In An Age Before - 118
Chapter Eighty-one
Council of War, Osgiliath – The Third Age of the Sun
'Twas a dour Helluin, grim of face and sharp of eye, who joined the king's council of war upon the morrow. Beinvír had taken her leave almost immediately following their embrace the night afore, and 'naught had been heard from her since. Anor had risen but an hour ago, 'neath a spreading pall of clouds from the sea and a rising haze to the south which the breeze brought hence. Upon it had come the scent of smoke. The land upriver from Pelargir was burning, and like an approaching storm that consumes the land 'neath it with deluge and shadow, war was grinding its way north to the City of Kings. 'Twas the seventh hour of the morn of 12 Nórui, (June 12th), T.A. 1432.
The Lord Eldacar sat at the head of a long table, in a tall-columned room of high ceiling, with many-paned windows that looked down the river to the south. Attending him were the captains of the city guard and the garrison of Osgiliath. Upon his right hand sat the Noldo, and to her right, an empty chair reserved for the Green Elf. Upon his left sat Borgil¹ son ofMághin², Captain-General of the Northern Army. Beyond him were Thavron³, Lordof Emyn Arnen, and Celegúr4, Lordof Lossarnach, trusted captains of the garrison of Osgiliath. The next two upon the left were Northmen, tall riders with long, dirty blonde hair and ice blue eyes, knights and kinsmen of the royal house of Vidugavia, they were the captains of the company who had come south with their prince to be his special bodyguards when he became king. Anræd5 and Hæleþ6 were their names. The chair beyond the one reserved for Beinvír held a stocky Man of late middle age, brown haired and hazel eyed, quiet and economical of movement, soft spoken, but with a sharp and piercing glance. He had been introduced to Helluin by the king as Pengthír7 of Lebennin and had dipped his head to the Noldo, whilst touching the black Sarchram broach at his throat, then cast a questioning glance to the empty chair 'twixt them. ¹(Borgil, Betelgeuse Sindarin) ²(Mághin, Sharp Eyes = maeg(sharp) + hind(eyes) In Sindarin names, the diphthong –ae goes to –á and the final consonants –nd become –n. Sindarin) 3(Thavron, Carpenter Sindarin) 4(Celegúr, Swift One = celeg(swift) + -úr(intensive agent suff, n on adj) 5(Anræd, Resolute Old English) 6(Hæleþ, Hero Old English) 7(Pengthír, Bowman = peng(bow for shooting) + dír(man; not an adan of the 3 Houses) In Sindarin names, –d changes to –th. Sindarin)
"Thou seek Cónhal Beinvír," the king told him, having marked both his gesture of greeting and his query. "Helluin has told me she went forth some nine hours past, seeking thy Rangers 'nigh the crossing of Erui."
"Far closer than the Erui shalt she find them," Pengthír replied, "and of what has come to pass in the south I am come to inform thee, my King."
"Perhaps then 'tis with thy report that our council should begin," King Eldacar said. "Tell us what thou can of the actions in the south, I pray thee."
Pengthír nodded to the king and swept his eyes o'er the others at the table, then returned his attention to Eldacar and began.
"Upon the morn of 8 Nórui, now four days past, scouts reported an armada approaching Ethir Anduin," the Ranger Commander said. "They marked the pennant of Gondor upon each ship, and the pennant of the Lord-Captain upon the mast of the flagship. At first we thought the flotilla sailed to honor the new-crowned king, so we watched only and raised no alarm. They entered Ethir Anduin and began sailing upriver in the late afternoon of the 8th, and by the early morn of the 10th had reached Pelargir. Thither they docked and began offloading both troops and engines of siege. Greater now was our interest, for we deemed that 'twas no honor guard, but rather a strong force intent upon conquest.
The commander at Pelargir immediately dispatched riders west and north to put our people on alert. During the night of the 10th, Rangers in Pelargir o'erheard plans for an attack upon Osgiliath with the intent of seizing the crown. They also made the count of the invaders as some twenty-eight thousands from Umbar and surrounding estates 'neath the command of the Lord-Captain. My King, the Lord Castamir is a traitor.
