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.

130. In An Age Before Chapter 130

In An Age Before – Part 130

Chapter Eighty-eight

The Return of the King – The Third Age of the Sun

Now as the histories of the South Kingdom tell, King Eldacar returned to Gondor in T.A. 1447 after ten years in exile, leading a great army against Castamir the Usurper, and a fierce battle was fought in Osgiliath. T'would be a gross understatement to claim that the Captain-Admiral was wroth to learn that a hostile army had ridden to within 20 miles of the Pelennor Wall ere they were reported. Indeed he well 'nigh frothed at the mouth. O'er the preceding week, those close to him had marked that their lord's demeanor had returned to the rampant anger and suspicion of yore, for as had been during his campaign of conquest aforetime, his sleep was disturbed and a fell voice again poisoned his rest with taunts and derision. When tidings of Eldacar's victory and approach were told, he ordered two dozens of the soldiers posted as sentries at the Pelennor Gate to be executed for dereliction of duty, slaying thus the messenger and endearing himself the less to the garrison afield upon the encircling wall.

Yet in truth the only forewarning of the invasion would have been the unlooked for appearance in Osgiliath of the entire garrison of the Wold upon 16 Lothron. The garrison captain had presented his orders and apologized profusely to the Lord Gwing, Castamir's Commander of the Northern Army, for his tardy return to the city, one day later than required. The knowledge that his commander had issued no such order was withheld from the captain, and pondered o'er by the commander. Yet since the captain had reported his post now manned by mounted scouts, (the identity of whose company was also a mystery), and the potential for invasion had long been deemed scant, no action was taken. And no word came of this incident to Captain-Admiral Castamir, for after ten years as king, his mood was well known to the nobles and counselors at court, and none dared incur his wrath save at the greatest need. Fear of their lord's anger far outweighed the commander's suspicions, and the entire matter went unmentioned thereafter lest heads roll.

Amongst the common folk of Gondor, word of the king's return spread like wildfire for several causes, not the least of which being the sudden return of many fellow citizens of the realm. Indeed for some days ere his army was seen upon the road, the gate keepers had noted an influx of travelers from Calenardhon to Osgiliath, Minas Anor, and the lands about the feet of Mindolluin. Yet these folk raised no suspicion, being but the usual farmers, tradesmen, and merchants bound for the populous markets, or to aid with work upon the family farms of Gondor in spring. Amongst these, the hundred riders passed unmarked. Through them, tidings spread to well 'nigh every disaffected citizen and dissident within the Pelennor.

Many were the angry words spoken in the common room of The Knave's Redoubt, whither the feelings birthed in a song heard the preceding spring rose within many hearts, and these feelings spread to the other low town taverns off the causeway in Osgiliath upon the night of 23 Lothron. In the fortress city of Minas Anor, similar words could be heard. At the public houses of the First Circle, whilst in the barracks of the common soldiers, whispers of discontent were spread. Rumors of the return of the king were passed, and many a man at arms now looked askance at officers from Harondor and Umbar who had been appointed o'er the past decade by the Usurper. So too were thoughts of dissent finally given voice at inns throughout the Pelennor, and when upon the night of 25 Lothron tidings were heard of the defeat of the single sortie sent forth to stop the king's march, all such rumors were confirmed. Thus, as has also in other places been told, much of the populace of Gondor stood ready to rise up in support of the returning king. In this, and especially in Minas Anor, the chosen hundred had played well their part.

With so few to oppose him beyond the encircling wall, Eldacar's army well 'nigh rode to the gate unopposed. This they reached on the morn of 26 Lothron. Though reinforced during the night, the garrison at the North Gate of the Pelennor numbered but a few hundreds, many of them furious at the execution of their comrades the preceding night upon the orders of their king. So, when they were confronted by King Eldacar, Prince Aldamir, and an o'erwhelming force, what resolve they still maintained faltered. Then Borgil son of Mághin, aforetime the king's Captain-General of the Northern Army, approached the gate, and after naming himself, ordered the soldiers thither to open it forthwith and allow passage of the king's arms.

