In An Age Before

by Phantom Bard

Part 298 posted, in which Helluin and the Riders of Norðr-vestandóttir Bý aid the Third Marshal Haleth in Rohan's defeat of the Easterling invaders. Brutal weather, disease, and failing morale play a part. Aldburg is no sooner freed of the eastern threat when tidings come of the Dunlending's invasion from the west. OCs galore as usual.

108. In An Age Before Chapter 108

In An Age Before – Part 108

Chapter Seventy-four

The Siege of Imladris – The Third Age of the Sun

Now 'twas for many years that Helluin and Beinvír went about their own business in Eriador, having 'naught to do with the counsels of the Wise, yet upon a time a familiar ellon upon yet another in a seemingly inexhaustible line of white horses found them camping upon the Far Downs 'nigh the Great East Road. As aforetime he came clad in shining armor only partially hidden neath his cloak, with a pennant bearing the device of Imladris flying o're his steed, and a second mount in tow. Long he had sought the two ellith, and yet not for so long as when he had found them in Lindon with the Lord Círdan, for this time he had called upon the aid of the Laiquendi by announcing his errand aloud as he rode through every wood he could find. Knowing the stealth of that kindred he was hardly surprised one morning to find a note attached to the staff of his pennant, telling him to seek the two soulmates, "…north of the road whither the land drops looking towards the Emyn Beraid." The staff had been planted in the ground but a fathom from his head where he'd taken his rest, and as expected, he had seen none.

"Mae govannen, mellyn nín, Helluin a Beinvír,"¹ he said in greeting, "non meren lín rádiel."² ¹(Mae govannen, mellyn nín, Helluin a Beinvír, ver, trans. Greetings, my friends, Helluin and Beinvír, Sindarin) ²(non meren lín rádiel, ver, trans. I'm glad to have found you, Sindarin)

"Mae govannen, Elladan, noannem cin dárthiel,"³ Beinvír replied with a smile of welcome. ³(Mae govannen, Elladan, noannem cin dárthiel. ver. trans. Greetings, Elladan, we've been awaiting you. Sindarin)

"Darthathoch ben garech baur lagas?¹" Helluin asked innocently, wondering for how many months Elrond's son had sought them. ¹(Darthathoch ben garech lagas? Will you stay or have you a need of haste? Sindarin)

Indeed Elladan would have enjoyed nothing more than to pass a season or two accompanying the two ellith about the land, for Helluin he had come to idolize after a fashion and Beinvír still held his heart. Yet his duty as his father's messenger precluded such a desirable holiday and with regret he conveyed his message.

"Alas, I must decline thy generous invitation, Helluin, for my father seeks thy counsel in Imladris as soon as may be. He feels great evil now threatens the north and that the Dúnedain of Eriador stand in jeopardy." 'Twas 1 Ivanneth, (September 1st), T.A. 1356. With a sigh he concluded his rede with the expected, "I am to lead thee hence."

'Twas with regret that Helluin and Beinvír broke their camp, and mounting the horse Elladan had brought, followed the son of Elrond east. For a fortnight they rode at ease, 'nigh on 93 leagues through Arthedain upon the Great East Road to Weathertop. They passed o'er Baranduin and held their course at the crossing with the North Road that led to Fornost. Shortly thereafter they came to the dike and hedge that arched outwards from Bree Hill, where stood the town of Bree upon its western face. This ancient settlement of Men had, for the past 56 years, hosted upon its upper slopes some of the Periannath, (though more lived in the village of Staddle 'round the east side of the hill). The trio tarried not, but passed out the town's south gate and continued to follow the East Road, taking their way south of the Chetwood and the Midgewater Marshes. Yet finally, upon reaching Amon Sûl, Elladan halted them and gave them warning.

"Henceforth to Mitheithel we ride the border 'twixt Cardolan and Rhudaur," he said, "and of late has there been armed strife 'twixt them. Once 'cross the Last Bridge and through the Angle to Bruinen we ride in the land of Rhudaur without friends to the south. Be ye ware, for that land is now 'neath the dominion of Hillmen. They have no love of us, yet their chief hatred is for the Dúnedain. So far they have neither assailed, nor tried to stay our people in their travels. I do not wish us to be the first."

