there."
The White wizard then said; "the darkness under the trees of the forest is also a friend of evil, Aiwendil. There are no giant shepherds to defend the trees anymore. If there are, they hide."
The Grey wizard then said; "I befriended the Onodrim too. They do not live in the Great Greenwood, but on the other side of the river. Their leader is Fangorn and he is my friend."
Galadriel said; "The great master of trees Celeborn will prevent any Giant to attack people crossing the mountains. Tell us and we will make the journey safe. And the trolls will not live in my forest either. We will prevent the evil to cross the river."
The White wizards then raised his voice; "Dwarves became Trolls and Ents became Giants. And evil can come from the north or the south. It is to man our help should be offered. I have tried to learn the skills of the Stonepeople in the south, it will take time, but in time their knowledge will become power for us to use in our quest."
Elrond then said; "that power also came to the Dark Lord, and he used it to create what we now look for. We should be careful about what we seek."
The white wizard answered, "because the Dark Lord used this knowledge to create evil. That is not our intention."
Glorfindel and the Grey Wizard then told about the invisible people they have met many years ago. They were the halflings, that have lived unnoticed to other men, but they had become crossed the mountains."
Glorfindel said; "they call themselves for Stoors, but we do not know the origin of the word."
Elrond said; "they seems to be similar to the Harfoots living in the north."
The Grey wizard said; "I want to befriend them as well."
The white wizard commented; "what should an ability to stay unnoticed help us in our endeavor? Olorin, you are better of forgetting about them."
Olorin then answered; "maybe the ability to be difficult to find, is not a help for those who seek, but it does not prevent for those to find themselves."
However, the leader of the council did not want to discuss this new people anymore.
He ended the meeting by stating; "then seek knowledge to the north, Olorin as I shall do it in the lands to the south. You other three should search the land east of the mountains. Find the men living there and befriend and support them if there is evil present. The rest of you should return to your realm and wait until your services are needed again."
Glorfindel then said; "I have no realm, but I know what I will seek for. What I have learned from the east is that the Nine do not spread fear among men randomly but after a master plan. You have seen their traces Alatar and Pallando and so have I. The evil at Amon Lanc is one of the Nazgul. The one that once bore the same name as his master, King of the East. Khamul they called him when he was a man.