At first no reply came from the sentries behind the parapet o'erlooking the gate, but from within the wall came shouted orders, voices raised in dissent, then a brief clash of swords followed by silence. At last an officer mounted the wall-walk and looked down upon the general. 'Twas Captain Haldad, the very same that Helluin and Beinvír had met when first entering Osgiliath fifteen years aforetime.

After but a short pause the captain called out, saying, "Lord General, I yield my post in favor of King Eldacar," and with no great sorrow he ordered the gate opened and his garrison to stand down. And now this was done straightaway.

For, as he quietly told his lieutenant, "after a decade's service 'neath Castamir I have still the same rank and the same duty, but at a more distant post, as when the true king last ruled Gondor, and rather would I serve again 'neath the son of Valacar than the cruel o'erlord from Umbar."

"So too have I the same rank and duty as I held ere the war," the lieutenant replied, "and ne'er shalt that change for the better, for we fought against the Usurper in '37. Further, were we not to surrender this gate, t'would be our own Men that slay us ere they fight for Castamir."

When the king's vanguard rode through the gate, they saw a few dozen loyalists held at swordpoint 'nigh a dozen bodies lying in the grass to the side of the road. 'Twas proof of a hastily resolved dispute regarding the captain's decision. The remainder of the garrison stood at attention upon either side of the road, and they bowed their heads as the king rode past.

Ten years aforetime, when the Captain-Admiral had brought the strength of Umbar to wrest the crown of Gondor, he had commanded fifty-two thousands at the siege of Osgiliath. Yet in the ensuing years, most of these had returned to hold the great port city and to man the ships. Pelargir too was occupied in strength by the south. Furthermore, many troops loyal to Castamir had been deployed throughout the north, for the usurper had seeded well 'nigh every command with officers and soldiers loyal to the crown. Thus, when King Eldacar returned he found, not fifty-two thousands arrayed against him in defense of the capital, but less than eight thousands manning the whole of the Pelennor, wall and fields, many hastily called thither from Minas Anor, and Osgiliath. For reasons unknown in the city, the reinforcements ordered from Minas Ithil ne'er appeared.

Still, despite the relative ease of his approach and entrance to the inner lands of Gondor, retaking the crown proved no easy task. Upon 26 Lothron a great battle was fought on the Pelennor Fields, and thither was spilt again the blood of kin in such measure as to hark back to the Fall of Osgiliath ten years aforetime. Thither fell many a valiant knight of Gondor, and many a foot soldier whose steps had brought him from the north or the south. Alike they fell, and their fëar fled beyond the Circles of Arda, coming thence to parts known only to the One, as is the doom of mortal Men. With Castamir's troops outnumbered o'er three to one, the loyalists were driven back with loss, 'cross fields and farmlands, 'til the surviving six thousands took refuge within the walls of Osgiliath and the gates of the City of Kings were shut. Yet unlike the siege a decade aforetime, no engines of destruction and no masses of Men were thrown against the walls. Instead, Eldacar's army set a cordon encircling the west bank, and thither they awaited nightfall.

In the aftermath of the battle the Lord Eldacar rode to the gate of Minas Anor, and meeting again his friends Helluin and Beinvír, received the surrender of the city. Castamir had called forth to the defense of the Pelennor those of his officers and soldiers that he trusted to support his cause, leaving behind those originally from the Northern Army. During the battle these had mutinied and locked any remaining troops loyal to Castamir in their own dungeons, and as the defeated defenders had retreated into Osgiliath, the banner of the House of Anárion was hoisted before the Citadel for a time, thither to be seen and cursed in the City of Kings.

Within that city, all was in an uproar. In a rage the Lord Admiral marshaled his Men to defend the walls. Amongst the populace were both panic and promise felt. In the fine homes of the royal quarter, noble families pondered how best to preserve their wealth and status if the city fell, whilst in the common rooms of low town taverns, many rejoiced and plotted how best to aid the return of the king.

To the throng at The Knave's Redoubt that night came four cloaked and hooded, two in mixed greens and two in the borrowed grey-green of Lebennin Rangers. Then three doffed their hoods and set aside their cloaks, and amongst the astonished folk in the common room stood two of the Elder Kindred, and one of their own, the well-known, but long absent hunter, Boromir.