With Pelargir occupied, we assisted to flight as many as could be of the citizens who art loyal to thee, and began escorting them north. Other Ranger companies stationed along the road 'twixt Pelargir and Osgiliath joined this exodus, and these have been reinforced with the first forces from Linhir, counting themselves some one and one-half thousands.
Upon the 11th the soldiers from Umbar began their march north and we have harried them such as we could e'er since. Late last night they took to burning such woods and fields as stood 'nigh the road for to deprive us of cover, yet the dark of night itself hid our archers and we have reduced their count thus far by perhaps one-half thousand. Knowing that with the coming morn of the 12th we would be forced to disengage and pull back somewhat, I rode with greatest haste to Osgiliath for to report these deeds to thee. Great indeed was my shock to find thy city at unawares."
The others seated 'round the table looked uncomfortable, but Eldacar met Pengthír's eyes and asked, "by thy best reckoning, whither now would the enemy be, and how soon shalt they reach Osgiliath?"
"My lord, Castamir's forces art spread in a moving column 'nigh eight miles long with its head some one hundred and thirty miles to the south. Their cavalry rides ahead of the infantry, securing their passage upon the road. So far they have not ranged more than ten miles before the marching columns. Were they to ride at greatest speed, they could reach the city by the morrow's noon at the earliest, yet the main force of their infantry shalt only come 'nigh in the evening four days hence. M'lord, though the cavalry could invest Osgiliath as early as tomorrow, I wager the assault shalt not begin in earnest 'til the 17th."
"And what of the refugees of Pelargir?" Eldacar asked.
"They have a day's lead on Castamir's infantry. 'Tis our intent to escort them north in haste, out of the battle zone, to Anórien. 'Tis as much to lessen the chance of saboteurs from entering Osgiliath, if there be any amongst them, as 'tis for the safety of the non-combatants."
The king nodded in agreement with that wisdom.
"Thou hast said that word was sent west for to muster thy Rangers. What strength of numbers has Lebennin in its service?" the king asked next.
"My king, Lebennin has itself been long at peace, and though many serve thee in various posts, far fewer art now at arms than during time of war. Still, we count some fifteen thousands as active Rangers at all times, with another eight thousands as cest e-mbarian¹." ¹(cest e-mbarian, home guard, (lit. caretakers of the homeland) cast(caretaker) Forming the plural, the internal vowel -a changes to –e before 2 consonants. en(def article, sing, the) The final nasal of the article undergoes lenition and assimilates to the initial nasal of the object. + bar(home) + iand(land) In place names, the final consonants -nd resolve to –n. Sindarin)
At a questioning glance from his king, Captain-General Borgil reported that, "some six thousand Rangers of Lebennin serve at various posts with the Northern Army, in Rhovanion, the Vale of Anduin, Anórien, Ithilien, and the southlands bordering the Ered Nimrais outside of Lebennin proper."
"So they art far flung and shan't reach the city ere the siege begins," Eldacar said.
"Such may be both a hurt and a blessing, O King," Helluin said, "for the Laiquendi, upon whose mode of warfare the Rangers art trained, fight not from within the confines of walls. Having such a count of troops free ranging at the enemy's back may prove a great distraction to their cause. At the very least it shalt sap 'aught of their strength from the assault upon the city."
"What the First Guardian says is true, m'lord," Pengthír added, "great distress the Rangers shalt bring upon our foes, and that pressure shalt increase with their numbers."
The king accepted the Ranger's words, for from his own experiences with cavalry in the north he knew well the value of roving companies and their ability to harass and inflict losses upon concentrated ranks of foes.
"Very well, Pengthír. My thanks for thy report and the efforts of thy Rangers."