"Of these things we have some knowledge," Beinvír told the son of Elrond, "for my folk have marked the flight of the Periannath both east and west from the Angle some years past."

Elladan nodded, and then with a look to each elleth, spoke a few words to his horse and they went forward at a canter.

In the land of Rhudaur they met but few upon the road. These were Hillmen, simple herders mostly, who paid them little heed or gave them sullen looks, but no worse. They saw 'naught of the Dúnedain. 'Twas in the morning of their fifth day out from Weathertop that they crossed the Ford of Bruinen and passed the sentries of the Hidden Valley.

Straightaway they were ushered into the study of Elrond, unchanged to their eyes since their last visit in T.A. 1057. The Lord of the Hidden Valley appeared grim, but he rose to greet his guests and offer refreshments.

"Well met, my friends, "the Peredhel said, "I am glad that my son has found you. I have dark tidings and wish your counsel."

The two ellith nodded and gave him their attention.

"I shalt first speak of Gondor," Elrond said, "for they have of late celebrated the coronation of Minalcar son of Calmacil as their nineteenth king. He hath taken the crown as Rómendacil II. The succession was…strange. King Narmacil I, who ruled 'til 1294, was a Man whose heart was given to leisure, as was that of his father Alcarin Atanatar II ere him. So too was his brother Calmacil, a Man of little enterprise. I should say that King Narmacil's greatest, and perhaps only act of wisdom was to make his nephew Minalcar his regent. This he did in T.A. 1240, and though his brother Calmacil ruled after him, for but a scant ten years, I might add, 'twas e'er Regent Minalcar who wielded the power."

'Cross the desk from him, Helluin shook her head in disappointment and Beinvír sighed.

In both north and south do the sons of Númenor flounder upon the Hither Shores as their isles floundered upon Belegaer aforetime, the Green Elf observed silently as she looked into her lover's eyes.

And as aforetime, that floundering takes hold from the top down, Helluin replied.

As if he'd been party to their conclusions, Elrond resumed, saying, "unlike the failing wisdom of the Kings of Númenor from Tar-Atanamir to Ar-Pharazôn, Minalcar is a Man of strong character and leadership. In 1248 he led an army of Gondor north. Thither he defeated and destroyed the holdings of the Easterlings even east of the Sea of Rhûn."

"Hence the name, Rómendacil…East-Victor," Helluin observed.

"'Tis just so," Elrond agreed. "Too, he hath strengthened the alliance 'twixt Gondor and the North Men, sending hence his own son, Valacar to the court of King Vidugavia, Lord of Rhovanion."

The Peredhel eyed the two ellith 'cross his desk with a grin ere adding, "King Vidugavia's father of five generations past was none other than thy old friend, King Ërlick."

"'Tis good tidings," the Green Elf said with a smile.

Helluin nodded in agreement, relieved to hear that the peoples whose near-demise she'd wrought in their war against the Dwarves of the Emyn Angren had survived.

"They have more than survived, Helluin," Elrond said, seemingly answering her thought, "indeed they have become stanch allies of the South Kingdom of late, proving themselves trustworthy in battle, as some of their cousins had not."

T'would seem Mithrandir's foresight and trust is well placed, meldanya, the Noldo said silently to Beinvír eye to eye, and that our host is irritatingly able to perceive 'aught of our thoughts, curse his Ring. Joy he finds with such ease, I wager.

The Lord of Imladris chuckled.

"On to tidings of the north," he said, "and little joy have I found thither."

To this, Helluin groaned and Beinvír rolled her eyes.

"This summer past, Argeleb of Arthedain fell in battle with Rhudaur, and his son Arveleg now reigns. I know not how much is known amongst the Laiquendi of the state of the Dúnedain," he said, canting his head to Beinvír, "but perhaps thy folk have marked Arthedain's fortification of the Weather Hills, and thou surely saw 'aught of the realm of Rhudaur on thy journey hither."

"'Tis known that land has fallen 'neath the rule of Hillmen, and there has been battle 'twixt them and the Dúnedain," the Green Elf said, "and upon our way hither we saw 'naught of the Dúnedain in Rhudaur."

