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When King Hyarmendacil died, the realm of Gondor had reached it largest extent. From Umbar in the south to Angrenost in the north. Hyarmendacil had travelled the country during his life and inspected its borders, but no treats were upon Gondor.

Hyarmendacil was buried in under the Doom of the Stars in Osgiliath where the other former kings of Gondor also laid.

His son Atanatar took the name Alcarin, the glorious, as he saw himself as high as even the kings of Numenor.

At the crowning he proclaimed:

"this is a time of peace for Gondor. It will be an age of magnificence over warfare."

Alcarin has two sons Narmacil and Calmacil. Like himself, his sons rarely left Osgiliath.

This year Hyarmendacil died, Narmacil was 100 years old. The new king called his eldest son to him.

"You have passed the age where all earlier princes of Gondor had married, and people wonder why this is. Your mother and I have allowed for you to seek your happiness for yourself, but apparently you have not. Is there no woman of Gondor who deserve you love?" Alcarin asked.

However, Narmacil were not interested in sharing his passions with his father. He said; "maybe there is, maybe there is not, time will tell. If it should be that I will not have children, the scepter should pass to my brother or his children. It was so for Tarannon. People tell his sacrificed his own happiness for the sake of Gondor. I will not do this. I am content with my life."

The King had to accept the decision of his son. His other son had married earlier, and his son was already 23 years old. He had other problems through.

"My wife and son spend most of their time in Tolfalas, where her family comes from. I have been lonely out capital. I do not have the heart of solitude as my brother. I have come to love another woman," he said.

The king was upset; "this is unheard of among the blood of Numenoreans. Marriage is for life. You will know your place. You may council your mother and I but you will live with your wife," the king said.

Calmacils blood ran from his face, he stammered; "there is just one problem."

In the north The Grey wizard had visited Celepharn of Arthedain. The son of the heir to the throne Celebrindor was five years old and the prince now welcome adventures with the Grey wizard. Together with a few men and the current seer of Arnor they went northeast. The landscaped changed and the hills to the north were replaces with forest.

"we now enter the realm of Rhudaur," Celebrindor said.

Shortly after they met a family travelling west.

Celebrindor introduced himself and asked to why they travelled towards Arthedain.

"Arthedain!" the father said; "This is what we seek for. We seek the protection of the king. We are of Numenoreans blood, but we had to flee Cameth Brin. The king Hendaur is dead, slain by his brother. The virtue of Ediain has gone from the city."

Celebrindor send some of his men with the family to protect them on their journey west.

He said; "I feel sad over the fate of Rhudaur. This was not the great king Earendurs intention."

The seer commented; "I see that soon the blood from him, will only remain in Arthedain. But there it will survive."

Later they spotted a second group of people in the distance. The prince shouted at them too."

The strangers looked back for a while but then continued their journey.

Celebrindor rode towards them in the snow, but to his surprise the strangers moved faster than him even though they appeared to be on foot.

The prince gave up the hunt and the others joined him.

"strange!" he said; "they seems to be able to move on top of the snow."

The Grey Wizard said; "I have hear about this people from my cousin in the words. They do not run; they just do not want our company. Like others that were once protected by the Avari, getting their friendship is not easy."

The company journeyed until they saw a mountain range in front of them.

The wizard stood still for a while and then smiled.

He said; "there is a third group of people in front of us. I have met two other tribes of them before. These seems taller and slimmer than their cousins."

Celebrindor said; "I cannot see them, you have sharp eyes, master."

The wizard said; "I want to befriend them as I befriended their kinsmen, but I will need to process alone else they will hide."

Celebrindor was surprised and about to speak, but the seer spoke first.

He said; "I know of whom you speak, this is not yet the time for the Edain to befriend them, but that time will come."

Thus, the men of Arthedain returned west, while the wizard approached the pale skinned halflings.

In the south, in the land known as the Brown land, the men of Gondor struggled to avoid the wagons to sink into the ground. Many of them had regretted the decision to pass Emyn Muil on the east as the hills seemed to continue forever.

One of them said; "this is madness. We carry wood from the south where it is sparse; to the north where there is plenty of trees. To deliver wood to those who live in stones and against the current of the river."

Another added; "yes we should empty the wagons and travel north to the Greenwood. The distance to the river where we should meet the dwarves is much shorter."

But a third man warned; "They say Greenwood has become dark. It is not safe to travel there."

However, the man seeking adventures were the most. They left a few men, including the one that had warned them, and took most of the wagons north after emptying them of wood.