Great joy there was in that reunion, for Boromir had many a friend amongst the regulars at The Knave's Redoubt. Ere the war, many had eaten of his catch, whether from snare, or trap, or arrow. Many too had shared his tales of the hunt with good humor o'er a pint. So 'twas that whilst times had been less merry, they, and the owner too, had missed his company as much as his game bag. That he had last been seen fighting when the walls of Osgiliath had fallen, but had been found not thereafter, had added his tale to the sad count of those lost to Anduin in the battle. Yet now he was come again amongst them, and with him came two whose tale was known to all. So they understood that, rather than drowning in the river, he had escaped to the north with their king, and like their king, he had returned with strong allies.

"My friends, I have missed ye sorely," Boromir said to those gathered about him. And then with a broad smile, he added, "almost as much as I have missed a long draught of our innkeeper's fine ale."

Laughter surrounded him, and for some moments all felt a return to the mirth of the old days ere the war and the occupation…something they had sorely missed, especially during the past ten years. Yet when Boromir continued, 'twas a more solemn rede that he plead.

"Friends, ye know that the king comes and his army now lies encamped outside the city. I think we all wish him to sit again upon the throne of his father."

To this a great cheer of agreement went up, and many mugs were raised.

"I know many of ye have long chaffed 'neath the yoke of Castamir's oppression, yet have dared 'naught to oppose him, for lack of strength would but turn such deeds to folly. Now your time is at hand, for now at last ye can aid in the amendment of the wrongs done upon ye," he told them. "Yet 'tis not by right my place to ask your aid for our lord's cause, for those words should come of one better."

Here Boromir turned to indicate the tall figure still hooded and cloaked, who had stood 'til now unnoticed whilst the crowd had reveled in his return. Flanked protectively by the two formidable Elvish warriors, this figure revealed himself at last, and lo, amongst the throng at The Knave's Redoubt stood Eldacar son of Valacar.

For long moments the people stood silent in shock. Ne'er aforetime had any noble set foot in their low town tavern. For long moments the Lord Eldacar returned their gaze, slowly turning from one side of the room to the other. At last he spoke.

"Men of Gondor, though Osgiliath be the City of Kings, not unlike to the ale houses of my northern kin is this house, whither a long day's labors may end with shared company and good ale, o'er a supper earned with hard and honest work. Aye, 'tis much the same hither as 'tis in the north, for in both realms my kin come together in times good and bad. And make no mistake; ye art both my kin and very proud am I for it. Brothers ye art to me, not only by blood, but more importantly, in heart and spirit.

Encamped now beyond the city walls await our brothers, thine and mine, both by blood, and in heart and spirit…the people of Calenardhon. Friends and allies of old there art too, from the north and the south. The Men of Lebennin came to Isildur and Anárion to pledge their fealty long ago. Oft tested has that league of friendship been, yet ne'er has it failed in all the years of the South Kingdom. Greatly do I esteem them, as did my sire and grandsire ere me. So too with my kin from the north. Great aid in battle they gave King Rómendacil II, and to my father they gave a princess, our late Queen Vidumavi, my mother. And so too 'tis with ye, Men of Gondor all, for false-hearted would I be to judge my friends, my allies, my kin, or my people by 'naught but the purity of their blood.

My brothers, ye know that to win the throne I must breach the walls and take the city. This I would do whilst causing the least bloodshed amongst my people. Yet first the gate must fall. To this end, rather than assail it in a siege from without as Castamir did ten years past, some shalt come amongst ye who shalt win the gate from within. If ye would aid me, then I beseech ye, give succor and aid to those I send hither. They shalt number some ten dozens, fell warriors of the Elder Kindred art they, friends and allies of old to the house of my forefathers. I would have ye keep them safe and keep them hidden for a day and no more."

In the following silence many heads nodded 'yea', for only too happy were these common folk to at last be able to do 'aught to aid in the fall of Castamir. Many had thought to stand at arms when the time came, or perhaps to engage in acts of sabotage. Hosting their lord's warriors for a day seemed a far lesser jeopardy. Amidst the twisting streets and faceless buildings of the low town, hiding ten dozens would be all too easy, for seldom enough did the Usurper's soldiers come thither, save to meet such craft as came upriver bearing suppliers from Pelargir and the Harlond. In this, the very disdain that Castamir's officers felt for the folk of the low town would be a factor in their undoing.

