In An Age Before – Part 137
Chapter Ninety-two
The Fallen Realm of Rhudaur – The Third Age of the Sun
Now after passing through a densely wooded mile 'nigh the road, Leginbór chose a footpath leading south-southeast. 'Twas easy enough to lead the horses and they made good time. In the fourth hour past noon the ground grew flatter as the steep and forested hills failed, to be replaced by an irregularly rolling terrain 'neath grass and copses of short trees, reminding all of northern Cardolan. Thither they remounted and rode, making better time thereafter. Following another hour's travel, the path grew into a dirt road, rutted from the passage of wagons o'er many years, and they began to see estates with orchards and fields 'neath cultivation. So the journey continued into the next day when, having come a total of some fifteen leagues, in the early evening they espied, upon a low hill amongst the trees lining the bank of a stream, a moderate sized town of many houses, with mill and warf upon the water.
"Welcome to Celenhár,¹" Leginbór said as they drew 'nigh. ¹(Celenhár, Riverside = celen(river) + haer(side) The diphthong –ae simplifies to –á in proper nouns. Sindarin)
A creative gem of a name indeed for a town beside a river, Helluin thought whilst acknowledging Leginbór's welcome with a nod.
A town with its back to a river and neither palisade nor dike, Beinvír said silently to Helluin after catching her eye.
Safety and stability they have, t'would seem, Helluin replied.
And a short memory of the dangers but recently past, Beinvír added.
Or perhaps a death wish, Helluin guessed.
People in the fields alongside the road waved to the returning company, and a farmer called out a greeting from his cart as he rode past. All seemed at peace.
"Celenhár is but two leagues from the Loudwater upon a tributary we call Idethol¹, whose mouth lies midway 'twixt the Ford in the north and Hollin Ridge to the south," Leginbór told them. ¹(Idethol, Sparkling Stream = ido-(sparkle) + -eth(gerund v suff, sparkling) + old(stream) Final consonants –ld are simplified to –l in proper nouns. Sindarin)
"Many generations of our folk have called Celenhár home," Rachdan said. "My own kin have lived hither at least five generations; since the time of King Aldor and his son, King Elagost, last Dúnedain lord of Rhudaur."
"Your home was untouched even in the wars with Angmar?" Lainiel asked.
"Aye, we were spared," Leginbór said, "though the tales art strange. In late Ivanneth of 1356, Orcs and Men in the service of Angmar were reported approaching, but they ne'er came 'nigh. Our ancestors armed themselves as best they could and in fear awaited the onslaught, yet the first to come hither were soldiers of Rhudaur. They praised our archers, for they had passed many foes slain by arrows, yet our hunters were few."
Late Ivanneth, Helluin said silently to Beinvír. Could it be that in those days, as the Laiquendi moved to join our muster and foil the assault on Imladris, or perhaps whilst returning from it, they slew such a count of enemies that Celenhár was spared?
No Green Elf would suffer an Orch to live, yet my people spent but a few days crossing Rhudaur into Eregion. If I saw but one arrowhead from those fallen foes, I would know for sure. What a coincidence of timing t'would have been!
"Your folk were fortunate indeed," Lainiel said, "for ere their defeat in Arthedain such foes wrought great loss to Cardolan in 1409."
"And as your people did in the years that followed, we yearn to reclaim our lands too," Rachdan said.
"Though perhaps not all, especially in the further north, for our people have become few," Leginbór added.
"Still, many hither came originally from beyond the Great East Road, for some families of those soldiers who came in 1356 recalled Celenhár and led more hither in 1409, and they remained, being loath to serve what Rhudaur had become, and having then nowhere else to go."
"Aye," Rachdan agreed, "and thy grandfather was a sergeant amongst them."