The king next turned to his captains and asked after the preparedness of the city. As they began their reports, Helluin's mind wandered, for her concern was for the welfare of her beloved. Pitted against Castamir's companies of the Southern Army, the Noldo had no doubts that by her stealth Beinvír could elude capture indefinitely. After hearing Pengthír's rede, she had little doubt that the Green Elf would find the Rangers of Lebennin too. 'Twas rather the simple distress of not knowing whither her beloved stood and into what dangers she had come that left Helluin ill at ease, and so she counted the time 'til Castamir's cavalry was expected to arrive, and hoped the Green Elf would make her way back to Osgiliath ere the siege began.
Now the Green Elf had made her way from the city center, and thence by the bridge with few marking her in the night's darkness, for though she moved with speed rather than stealth, amidst the shadows of the city she drew scant attention. The same was true as she came down the causeway and through the streets of the west bank to the very gate through which she and Helluin had entered earlier the past day. Thither she found the gate closed, but the guards opened it at her request, for they had as yet no orders to secure it against any seeking to come or go. So 'twas that a half-hour after taking her leave of Helluin, she began her journey south upon the road. Need of haste now drove her and she took flight, running with light swift steps 'neath Ithil's pale light.
With the lateness of the hour and the illusion of peace, the road 'twixt Osgiliath and Minas Anor lay still and quiet. She saw none and none marked her passing. 'Nigh midnight she had covered the sixteen miles from Osgiliath's wall to the fork whither the road branched off north to Anórien. Thither she continued south, soon passing the city of Minas Anor, and making her way into Lossarnach.
A strong fortress is the Tower of the Sun, she thought, and sooner would I make a defense thither than in Osgiliath. Save perhaps for the Pinnacle of Orthanc, 'tis the strongest work of the South Kingdom. Even Isildur's Tower of the Moon in its encircling vale is less defensible…indeed twice aforetime hath it fallen. But to withstand a siege, Osgiliath is doubtless the worst of the three, approachable upon two sides by land and upon two sides by water…and with the count of numbers to defend it, I deem t'will fall. Helluin too must know this. T'will be as in Eregion with Ost-in-Edhil; a city lost again, alas.
Suddenly she stopped and slipped off the road, into the tall grass that grew alongside the riding track on the western side of the paved way. The fast beat of hooves she had sensed, approaching quickly from behind her. 'Twas only a short time ere two riders flew past her at full gallop, dark cloaks and dark horses, but bearing a pennant of the royal house of Gondor.
King Eldacar's errand riders! I pray they find the Rangers ere they meet Castamir's soldiers.
With the beat of hooves fading in the distance, the Green Elf resumed her race south upon the road, yet ere a mile had passed she slowed again her pace, finally coming to a halt, standing and listening to the night breeze that carried the whispers of leaf, stalk, and blade. She was 'nigh the elbow whither Anduin turned its course again south to skirt the Emyn Arnen upon the further shore. And now she moved to the trees that grew to the east 'twixt the road and the river, and she made her way forward amongst them with stealth. In faint, sleepy whispers they hinted at a fateful meeting.
Two furlongs ahead she came upon three Rangers of Lebennin standing in the shadows of the trees, their strung bows in their hands, but no arrows knocked. Their attention was upon the road whither the two errand riders of the king had dismounted and were speaking urgently with another five Rangers.
"Hail and well met, Rangers of Lebennin," she said softly as she walked towards them, barely to be seen even by their sharp eyes, "like yonder riders, I have sought ye in haste on behalf of the king, for war comes and ye art called again to defend your lord."
Now at her first words they turned swiftly to face her, drawing arrows from their quivers and knocking them upon their bow strings, but hearing her voice, Elven fair, they had not drawn or taken aim. In all their years as Rangers, ne'er had they been taken at unawares, yet now they had been found by one alone whom they saw bore no weapon in hand. Like a wraith she moved, utterly silent afoot, cloaked as were they, and bearing a bow o'er her shoulder. When she drew back her hood, they saw too the quiver of arrows at her back, and 'neath it, the pommels of twin fighting knives bracketing her long flowing hair.
Now when she had come to stand before them, all four of them still so silent that those upon the road had marked 'naught of their meeting, they saw she stood but to their shoulders. She was now close enough for them to mark the fugitive light in her eyes and the compelling beauty of her features, and in that moment they knew her.