With the aid of the people in the low town secured, the king took his leave, and with him went Helluin and Beinvír. In stealth they passed the night-darkened streets to the wharves upon Anduin, and thither they boarded a skiff manned by two Rangers. Thus they made their way from Osgiliath unmarked by the sentries upon the wall. But Boromir the Hunter remained behind at The Knave's Redoubt amidst many happy friends, to share his tale o'er mugs of ale, and to direct the concealment of Maglor and his warriors upon the morrow.

Aboard the skiff, the two ellith held converse in silence, speaking eye to eye.

"All seems well set, meleth nín," the Green Elf said.

"Aye, the plan moves forward, yet 'tis 'aught in the details that I favor not."

"What gives thee pause, pray tell?" Beinvír asked. "Should thou not warn the king?"

"Nay, for it concerns him not. 'Tis only that we shalt be parted during the assault, and I find little comfort in the thought of thee doing battle whilst not at my side."

The Green Elf nodded in understanding. Though she doubted any within Osgiliath could harm Helluin, still, she felt the same way.

"Thy disquiet I share, meldanya, and yet I shalt be accompanied into battle by eight thousands of Rangers, each of them loath to let any harm come to a First Guardian," Beinvír said with the hint of a grin, "whilst thou shalt have for protection in battle but one thousand soldiers of Gondor, a few thousand cavalry, and one returning king."

Helluin could not help but roll her eyes, and finally she ceded the point with a grin.

"With loving humor hast thou set at ease my heart, as e'er thou hast done aforetime. I shalt trust to the Rangers and thy own prowess to safeguard thee whither I cannot."

"As I shalt trust in thee, Úlairdacil, Úrucisse Sauron¹." ¹(Úrucisse Sauron, Fearless of Sauron = ú-(neg. v. prefix ) + ruce-(v. -to fear) + -isse(f. n. on v. suff). Quenya)

Now the return of the king is told in many tales, with the fortunes of those days writ in broad strokes, for Eldacar son of Valacar did indeed reclaim the throne of his father in Osgiliath. Yet more deeds were done than later lore tells, and more renown was won by more heroes than tales recall, for the memory of Men can hold but so much t'would seem, and with the passing of the years do smaller acts of courage fade in favor of those greater, yet they art diminished not in valor. And in those days there lived still in Middle Earth those whose memories fade not with time, nor falter in the recall of even the least deed they have seen.

In the final hour ere midnight upon 27 Lothron, a company of warriors cloaked in mixed greens emerged from the waters of Anduin, and they made their way in silence from bank to path to cobbled street. 'Neath the very causeway leading to the city center, and thus hidden from any watchers upon it, they were met by one clad as a hunter, and he conveyed them by mean and twisting streets to the storeroom behind The Knave's Redoubt. Thither they were greeted with subdued rejoicing, and thence by twos or threes, took their leave with patrons from the common room.

Upon 28 Lothron, the night of the new moon when Ithil appeared not, and whilst the Lord Castamir dispatched messengers to Minas Ithil ordering well 'nigh all its forces hence as reinforcements for Osgiliath, and counted himself lucky that the Lord Eldacar moved not to attack, some few of these warriors took the measure of the gate, marking the count of its defenders and the manner of their watch. The structure and mechanics of the gate itself were already well known. Despite remaining 'nigh for many hours, they went unchallenged, for having donned the guise of common laborers, they were ignored by guards and citizens alike. Darkness had fallen, but the king's camp remained dark; a cold camp bereft of cook fire and watch fire.

At the hour of midnight a flaming arrow traced an arc from Eldacar's camp towards the City of Kings. Watchers upon the wall reported this sign and captains ordered the defenders to arms. Sentries were charged to watch the more closely the king's camp. In this way all attention was focused thither, in the wrong direction and at far too great a distance.

"The signal is given," Maglor whispered to his lieutenant, who acknowledged with a nod.

In stealth they slipped away from the wall and made their way to the storeroom of The Knave's Redoubt. Thither were gathered the Elvish company and a dozen Men led by Boromir the Hunter. 'Twas the Men who left the storeroom first, for they were to take the causeway to the city center.