"Some years past," Elrond continued, "in the reign of Malvegil, 'twas learnt that amongst the houses of Rhudaur and Cardolan, no heir of Isildur survives. In those realms the line had failed, and so when Argeleb took the throne, he used the Ar- prefix derived from Aran¹ in his name and claimed lordship o'er all the lands that were Arnor of old. Needless to say, neither Cardolan, nor Rhudaur have honored his claim." ¹(aran, king Sindarin…this is the explanation given by Robert Foster in his "Complete Guide to Middle Earth" for the source of the Ar- prefixes in the names of the later kings of Arthedain and the Chieftains of the Dúnedain, rather than the old Númenórean prefix Ar- or Tar-, which were titles of royal ascension and always separated from the name by a hyphen. Further, the name Argeleb translates as Silver King in Sindarin: celeb(silver) with consonant mutation typical of proper nouns yields –geleb, hence Argeleb. Similarly, Arvedui translates as Last King, which he was: Ar + medui(last) with consonant mutation, -vedui. The alternate contraction of Aran in proper names is the familiar Ara-, hence, Aragorn, Impetuous King: Ara- + gorn(impetuous) which undergoes no consonant mutation. Arathorn, Stiff or Rough King: Ara- + -dorn(stiff, rough) with consonant mutation –thorn. Also, Tolkien states in Appendix A, pg 1016 of LotR that, "In the days of Argeleb son of Malvegil, since no descendants of Isildur remained in the other kingdoms…" Argeleb being the first king of Arthedain to use the Ar- prefix in his name, it is suspect that either Argeleb was not his given name, or that the end of Isildur's line in Cardolan and Rhudaur was known by Malvegil ere his son's birth, and the father named his son Argeleb in anticipation of reclaiming all Arnor. This latter logic seems unlikely. However, subsequent Kings of Arthedain and Chieftains of the Dúnedain had given names from birth including the prefix Ar- or Ara-.)

Helluin nodded in understanding. Once broken, the kingdom of Arnor would likely not be repaired save by force, and though both Arthedain and Cardolan now stood at odds with Rhudaur more oft than with each other, most oft did possession decide the rule of lands rather than the history of lineages.

"What may not be widely known is that Rhudaur is now a puppet realm," Elrond revealed, "in league with and subject to the o'erlordship of Angmar. This was revealed at the fall of Argeleb in Cerveth, (July), for amongst the Hillmen foe were Yrch, and these hailed from further north. I now believe that 'twas Angmar's hand that guided the Hillmen all along, from ere the day they seized the lordship of Rhudaur."

Helluin and Beinvír looked at the Lord of Imladris with surprise. The Laiquendi had regarded the disputes 'twixt the Dúnedain as little more than land squabbles driven by pride, for the rule of small tracts of land was of little concern to them so long as they could wander whither they will. Because no mortal Man could even see, much less stay a Green Elf who did not wish to be seen, they had abstained from involving themselves. 'Twas simply not their concern, and what little they had heard of Angmar amounted to 'naught but rumors from beyond the borders of Eriador. And so they had given such battles as they'd learnt of a wide berth, much as a sane Man would avoid a dog fight in a neighbor's yard. Thus, they had not encountered the Yrch, whom they would have shot at first sight and on principle.

"'Tis the Weather Hills which shalt be contested next," Elrond said, "that being the frontier of Arthedain. Having taken Rhudaur, Angmar seeks to expand further its influence, and in doing so, further the destruction of the North Kingdom."

"Taking the Weather Hills would give Angmar both a conquest and a buffer upon their frontier, for they would then hold high ground upon Arthedain's eastern border and control the East Road…and they would be in good position to assail Amon Sûl," Helluin said, reading the strategic importance of such a campaign. Yet she had some doubts.

"Aye," Elrond agreed, "and though I know not as yet for sure who rules in Angmar, the list of those who can wield dominion o'er both the Yrch and the Hillmen is short. Evil I sense in the north, and it acts in concert with the evil in the east, for the greater goals art the same…the downfall of the Dúnedain."