As one the three Rangers bowed their heads as they reached to touch the Sarchram broaches at their throats that clasped their cloaks.
In the depths of night's shadows these Men know and honor me whilst 'neath the light of day the sergeant of Osgiliath did not.
"Hail and well met, First Guardian," the Ranger facing her most closely said, barely above a whisper. "I am Dúrhen¹. War has come again indeed, and by the oath of our forefathers we stand in defense of King Eldacar." ¹(Dúrhen, Dark Eye = dúr(dark) + hend(eye) In Sindarin names, the final consonants –nd simplify to –n Sindarin)
"Pray tell me what thou hast seen," Beinvír asked.
"Cónhal Beinvír, t'would more properly be the place of our sergeant to give thee such a report," the Ranger Dúrhen told her, "and she is now engaged upon the road with the king's messengers."
The Green Elf nodded and stood silent for a moment in thought, then drew up her hood and began walking towards the road. The three Rangers remained behind in the shadows watching.
"This should be good," Dúrhen remarked, and the other two smiled.
Now the seven upon the road saw 'naught of her as she drew 'nigh. Even the five Rangers of Lebennin marked her not, and the king's messengers were totally oblivious to her approach. Then, as if conjured from thin air 'twixt one blink and the next, she stood amongst them, and for a moment she listened only, still unnoticed.
"..their infantry has marched some sixty miles from Pelargir ere setting their camp this night," the sergeant of the Rangers told the king's messengers, "and so we expect them to come 'nigh the city upon the eve of the 17th, four days march hence."
"And what of their cavalry, Sergeant?" Beinvír asked as she drew back the hood of her cloak.
Both the Rangers and the king's messengers started, some laying their hands upon the hilts of the swords, some reaching to their quivers for arrows, all ruled by their warrior's reflexes. But the Green Elf made no moves and they stared at her in shock as they recovered from the suddenness of her appearance. Then, as had the three 'neath the trees, the five Rangers of Lebennin upon the road bowed their heads to her whilst touching the Sarchram broaches at their throats.
"Cónhal Beinvír, Lebennin stands now in posture of war and our forces muster at Linhir on behalf of the king," the sergeant reported. Then, turning to address the king's messengers, she said, "ye may tell King Eldacar that the Rangers of Lebennin art now 'neath the command of First Guardian Beinvír Laiquende, honoring the commission given her by King Anárion in time of war long ago."
"Then I deem our errand done," one of the messengers said, "and thou hast our thanks for thy tidings. We return now to Osgiliath."
The two then mounted, and after a final look at those upon the road, turned their mounts and rode for the city. When they had gone, Beinvír, with the five rangers, made their way off the road and back amongst the trees to rejoin the three waiting thither.
"Cónhal Beinvír, my name is Tálviel¹ and by thy leave I would send one of my detail to Linhir to report our meeting with the messengers of King Eldacar and how the city now stands," the sergeant said. "If 'tis thy will to come to Linhir, we have horses enough that thou may accompany our messenger thither. He can take thee by ways unknown and unmarked by Castamir's cavalry…and to answer thy earlier query, these range some ten miles ahead of their infantry as a vanguard to secure the road, but have not ridden ahead as a force alone. In this we count ourselves blessed, for in flight ahead of them art many from Pelargir who art loyal to the king." ¹(Tálviel, Cat's Foot = tál(foot) + meil(f. cat) At the partition of Sindarin names, -m changes to –v. Sindarin)
I came not to take charge of the Rangers, but for information only, Beinvír thought, to hear and to give. Yet that mission has been accomplished by the messengers of the king, and now, how best to proceed?
"Sergeant Tálviel, ere I left Osgiliath, the coming of Castamir's force was a suspicion only, and this thou hast confirmed," Beinvír said. "Tell me all thou know of the enemy, I pray thee."