"Indeed so," Leginbór said. "He hailed from Lad Ivren¹, a fair vale 'nigh the Hoarwell, some ten leagues north of the Last Bridge, but 'tis all burnt now and none live thither." ¹(Lad Ivren, Fruitful Valley = lad(valley) + ivren(fruitful) Adjective follows noun. Sindarin)
Having neither gate nor wall, the boundary of the town was not set save perhaps by the uphill incline upon which it stood, yet when the road into town crossed a broader street at a market square, the soldiers peeled off to their billet whilst Leginbór led his three guests to the hall of their lord.
The hall was just that, a large building of two tall stories, founded upon a waist-high wall of field stone, half-timbered above with wattle and a pale daub, and roofed with wooden shingles o'er sturdy beams. Stout double doors led to an antechamber, which in turn opened onto a rectangular space of some five fathoms in width by ten in length. A shallow dais rising to mid-thigh height had been built at the further end, with four steps running its full width before it. Flanking the dais were doors leading presumably to smaller rooms beyond and a staircase to the upper story.
Helluin and Beinvír noted the exposed ceiling beams spanning the full width of the hall without support posts. They had not seen trees of such size since shortly after leaving the Great East Road. 'Neath their feet were floorboards worn smooth by many years of use. The walls above the stonework were plastered on the interior, and thither a few tapestries hung, depicting most notably, a map of Eriador showing the Dúnedain kingdoms, the Last Bridge o'er the Mitheithel bearing heavy traffic, the Hithaeglir showing the three peaks of Khazad-dûm, and an unfamiliar walled city with a tower and keep from which flew the red banner of Rhudaur with its stylized elk in gold.
A much larger version of that same banner backed the dais whither a seat of carved wood was set, and upon which the Lord of Celenhár awaited them. He was a Man dark-haired and tall, though a bit shorter and stockier than a Dúnadan. They guessed him to be but a score and ten years of age. As 'twas the custom of Dúnedain lords, he rose to greet his guests. When they stood a fathom from the bottom step of the dais the four bowed to the lord and then Leginbór introduced them, thankful for having pursued their lore.
"My Lord Galor¹, son of Galion, son of Tuior, here come to our aid art Helluin Tarelda², Beinvír Laiquende, and the Lady Lainiel, Heiress of the House of Baragund." ¹(galor, grower = galo-(grow) + -or(n on v agent suff, lit. grower, vern. farmer) Sindarin) ²(tarelda, high elf(Amanya) Quenya)
A slight widening of the lord's eyes followed the last title, and he bowed to the lady as one noble to another of higher station, seemingly recognizing the name of her house.
"Greetings and welcome to Celenhár, Helluin, Beinvír, and Lady Lainiel," he said. "Since our soldiers met ye upon the road we have dared hope for your aid, for we art hard pressed in our labor to retake our lands. The simple folk of a modest town art we, and yet our modesty and simplicity art from Age to Age."
"Our lord and many families of Celenhár trace their lines back to the most ancient of such lore as we still have," Leginbór told them.
Helluin was imagining dusty ledgers in the town hall recounting landholdings of the past few centuries, but the lord cast his glance to the ceiling and told them, "the rooms above us house an archive, o'erseen by our master of lore. The earliest histories recount the founding of Celenhár in the aftermath of a great war. Settlers returned from the west of Eriador whither their sires had fled from armies of Orcs. These familiar lands were again fair and empty, and hither they stopped, for they honored still the old prohibition regarding those lands 'cross the river. All else aforetime is recorded as the legends of those first townsmen."
The two ellith were silent. If what Lord Galor said was true, then the modest town of Celenhár had been settled by returning refugees in the generation following the War of the Elves and Sauron, when the Elvish realm of Eregion 'cross Bruinen had been laid waste. The town could trace back its founding to the early 1700s of the Second Age, some 3,200 years aforetime. It predated the realms of the Númenóreans and was only slightly younger than Imladris. But the people had no doubt lost their earlier histories and records when Sauron's armies o'erran Eriador, and who could know how far back those accounts had told. 'Twas a most profound revelation.
"Lord Galor, know thou 'aught of such earlier legends?" Lainiel asked.