For several moments the three sat silent as Helluin and Beinvír digested the Lord Elrond's tidings. Little doubt had the Noldo as to who had ordered the attack.

"The Great Enemy sees an opportunity in the disunity of the Dúnedain of the north," Helluin said, "and he presses the advantage with good timing. 'Tis one of his Nazgûl who rules in Angmar, I wager."

"One of the three kingdoms has already fallen," Beinvír noted, "and mayhaps Sauron saw in the failing of Elendil's line in Rhudaur and Cardolan some sign that the time to assail them had come…the more so whilst Gondor is strong."

"The timing would suggest 'twas just so," Helluin agreed. "Perhaps the Weather Hills shalt indeed be the next land assailed, but for now t'will be a tactic only…the real objective being Amon Sûl, its palantír, and the realm of Cardolan which is comparatively weak."

"Aye," the Green Elf said, "and with Cardolan fallen, the enemy shalt have isolated western Eriador and could thereafter turn to Arthedain whilst blocking the land routes of aid from Gondor."

"And I should not be surprised if he deigned to assail Imladris ere attacking Cardolan," Helluin added, "for the Enemy shalt not have forgotten those who dwell hither, nor such aid as once came against his host of old. Nay, he shalt not suffer such foes unfought at his back."

"T'would close the High Pass," Beinvír agreed, "and he could then occupy Eregion, for few now live in that land."

"Should Angmar take Hollin, t'would close the Redhorn Pass o'er Caradhras and the West Gate of Khazad-dûm as well. He could then threaten the entire eastern frontier of Cardolan, drawing off defenders from the north. 'Tis how I would prosecute the campaign," Helluin said, "and I would do so as soon as may be, ere my purposes were guessed and aid could come…indeed ere this year's campaigning season ends, if possible."

'Cross his desk, the Peredhel regarded them with a grim expression and then reclined in his chair to cast his gaze at the ceiling. Given some information and a moment's pause, they had confirmed his suspicions. Only the order of the assaults had given him pause; Helluin saw no question of assailing Imladris first and Cardolan second, and on her timetable the assault would come soon. He shook his head…'twas already 20 Ivanneth, (September 20th) and the year had grown late for warring.

"My Lord Elrond, we must take our leave," Helluin said, "for knowing now 'aught of the danger to come, there art those in Eriador we must warn."

The Peredhel looked to the dark Noldo. Beside her, the Green Elf was nodding in agreement.

"I understand, my friends," Elrond said, though he had hoped to enlist their aid, and to Beinvír he added, "warn thy people that war is soon to come again to their lands."

Five days later, and just southeast of the Bruinen in what had once been the northern-most marches of Eregion, (and therefore not within the borders of Rhudaur), four sat 'round a trench fire holding counsel and speaking softly in the manner of the Laiquendi. In the darkness past the glow of the embers another dozen kept watch, though no hint of them could be seen.

"'Twas reported three days past that irregular companies of Hillmen numbering some two and one half thousands art now marching east, using tracks to the north of the road," Tórferedir's lieutenant, Gwilolrán, said.

"They seek to remain unmarked," Helluin noted with a nod.

"Worse, scouts marked parties of Yrch, perhaps a thousand total, descending from the Hithaeglir north of the High Pass," the General of the Laiquendi said. "An assault upon Imladris indeed seems likely as soon as month's end."

'Twas 25 Ivanneth, (September 25th).

"Five days…will we be ready?" Beinvír asked.

"We will be ready," Tórferedir grimly replied, "and the more who come, the quicker the enemy will fall, but fear not. They will fall, whether in a day, or a week, or a year."

The old general then glanced 'cross the fire at Helluin, silently brooding in her dark armor as she inspected her sword. She worries and rightly so, for Imladris can muster barely five hundred warriors, he thought.

"Truth be told, I knew not what to think at first when I heard that flaming arrows were seen arcing west from here five nights past." The barest hint of a grin shaped his lips. "Long it hath been since thou marked our alarm signal ere the army massed for our battle in Lindon."

It had been 'nigh on 2,800 years since the War of the Elves and Sauron.

"I could only hope there were some at hand to mark it," the dark Noldo replied, "and very glad am I that there were."