Now the sergeant of the Rangers spoke of what she had seen, and her tale was much the same as what Pengthír would tell the king's council on the following morn. The Green Elf harkened to her words, and the situation was indeed as dire as what had been imagined in Osgiliath. One further thought came to her…a dark suspicion she had not had aforetime. Osgiliath is doubtless the worst of the three, approachable upon two sides by land…
"Sergeant, do Rangers keep watch upon the lands of South Ithilien, or upon the Harad Road beyond the crossing of the River Poros?"
"Nay, Cónhal Beinvír, they do not. Those serving with the king's army range north and west of Lebennin, save in time of war when we have been deployed to battle 'cross Anduin. 'Twas so when thou commanded us in Ithilien for to cordon the forces of Mordor and retake King Isildur's city. Seldom have we fought in Harondor…indeed, not since the days of Hyarmendacil."
For some time the Green Elf stood silent in thought. To oppose the present threat the Rangers have already all the tools they need. Yet another threat I suspect, and 'naught stands now to confirm or counter it. And that threat could be close to hand…indeed as close as the threat now marching north from Pelargir. Alas, my love, I cannot return to thee in Osgiliath yet.
"Sergeant Tálviel, I shalt accompany thy messenger to Linhir," Beinvír said.
Now though the horses were kept apart from the meeting place of the Rangers and the king's messengers upon the road, still, within ten minutes the beat of two horses hooves racing through the night sounded in the quiet lands of Lossarnach south of Minas Anor. In the hours of darkness they kept to the riding track beside the road, and the Crossing of Erui they came to in the last hour ere Anor's rising. Thither they met with the Ranger Commander, telling of their meeting and their need of haste. Thither also had come, but an hour earlier after marching through the night, the exhausted and brokenhearted refugees of Pelargir. Then, after quickly breaking their fast, fresh horses carried them on their way as the king's council met in Osgiliath.
Beinvír and the Ranger, who named himself Dínenon¹, and said little else save at need, rode another hour ere leaving the South Road for an unpaved track leading southwest. This they followed through the day, breaking only to water and rest the horses. So passed 12 Nórui, and the 13th as well, during whose morning they forded the Sirith, counting themselves then halfway 'twixt Minas Anor and Linhir. ¹(Dínenon, He who is silent = dínen(silent) + -on(n on adj agent suff) Sindarin)
'Twas the evening of 14 Nórui when Beinvír and Dínenon finally arrived at Linhir, which stood whither the Lebennin Road crossed the head of a long firth into which emptied the combined waters of the rivers Gilrain and Serni. Like Pelargir, Linhir was a crossroads and port, yet its access to the sea was more direct, for at Linhir a ship need sail neither a delta, nor upriver as was true of Pelargir upon Anduin.
Linhir was an ancient town. Indeed it had already been so in S.A. 1847 when it had stood upon the borders of Belfalas and the newly sovereign land of Lebennin, and Helluin and Beinvír had become First Guardians at the behest of the Lady Galadriel. Dating from that time, Linhir reflected the vision of watchful and unseen strength, and so its eighty thousand citizens dwelt behind no walls or obvious defenses. Yet unlike the fortified port of Pelargir, Linhir would ne'er be taken, nay, not even upon that dark day to come when, embattled by the Corsairs, t'would be delivered by the dead and the returning king.
Now Dínenon led Beinvír to the headquarters of the Rangers, and thither she met with the officers and captains who had gathered to marshal the defense. Yet though they would have ceded command of their forces to her, she declined and requested only a company of sixty and passage upon swift ships of shallow draught that could navigate the River Poros. And she told them of her great need of haste.
"For as in days of old, 'tis my suspicion that strength of arms from Umbar and Harad shalt travel the Harad Road, for to come against the king from the land of Ithilien."
Immediately the call had gone forth to the assembled Rangers, and Beinvír had spent two hours selecting the sixty best at stealth and shooting from amongst the four hundreds who had volunteered. With her went a lieutenant and three sergeants, and these came to the docks and boarded three swift, two-masted staysail schooners. Following the Rangers came augmented supplies for their deployment; a two-handed axe for each soldier, and from the armory, great bundles of 100 arrows, six and one-half thousand total. By midnight they had set sail and departed down the firth to the sea.
To Be Continued