"Our loremaster could tell thee more, m'lady, yet 'tis believed that in the most ancient times, our people followed their chieftain o'er the Misty Mountains, and in these lands they were sundered, some continuing west o'er the Blue Mountains whilst we remained hither. 'Twas said that past the Blue Mountains lay only horror and war, and many returned to Eriador after."
"True is thy lore, Lord Galor," the Noldo told him, "for some thousands of thy people followed o'er the Ered Luin into Beleriand the chieftain Balan, known after as Bëor. By then war had raged for o'er three centuries 'twixt my people and Morgoth, the First Enemy, and great renown was won after by the sons of Balan's house. But some also rejected what they had found thither, and many returned to Eriador 'neath Bereg son of Baranor, and later other chieftains too. My lord, I am honestly amazed to find thou recall so long a history, for these events art of the First Age of the Sun and came to pass but three centuries after the return of my people from the Immortal West."
"We know that much has been lost, for we have not such details" the lord said, "yet much has been preserved, for Celenhár is small and far from any strong city, and so it hath endured, o'erlooked whilst greater realms rose and fell. Time passes, but history seems to pass us by. For this we art thankful."
"Why then would thou seek to reclaim the lands of the Dúnedain realm of Rhudaur which came after?" Beinvír asked.
"Because ere the coming of the kings from o'er the sea, all these lands were settled by our people, not just Celenhár in its quiet corner. The Men of Eriador accepted the rule of the Dúnedain, for they were mighty and noble, and of old they had aided in driving back the evil. Some said that from afar they were also kin. The Hillmen too art kin, yet we shan't abide the tenancy of the minions of Angmar, for we deem that realm was akin to those who drove us from our homes and slaughtered so many of our people long ago."
They saw the fire in the eyes of the Lord Galor, tall and dark of hair, and though master of but a small backwater town, in him Helluin was reminded of the strength of Men in the Elder Days as much as the Hillmen of later times.
"Again thy suspicions art correct, Lord, for Angmar was governed by Tindomul, Lord of the Nazgûl and chief servant of Sauron, whose armies afflicted thy people aforetime," Helluin told him.
"Long history we have with them both," Beinvír added, "and I too accept not that these lands be sullied by the servants of Angmar, for just as have thy people, so too have my own long called Eriador home."
"Our aid thou shalt have, Lord Galor, and we shalt train thy soldiers as we did the Rangers of Cardolan and the Rangers of Lebennin long aforetime, schooling them in the stealth, bowcraft, and woodscraft of my beloved's people," the Noldo pledged.
"Ye have my thanks, and the thanks of all my people," the Lord Galor said, "and I pray that with your instruction we shalt free our ancestral lands and live in peace."
"We believe thy people shalt be able to preserve themselves whilst the realms 'round them rise and fall, for so it hath been with my folk through three Ages of this world," Beinvír said. "Whensoe'er thou can muster a company of thy soldiers hither, we shalt instruct them, and they their comrades in turn, 'til all Men at arms in the service of Rhudaur art trained."
Now on the third day after, that being 8 Cerveth, 1472, the training began with three dozens, eager volunteers all, including Leginbór, Rachdan, and Cánégin who was returned from other duties. These three they named captains, for they were those first met upon the road, and from whose petition all else came to pass. 'Twas at first unexpected that the Lord Galor joined the company, but he would not be gainsaid, telling the two ellith that, "I am no high lord to take my ease in a lavish chamber, or rule from a guarded keep. Ere my father passed and his office came to me, he too took sword in hand, and though I am Lord of Celenhár, as a Ranger of Rhudaur I shalt be a common Man at arms 'neath my captains, lieutenants, and sergeants."
To honor his noble and selfless intent the two ellith bowed, whilst Lainiel regarded him with heightened respect, and Helluin told him softly, "neither title nor office do either of us hold, for we art both of common birth amongst our peoples."
And with a chuckle, Leginbór said to them, "our lord has in his name his family's legacy, for his sires were farmers, the growers of wheat and barley mostly."
