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The spider climbed up to the top of Amon Lanc. A normal spider would have sought the dark and moist forest floor, but this spider was driven by force it did not control.
It was an easy kill for Legolas.
Afterwards more elves came to the top, including Thranduil, his father.
Thranduil said; "there will be more."
Legolas said; "we will have to fight and protect Amon Lanc and our homes around it."
Thranduil said; "and how should we do this? we are not protected by walls. The forest is our home. We cannot hide Amon Lanc, son, and we do not have time to protect these trees as the evils has already arrived here. We will find a place in the forest north of here, where we can build a protected home before the evil notice our presence"
Legolas said; "I want to fight the evil"
His father said; "you will have lots of time to do that, my son, but for now our first priority must be to protect our people."
Across the water, Amroth sat on the hill surrounded by the Elanor flowers. He noticed the change to the Great Greenwood as the song faded away.
"Fear has come to the Great Greenwood," he said to Galadriel and Celeborn who were with him.
Celeborn said; "Thranduil will know how to protect his people."
Galadriel added; "and I will know how to defend Lothlorien. The evil will never come here."
Amroth said; "but who will protect the river and the mountains?"
Galadriel tried to calm Amroth; "this will be the first duty of the white council. I will leave to meet the other members in Lindon."
"I will make your journey over the mountains safe;" Celeborn said.
However, Galadriel said, "That is sweet of you husband, but there is no need I will find a safe passage under the mountain. For the fourth time I will visit this place where no other Eldar. Soon he will come here and together we shall enter the Halls of Durin."
Celeborn would never himself befriend the Longbeards, but he never questioned his wife's motives to do so.
The sons of Elrond often hunted around the forests of Imladris. This time they had the company of the seer of the king of Arthedain. The line of the seers often dwelled together with the princes of Arthedain here at the home of Elrond, to exchange visions of the future.
The sons hunted what they saw was a small animal, but it seemed to disappear into a hole in the ground. The sons agreed that an animal living in a hole like this would not be worth hunting.
However, the seer said; "this is not a hole of an animal. This is a hole of a friend of the dunedains for this age and beyond."
Elladan and Elrohir were surprised as they believe they were skilled in detecting the presence of men."
The seer said; "we mean you no harm. We apologize for calling you home for a hole. What name do you use to refer to it?"
After while a voice said; "we call it smials."
"We seek nothing but friendship," the seer answered.
"we seek nothing but peace and wished to be left alone. We have come here to live unnoticed as we once did before the evil arrived at our previous homes," the voice said.
The brothers said; "peaceful people are always welcome here."
The seers added; "and you will always have the protection of the king of the north, should you seek it in times of war."
They waited for a while until the man appeared. He was similar I height to a dwarf and wore no shoes.
The elves offered the man the food they had.
Then the seer returned to Annuminas he told king Mallor about his meeting with the Harfoot as he called him. The brothers also told Elrond about the new people now living in Eriador.
In the south Ciryaher and his youngest son Turambar had reached Umbar by land. They had defeated all enemies with ease in the near Harad and had now turned their attention towards the Far Harad.
Ciryaher has studied the campaign of Pharazon the Golden, and he knew that the Haradrim could not match the fast cavalry of Gondor.
The army left Umbar and headed for the Desert City, the capital of the Haradrim, east of Umbar. He sent out scout riding ahead. They informed the people they met that the king of Gondor would not wage was against them if they would lay down their arms. Most did, but the rulers of the Desert City decided to fight the people from Gondor.
Outside the capital of Harad, a big battle stood. The Haradrim were many, but the Gondorians stronger, and Ciryaher won a great victory.
The people of the Desert City surrendered to the King of Gondor and recognized him as their overlord.
However, Ciryaher had only stayed in the Desert City for a few weeks before a new challenge emerged. In the distance to the south, a handful of Mumakil could be seen.
The Nazgul riding the biggest Mumakil were once the richest man in the south. He had used the fear of the Mumakil to enslave people. He had accepted the gift from Sauron to get an eternal life but had become a slave himself. Now he hated all free people and saw the desert people as traitors. Now his Mumakil was heading towards the Desert City to destroy it.
Ciryaher commanded his captains to gather their men and mount their horses. He sent each company against a Mumakil in the distance. His son Turambar rode towards the largest Mumakil. From the back of the Mumakil Ji Indur watched the company approaching him.
The arrows of the men from Gondor did no harm to the great beasts, and many men were crushed or swept side by the tusks. Turambar kept focused and aimed his arrow at the eyes of the Mumakil. He hit and blinded the animal on one eye.
The great beast went into a rage of pain and attacked all around it, friends and foes alike.
"Aim for their eyes," Turambar shouted.
The animal of Ji Indur became uncontrollable and turned around and ran back destroying everything in its way. The Nazgul looked mayhem behind him and saw other Mumakil fall as the tendons in their legs were cut while they were blinded.
Gondor lost many brave men in the effort to bring the beast to the ground and finally they were all killed, except the one which fled to the south carrying the Nazgul.
The men from Gondor gathered their dead. Many had been crushed under the feet of the Mumakil and could not be recognized. The dead were put in a large grave and the survivors were counted.
It was only then; the men realized the son of the king had fallen.
They informed the king of Gondor in the Desert City.
Ciryaher was filled with both sorrow and rage. He ordered his men to mount their horses and catch up with the Haradrim that had escorted the Mumakil against the city. Even though the men were tired from the fight, they were filled with hate and lust for revenge and followed their king.
The men caught with the fleeing men running to the south. They showed no mercy and killed all they overtook.
When there were no survivors left, the king stopped. The day was close to be over and Ciryaher had to decide to camp or return to the Desert City. He gathered his men.
One of the men shouted; "if we ride further, we will see the Yellow Mountains, we can cross the line were Pharazon the Golden stopped!"
The men cheered, eager to continue.
The King commanded the army to stop. He rode ahead and turned around.
"Nobody riders further than the king," he proclaimed," and I ride no further. We have defeated the Haradrim, there princes shall submit to me and their sons be hostages and raised in Osgiliath, so they will learn our customer and bring them back."
Thus, Ciryaher stayed in the Desert City. He received the nobles of the south and swore loyalty to Gondor. However, the Kings heart was darkened because of the loss of his son. Already next year he sailed from Umbar. He had forbidden anyone to speak about his loss as he wanted Atanatar to hear about the death of his brother from his own mouth.
When he returned to Tolgalen, he immediately went to see his son.
Atanatar said; "I am sorry to inform my father on the passing of his mother."
The king did not react. He knew it was likely that his mother would not be alive upon his return.
"Your brother is dead," the king said; "it is now upon you to carry the proud tradition of the Numenoreans."
Atanatar was sadden by the news, but also felt he needed to pass happier news to his father. He said; "even in this terrible moment for our country, there are also news to that will give hope for the future of Gondor."
The prince showed his young son aged two.
The king was happy, he said "I congratulate you with your son, Atanatar. I hope you both will be great rulers of Gondor."
"I will protect my son from evil," Atanatar said.
The king smiled, but he was insecure. He wandered how his son intended to protect his grandchild.
Ciryaher celebrated his victory in Osgiliath. He took the name Hyarmendacil, conqueror of the south.
Seven years after the second son of the king was born.