"Since Argeleb's fall our scouts have kept a watch upon the borders of Rhudaur," Tórferedir told her, "and one of them passed the signal on thinking it from another scout further afield. We came at once, but now word has been sent for more to join us three days hence."

"So whilst the enemy seeks to attack by surprise, they themselves shalt be taken in ambush," Gwilolrán said.

In the sixth hour past noon on 28 Ivanneth, Tórferedir stood and spoke, seemingly to an empty landscape.

"We march north now for the Ford of Bruinen. Let none mark thy passage. Slay any of evil kind met by day or night. The fewer who live to see the dawn of en erui Narbeleth, (the first of October), the fewer there shalt be to carry out the attack upon Imladris. Remember for whom we fight and the debt we honor, though the years have grown very long."

Beside him Helluin rose, her cloak drawn aside to reveal her black armor as she drew Anguirél. Holding the black sword of Gondolin aloft, for once she spoke in a normal voice.

"Úanno díhenas! Er connas. Beltho huiniath!¹" ¹(Show no mercy! One order. Kill 'em all! Sindarin)

In the next moment she saw again that illusion of a landscape coming to life as the barren ground of northern Hollin showed that subtle motion of the Laiquendi breaking stealth to begin their march. 'Twas not so many as had once left after Dálindir's first appearance in Ossiriand before the Host of Maedhros and Maglor, nor so many as she and Beinvír had found at the muster 'nigh the Emyn Uial in S.A. 1695. Her best guess made their count in the mid-hundreds. T'would be enough.

Upon the morn of 1 Narbeleth, the rising sun lit the tops of the red stone walls that rose to the surrounding high moors, whilst in the depths of the valley through which the waters of the Bruinen flowed, shadows lingered 'neath the trees. For the past 24 hours, parties of Laiquendi archers had hunted, shooting all such foes as they encountered. Now a swath of dead littered the valley floor and the moors above for a distance of some two leagues out from the ford, but the defensive perimeter had been drawing inwards to that point as the hours passed. Best reckoning put the count of the dead at no less than the third part of the invaders, but 'twas no sure tally of that tale, for as usual, no great battles had been fought, just many isolated skirmishes after which companies of Yrch or Hillmen went missing.

O'er the past few days the regular sentries of Imladris had been replaced by companies of Noldor, and upon this morn, joining them were mounted knights in full armor, mirror polished and glittering with gemstones, 'neath colorful pennants, and armed with spear, sword and shield. At their head sat the Lord Elrond with the Lord Glorfindel at his right hand, and such others as had lived in the Blessed Realm gathered behind. The fore hooves of his white horse were planted at the verge of the path leading into Imladris and just shy of the bank of the Bruinen.

In the first hour past dawn they heard fighting in the woods 'cross the water; guttural screams of Men in pain and the blood chilling war cries of the Yrch.

"Ready thyselves, for Angmar is 'nigh and the onslaught at hand," the Peredhel warned as he drew his sword. "We charge at the first sight of them. They will not cross the water and no foot shalt they set upon the ground of the Hidden Valley. Remember those behind us that we protect."

'Round him the knights of Imladris leveled their spears or drew their swords, preparing to launch their mounts 'cross the shallow water to fall upon their foes with bitter steel. They waited on their lord's command…and waited, and waited.

From the woods 'cross the Bruinen the screams and shrieks of the enemy continued, slowly but surely drawing nearer. The hands of the defenders tightened on their weapons, for it seemed that at any moment a horde of invaders would charge down the opposite bank and into the river, and yet the minutes passed and Anor climbed higher.

Yet finally the enemy was seen at last. With a blood-curdling screech, a lone Orch, who seemed to be more in panicked flight than charging to attack, raced down the slope to the far bank of the Bruinen, and there with a thud, pitched forward face-first into the flowing waters, an arrow quivering in his back.

The knights of Imladris calmed their mounts and braced anew for the coming attack, yet 'twas only moments ere they marked the silence of the woods. No longer did battle cries or the screams of the dying rend the peace of the valley. After the tension of the hours of waiting for battle, now a confounding silence prevailed. Soon a gentle breeze fluttered the leaves of the surrounding trees, and they became aware again of the sound of running water.

