1191
Minalcar arrived at the construction site at the Argonath. He saw the dwarves working there receiving payments in not only wood, but also furs and other fabrics. The two statues were far from finished.
He heard about the missing men from the last transport to Argonath and rode out to find out what happened them.
They found no traces of them, but in a village Minalcar became suspicious when he saw the people there carrying Gondorean weapons.
He ordered his men to gather the strangers in the village square, and then confronted them with the fact that they carried weapons made in Gondor.
One of the villagers with a gondorean sword lifted his fist against the Numenoreans and was immediately killed by an arrow. Moe villagers tried to break out, but they were all killed, others begged for mercy and some started to run.
"Stop!" Minalcar ordered to both foe and friends and the violence stopped. Six villagers lay dead and another six was on the run, but women and children and a two dozen armed men stayed behind.
"Get after those who run;" he ordered some of his men; "if they carry our weapons, kill them."
To the rest, he said; "if you surrender your stolen good, and labor for the king of Gondor until you are released, there will be no more death."
Minalcar noticed that there was only one villager left alive with a stolen sword. He looked at him and said; "and I you tell us what made you attack these people years ago."
The man did not speak a language Minalcar understood, but among his men were people who had learn enough to gather that a foreigner had promised them gold from the seapeople. Minalcar asked if the man knew why a foreigner would give such information without being part of the robbery himself.
And Minalcar could see the man did not know the answer.
Minalcar ordered his men to build fortification around the construction and then crossed the river to maintain the camp on the other side. After a while he proceeded south with four companions, to look for forests, but the land of Calenardhon had been depraved of its trees a long time ago.
There were almost no people living in the south of Calenardhon but as they crossed the river to the south, they met people from Angrenost, returning from Osgiliath. Minalcar and his followers camped with them without revealing his identity.
As they sat around the fire at night, one of the travelers, a young woman sat next to Minalcar.
"I can see you do not carry all the emblems of soldiers of Gondor, yet you are armors of a noble?" she asked
Minalcar was impressed by the sharp eyes of the woman. He said; "I used to be noble, but now I am a new commander of the army of Gondor."
The woman said; "My name is Elenwa, I am a descendant of Herion. He was the commander of this castle in the days of the great king Siriondil. Beside the sons of our present king I am the closes in line to the kingship.
And Minalcar felt compelled to tell his story.
Elenwa said; "In Osgiliath we met prince Calimehtar. Do you tell me you are closer in line with King Alcarin?"
Minalcar said; "I do, but I am not sure my father agree. It will be his decision."
Elenwa said; "Landowners, shipowners and kings do not always select the most fit as their favorites."
"Then how will I know if I am most fit?" Minalcar asked.
"In a few days, I will show you," Elenwa said with a smile.
And after a few days with the travelers, Elenwa took Minalcar to a hill in the thick forest south of the route.
They left their horses and continued on foot. Minalcar was surprised that Elenwa could find her way but did not ask. After a while he realized they were ascending a hill.
As they came to the top, he noticed the Alfirin flowers on the treeless top. In the middle of the top of the hill was a tomb.
"What is this?" Minalcar said.
"The tomb of Elendil the Tall," she said; "my father told me about this place as he had learned it from his father. He said the ship-kings forgot about this place as they campaigned in the south."
Minalcar kneeled beside the grave in awe.
Minalcar said; "the current king of Gondor has only left the capital once to travel to Argonath, maybe he does not know this place exist."
Elenwa said; "but now you know this site what wisdom come to you, sire?"
Minalcar said; "the attacks on our soldiers were not random. What created them, was the same as the created the attacks on Gondor in his time, a coordinated evil. However, it was defeated on the plains to the northeast. Even though I am humble in his presence, I must strive for the same goal as he."
Elenwa left her party and followed Minalcar back to Gondor. There he told the king about his observations in the north.
"We need far more soldiers in the north to protect the construction of Argonath, but we also need to understand the forces behind those who attacks us."
The king did not know how to react. After a while he said; " as you are my grandson, I will out you in charge of the north. Claim whatever number of soldiers in Anor or Morgul and return to make me proud."
Minalcar answered; "I will my lord, but before I have a request."
And Minalcar and Elenwa was wed in Osgiliath at a great feast. The king and his two sons participated and so did his brother Calimehtar.
Calimehtar congratulated his brother and Elenwa and did not challenge his position as member of the royal familyy. He said; "my brother, upon the kings request, I have accepted to become the governor of Umbar, so I will be leaving Osgiliath with my family. The King has created this position as he need someone, he can trust to govern this place. After all, Umbar is second only to Osgiliath in size."
This year, In the north, King Celepharn of Arthedain died and was followed by his son Celebrindor. The new king travelled to Tyrn Gothard to meet the old king Harion and his heir, prince Celervellon of Cardolan. Celebrindor was surprised to see Harion. He looked older than his age and speech was not that of a king.
He said; "I have lost control of Tharbad. Men have come to the city and they claim to be kinsmen of the Edain. However, if they are, they have lost the spirit of the Numenoreans. They are supported by the great white wizard and he seems to control them, but he does not answer to me, and does not seek my friendship."
"I have moved the Palantir to this place, according to the promise my ancestor Thorondur gave." The new king said."
"Wise of you. My Palantir is also protected," Celebrindor said, "and as long as the last Palantir of the north remains out of reach from evil, we will all be safe.
Celervellon said; "the blood of Earendur runs thin in Cardolan. I promise to marry the daughter of King Hendaur of Rhudaur, when I once visited Cameth Brin. She said, she was the last person to have the blood of Earendur in the realm. When her father was murdered, she hid the stone of Amon Sul in the walls."
The kings promised each other friendship and that they would watch the Palantir of Amun Sul and protect each other. But each of them left the meeting with an uncertainty of the future.
Three years after the son of Elenwa and Minalcar was born. The parents named him Valacar.