Then Helluin, Beinvír and Lainiel spoke as if to each volunteer alone, casting their eyes upon each in turn, and all harkened.
"Thou wear the uniform of a soldier of Rhudaur, but such art not suited to the style of warfare we shalt teach," the Green Elf said, "for a Ranger must move unmarked, blending into such as surrounds him, and confounding the eyes of his foes. In raiment of mixed greens shalt thou clothe thyself."
"Thou need not a uniform, for thou shalt not fight in massed formations and need not know comrade from foe by his colors," Helluin told them.
"When thou hast learnt the stealth of a Ranger, any thou see in battle shalt be thy foe, for thy comrades thou shalt not see," Beinvír explained.
"Though we bear swords and daggers, the primary weapon is the bow," Lainiel said. "'Tis not our choice to close with an enemy or match blades, for we art the hunters of our foes. To stalk and to slay, this thou shalt do unmarked."
"Now all adornments of metal must be veiled such that no reflection or sound shalt they make that could give thee away, for just as thou shalt not be seen, so too thou shalt not be heard," Beinvír said.
To say the recruits were enthusiastic would fall far short of the mark. Two days later every one of the Rangers in training had contrived to outfit himself in tunic, trousers, and a cloak of mixed greens. They did off their jewelry, whilst sword and knife pommels and cross-guards they deadened with wrappings of suede or leather. By 18 Cerveth each had a bow and a quiver of arrows, whilst in the town, bowyers and fletchers worked dawn 'til dusk. Thereafter each trained with his own bow rather than sharing those few gleaned from the local hunters, and their skill at archery improved rapidly.
Though the bow was the primary weapon of a Ranger, 'twas customary for each to carry two secondary weapons, a sword and a dagger, for closer combat could not always be avoided. Alas, decent blades of sword length were few in that rural community, and the only smith in town made mostly implements for farming, hinges and latches for doors, or fittings for wagons and the like. 'Twas a far cry from the furnaces and smithy of Narvi in Khazad-dûm, but Helluin deemed his forge sufficient, and calling upon skills learnt from Aulë and his Maiar long aforetime in the Blessed Realm, she undertook to fabricate blades of war. For three weeks she labored, teaching her skills to the smith. With he and his apprentices to wield the hammers, stoke the furnace, and pump the bellows, the Noldo was able to forge three swords a day. Men of the town dug ore and cooked charcoal, whilst others ground the blades to final shape. The sharpeners of kitchen knives and axes now tested their skills honing longer edges. Workers in wood made grips and carved scabbards, and workers in leather wrapped them and made belts from which to hang them.
During that time, Beinvír and Lainiel drilled the volunteers daily in archery and in woodscraft. Their eyes they trained to sharpness, seeking amongst the details of their surroundings for clues of their enemy's passing. Reading the signs of the land and the behavior of animals and birds became as second nature. How to find shelter and sustenance in the wild they were taught. The trench fire and the making of 'aught needed for a camp from what lay at hand enhanced the skills they had learnt aforetime whilst living a rural life. To their own herb lore the Green Elf added what came of her people and her travels with Helluin. The month of Urui opened and the lessons continued with the skills of patience; to wait and watch for days if need be, and to know when and where to strike.
Upon 12 Urui the volunteers came to the training field at dawn as was their habit, yet they saw their teachers not. An hour they waited, and then a dog-cart slowly approached, drawn by a sleepy, aging pony, and driven by one of the apprentices from the town smithy. When it came 'nigh they saw that it held swords and daggers enough to arm all those without weapons of their own, and these were distributed to the great joy of the aspiring Rangers. Now they bid the apprentice well as he turned the cart back toward the town, and they took to examining their new weapons. 'Twas only then that they were surprised to find their teachers standing amongst them.
"Today thou begin thy essay of the skills of stealth," Beinvír told them.
"None amongst ye marked our approach whilst distracted by the cart and weapons," Lainiel said, "and were we foes, we could have slain ye one and all."