"'Tis some trick of the enemy, I deem," a knight offered, "some gambit to draw us out."

But the Lord of Imladris, who saw deeper than others, relaxed and took a deep and cleansing breath. The silence felt wholesome at last, as though a storm had passed, rather than the continued anticipation of a trap baited and lying ahead in the dark. For now the danger was gone, and this land he knew so well after all the long years felt to be at peace once again. He barely needed the prescience of his Ring. And so to the surprise of his knights, the Lord of Imladris sheathed his sword and held up a hand to stay any from following. Then he nudged his mount forward and slowly walked into the Bruinen. At mid-stream he halted and waited.

For some moments all was still upon the further bank, but then, in the span of a blink, or 'twixt one heartbeat and the next, a single figure seemed to appear from the foliage beside the path to the ford. 'Twas as if he materialized from 'naught but air and sunlight and the motions of the leaves in the breeze.

Thither stood a tall ellon, clad in mixed greens, cloak, tunic, and pants, and shod in tall boots. O'er his shoulder he bore a bow and a quiver of arrows. A long knife was sheathed at his belt. To the astonishment of the waiting Noldor, the Lord of Imladris dismounted, and then standing knee-deep in the running waters of the Bruinen, bowed to the ellon.

"Mae govannen, Elrond Peredhel," the ellon said in a clear voice that carried surprisingly for its volume. "Long it hath been since last we met, son of Elwing and Eärendil the Blessed, yet memory is longer. We have not forgotten the valor of thy ancestors 'neath Varda's stars and in the days when the sun and moon were young. Still thou hast our service at need in memory of them."

And as he had once done long ago by firelight in the forest of Ossiriand, in the blink of an eye he was gone and no trace of his passing could any mark.

Now when the Lord Elrond rejoined his knights upon the hither bank, they were for the most part stunned to silence, but the Lord Glorfindel came to him and asked, by what enchantment had the speaker come and gone such that none had seen from whence he came or whither he went.

"Consider thyself fortunate indeed, my friend," the Peredhel said quietly, "for thou hast seen Dálindir son of Denethor, King of the Laiquendi. Save for Beinvír, he is the only Green Elf I have e'er seen, and that but once and long ago, in the company of Maedhros and Maglor and Helluin…and my brother." Then composing himself, he ordered scouts to survey the surrounding lands, "for I believe they shalt find no living enemy, and that we have been delivered by the grace of unseen bows."

Thus ended the failed siege of Imladris by the Witch King of Angmar in T.A. 1356, of which there is but bare mention in the histories and well 'nigh no details. Of the enemy, not a single one came e'er back to Rhudaur, or to their warrens in the Hithaeglir. Amongst the Yrch 'twas whispered that whatsoe'er fell spirits that once visited terror upon their host long ago in Sauron's service, they still walked these lands and would e'er be the bane of their folk. In Rhudaur the Hillmen picked a new captain for the coming war against Cardolan, for the one who'd commanded their companies against Imladris had vanished without a trace. In the north, Tindomul gave thanks for the remoteness of Carn Dûm as he endured the derision and chastisement of his master after reporting his failure. Then he gave thought to the further prosecution of the war.

In the Hidden Valley the bells rang and the knights and warriors stood down, whilst the people of Imladris celebrated their deliverance from the expected siege. The scouts returned in the evening and reported that indeed the enemy lay slain on the moors and in the woods, and none living could be found. And though 'twas little enough to be told, already songs were being composed in the Hall of Fire, and that night a feast of thanksgiving was held.

Later, sitting alone in his study with a glass of wine, the Lord of Imladris revisited a scene from his youth, in the forested lands of Ossiriand 'nigh the end of the First Age, for memory is indeed longer than the fleeting years.

"All my people honor thee, sons of Elwing, daughter of Dior, son of Lúthien, daughter of Elu Thingol and Melian the Blessed. Long did thy ancestors in Doriath hold back the evil. Lúthien the Fair and Beren son of Barahir lived amongst us on Tol Galen, and we were honored by their presence. Thou hast our service at need in memory of them."

And finally he whispered, "Elros, my brother, I miss thee still."

To be Continued