"The time is 'nigh, mellyn nín," Maglor said when they were gone. "The Rangers art in position and the king awaits."

In silence they slipped out of the storeroom and into the alley, and from there, moving from shadow to shadow, they made their way swiftly from the low town to the road, and thence to the gate. Thither they waited, wrapped in their cloaks and their silence, casting their glances first to the gate, and thence to the city center. Very long that wait seemed, for though in truth t'was 'naught but the third part of an hour, still each minute seemed an Age, for they stood upon the verge of the storm.

'Twas half past midnight when the sign was seen; a rising tide of shouts came o'er Anduin from the city center. Thither a ruddy and wavering light grew amidst the grand buildings, for now flames flickered 'nigh Castamir's palace. Soon the beat of hooves at a gallop drew 'nigh as a frantic messenger spurred his steed with the greatest haste, drawing sparks from its shoes as they struck the paving stones of the causeway. He passed the hidden Eldar by but a few fathoms and marked them not, for his whole focus was centered upon the gate and the company of soldiers waiting thither, staring in horror toward the Royal Precinct.

Now the rider reined his horse to a halt and leapt from the saddle. He charged up to the captain of the gate company and shouted, "sir, the Captain-Admiral commands thee and all who may be spared to the palace for 'tis under attack!"

"Has the garrison been mustered?" The captain asked.

"Other riders have been dispatched to the barracks, captain," the rider answered 'twixt breaths belabored by his own excitement, but the captain nodded in approval. Fewer now would he need to bring from the defense of the gate.

Still, 'twas o'er a hundred soldiers that the captain called away, and they made for the city center at a double-time trot. They too passed Maglor's company without a glance, for their eyes were fixed upon the spreading fire ahead. Well down the causeway they passed a dozen ragged Men, who by their raiment they deemed 'naught but common laborers come to gawk, and so they paid them no heed.

At the gate many soldiers moved from flanking positions on the wall to replace those called away, and they were met with arrows, not from the King's army, somewhere in the darkness beyond the city's gate, but from the bailey behind, though 'twas precious moments ere they marked from whence those arrows came. From the shadows Maglor's warriors fired, cleaving still to such cover as could be had whilst moving upon the verges of the open bailey and firing with unnatural accuracy, as e'er they were wont to do. Men fell as they scrambled to the defense, still finding no sure targets, and few marked that 'twas their own archers who were the first to fall.

'Twas only after the movements of Men to the gate had ceased that the Eldar broke cover, and in unequal groups swiftly made their way to the gate and the entrances of its towers. They bore no lamps or torches, voiced no challenges, and brandished no weapons. To mortal eyes they appeared as wraiths; bands of dark figures converging from many directions, utterly silent, and moving in single files to obscure their count.

Whilst some fought to take control of the gate, others quickly slew those guarding the doors and forced the entrances to the gate towers, climbing the stairs within to the barbican that joined the towers directly o'er the gate. Thither they engaged the remaining defenders with swords, slaying them face to face, and bolting the doors from the wall walks to forestall any reinforcements. 'Nigh the end of the fight, one lit an arrow and sent it through a firing slit towards the many watchers on the dark Pelennor beyond. Even ere the last defenders fell, Elvish hands hauled upon the lines wound 'round the great pulleys to raise the portcullis that Castamir had ordered built to protect the gate from without. At the sound of its mechanism, those who had won the gate hauled away its bar and dragged open its halves.

Open now lay the way into the City of Kings. Upon the walls defenders smote in vain upon the doors of the gate towers, whilst others peered through the embrasures in the parapet, searching the distance for movement from Eldacar's camp, for many had marked the flaming arrow shot from the barbican. The gate of the city was breached and horns were sounded calling forth the troops from their barracks, yet already Men hastened from the wall walks, down the tall stairways to the courtyard, so to come upon the stealthy invaders from behind. Moments only would so few stand against their gathering numbers, and still no army charging 'cross the darkened Pelennor had any marked. The massing defenders gathered in the courtyard facing the inside of the gate with swords drawn, and prepared to slay the few foes they saw.

To Be Continued