"In the wild one at least shalt keep watch if the rest art engaged, for many a battle has been lost when enemies flanked the fight," Helluin said. "'Tis through the wiles of encirclement, ambush, and distraction that a few may o'ercome many, and all these depend upon stealth. 'Tis how ye shalt recover your lands."
Through the remainder of Urui and into Ivanneth the lessons in stealth continued, and the volunteers learnt how to use light and shadow to conceal movement, how to present an unrecognizable silhouette, how to appear or disappear in a moment of distraction, and how to stay undetected in various terrains. They were taught how to disguise their footsteps, how to cover their tracks, and how to use water, herbs, or dung to mask their scent. Wind and breeze they became aware of, and approaching from downwind as do the hunters of beasts became their habit.
In the afternoon of 14 Ivanneth the lessons were interrupted when Beinvír and Helluin stood aside and announced to the volunteers that they were being hunted. Lainiel and the Men of Rhudaur searched their surroundings and saw none. Then they realized that in the moments of their distraction, the two ellith had vanished.
A short time later, from the tall grass but two fathoms away, the teachers hauled Celegon and two other Rangers of Cardolan upright. These had covered themselves with cut grass and had advanced slowly through the field, carefully moving so that the grass attached to their cloaks swayed with the growing grass blown by a slight breeze. Returning to their students, Helluin made the introductions.
"Hither art Celegon, Meglivorn¹, and Úruivab², Rangers of Cardolan," she told the volunteers. ¹(Meglivorn, Black Bear Sindarin) ²(Úruivab, Fiery Hand = úr(fire) + -ui(adj on n suff, fiery) + mab(hand) –m becomes –v at the partition in Sindarin names. Sindarin)
"Mae govannen, mildir nín," she said to the newcomers, whilst subtly winking to them. "Pray tell, what word from your lord?"
"Our Lord Húngan returned from Fornost with the blessing of King Araphor to proceed with the plan, and sent this company to aid the Men of Rhudaur," Celegon reported.
"Ware! Ye art hunted still!" Lainiel cried out.
Immediately the volunteers encircled their teachers and the three Rangers of Cardolan as they had been taught, dropping to one knee and facing outward to search all quarters, whilst Lainiel kept watch on those within the circle. Arrows were knocked and bows held at the ready whilst they sought for targets. Helluin and Beinvír shared smiles with the Rangers of Cardolan.
Long, tense moments passed, but finally, after 'twas obvious that no foes could they discern, there arose from the field ten more Rangers of Cardolan, including their captain, Dorondon. They too held drawn bows, but lowered them in token of peaceful intent. The volunteers had been encircled whilst unawares and would have been badly disadvantaged despite their numbers had these Men truly been enemies. Now they too lowered their bows and relaxed their guard.
Despite all the long years of rivalry 'twixt Rhudaur and Cardolan, now both parties looked as if they served the same lord, for all were dressed and armed alike. The Rangers of Cardolan joined the volunteers and their teachers, and warmly were they received. Though they had provided several surprises, they received but one; that the lord of the town stood as a student and common Man at arms.
"Welcome Rangers of Cardolan, to Rhudaur and to our town of Celenhár. Many thanks to ye and your lord for your aid," Lord Galor said. "Your generosity has brought us much hope for the future."
"My lord, save riding upon the border road that our realms share, I had not aforetime traveled in Rhudaur," Dorondon said, "yet I see more here is the same as 'tis at home than not. Thither too our lord was one of our realm's first Rangers."
"Yet unlike him, I am not the lord of a realm," Lord Galor said, "only this small town, but like thou, I am a Man of Eriador who hopes to oppose the enemy from Carn Dûm." Then, turning to Lainiel, he asked, "how knew thou that more Rangers than those revealed by Helluin and Beinvír were 'nigh?"
"When Celegon said that my father had dispatched a company, I knew more had come," Lainiel said, "for our companies number a dozen plus their leader, though that is usually a sergeant."
To be Continued