Chapter 85
I followed a taciturn Berthedir to the smaller hall where I had previously stood before the King and his council and received my orders to ride to Amon Sul, and to my great surprise as we entered those seated down the sides of the long table rose to their feet and applauded. I took little satisfaction from it though, wondering with some bitterness how many would still have done so once they knew known what I had dared presume to trade for the prisoners. The King himself sat slumped and motionless at the head of the table, but as we approached I thought I caught a hint of kindness in his sad pain wracked eyes when he beheld me. We did him obeisance and then I was ushered to an empty seat near the foot of the table. I knew that there was nothing for it but to say my part plainly now and let events take their course as they would.
It was Barachon, as spider like as ever who spoke first. "Captain Esteldir of Northford, I speak for all here when we express our gratitude for the deed you have accomplished in returning the prisoners to us from Amon Sul. But what news of the fate of Prince Eldir?" I looked the old King in the eye as I replied and saw the anguish clearly written there. "He fell in battle as we feared, leading his men bravely from the front" I began. "Their horse greatly outnumbered ours, and he was swept away in their first charge. He lies now along with his brothers in five great mounds beside the East Road. The Princes of Arthedain laid them to rest with all due honour and ceremony, and would not countenance that his sleep should be disturbed". The King nodded sadly in acknowledgement and Barachon asked me to continue and give an account of what had befallen me there.
"We were greeted with courtesy and respect for the flag of parley, but if it had not been for the curiosity of Prince Argeleb, Crown Prince of Arthedain who commanded there then we would not have been received, for we were deemed too lowly to treat with him". One of those seated further up the table snorted and remarked on the eternal arrogance of our foe, but I cut him short. "Nay my Lord" I replied "I speak of one in whose veins the line of the first kings runs straight and true. He is a great man, strong, wise and learned, and bears the weight of his many years far more lightly than lesser men. It would have been meet to send one far more worthy in status and rank than I to negotiate with him". There was silence, and I realised that my words might been seen as impertinent and a rebuke to the assembled company "However he did receive me, and I learned much that may be to our advantage. For though he is not yet king his father grows old and it may not be long before he will rule in turn. Unlike his father I believe that he is disposed to help us if we wish it, for he holds our long kinship still to be of value and dreams of reuniting the three sundered kingdoms again".
Once again I was interrupted, this time by Barachon himself, who spoke contemptuously. "I fear you betray your youth and naivety here Captain, for this Prince has used his guile to charm and flatter you and you have swallowed his sweet words of kinship and unity when what he really intends, no doubt, is conquest and subjugation. Already Cardolan is falling under his yoke, and we will not suffer the same fate". It was my turn to bristle. "My Lord, the host that crushed the best strength we could put forward was but a small part of the mightof Arthedain, quickly brought to bear when our approach was discovered via the seeing stone. Their men are well trained, well fed and well equipped and their people live at peace and untroubled behind their defences. Do you think for one moment that they could not overcome us if they chose to? Cardolan too has been ravaged by the forces of Angmar, and could not have prevailed alone, and neither can we. The seeing stone has revealed that the fords of the Hoarwell are now open to our enemy, and that we are played false by the Hillmen, who are waiting for their moment to wreak their revenge upon us. If so the setting aside of old emnities is our only hope". Barachon was angry and rose from his seat to berate me. "Soldier, you presume far too much, it is not for you to counsel us on matters of state. And you have only this prince's word of what he has seen in the stone, do you not think he might say such a thing to falsely sow discord in our realm? Now continue with your account, and hold to the facts of the matter, do not forget in whose presence you find yourself". I glanced at the King, but he remained slumped in his seat, his ruined face expressionless and he did not acknowledge me.
I continued, full of growing anger and contempt for this vile old spider of a man and his attempts to belittle me. "As you will be aware the vanquished do not dictate terms to the victor, and the terms that were agreed for the release of our prisoners were onerous. They would not countenance the idea of receiving sums of ransom for those of name and rank alone, but insisted that all or none would be released, and also that the prisoners should be given a choice as to whether they remained or returned home. Some sixty or more did decide to remain and throw their lot in with the army of Arthedain…" This time it was Berthedir who interrupted me. "Vile cowards and deserters, why would they choose such a course?" I thought of Norchon, a brave and loyal friend driven to despair by the hopelessness of the task before him in Bearcliffe. "Because my Lord, they have lost hope and fear we are doomed, and they are weary of endless lack and hunger. As prisoners of Arthedain many of them were better fed and sheltered than they ever were as soldiers in the King's service". He too looked suddenly furious at my words but I did not allow him to reply, and pulling the scroll from inside my surcoat I unrolled it and laid it on the table before me. "The terms of the treaty agreed by Esteldir, envoy of King Elion of Rhudaur and Crown Prince Argeleb of Arthedain are as follows: firstly that the Kingdom of Rhudaur relinquishs in perpetuity any sole claim to sovereignty over the Watchtower of Amon Sul and the seeing stone held there. Secondly that the Kingdom of Rhudaur undertakes never to come again in force of arms into the lands west of the Hoarwell. And thirdly that those lands west of the Hoarwell and all former settlements along the Great East Road are ceded to the control of the Princes of Cardolan. In exchange all prisoners held after the battle of Amon Sul will be released and free to return home with immediate effect, and that the Kingdom of Arthedain undertakes to send warning of any grave peril to the Kingdom of Rhudaur should they become aware of it through the agency of the seeing stone of Amon Sul".
There was a moment of stunned silence and then uproar in the chamber, and those around the table leapt to their feet shouting and gesticulating towards me. I too rose and stood defiantly, arms crossed, knowing that I had passed a point of no return. Eventually Barachon called the gathering to order and then rounded on me, furious. "By what authority, and with what possible reason did you submit to such terms?" I drew out my letter of credential and threw it down on the table alongside the treaty. "By the authority vested in me by the King and set out in this document. I relinquished a claim we cannot hope to realise, and lands we cannot hope to hold or defend for five hundred desperately needed soldiers, and a promise that any grave threat to us seen in the stone would be communicated to us". I gritted my teeth and continued "It did not seem so ill a bargain to me in the tower of Amon Sul, and it does not now.". Berthedir cried out that I betrayed my King and realm, and made to approach and seize me, but the renewed uproar was suddenly cut short by a raucous cry for silence from the King, who had risen to an upright position in his seat. "Silence" he repeated in a voice that suddenly recalled some of its former strength and authority and in a moment not a breath could be heard in that chamber. "Esteldir son of Galdirion, we thank you for your loyal service, and your honest words. You did as you were bid and we are not displeased with your actions, and should the Prince be true to his word then we are indeed left in a better position than before. Forgive my counsellors and captains their hasty words here, for they spend too much time plotting and scheming within these walls and too little outside them where the hard work is to be done. If you would name a boon, then I am minded to grant it". I was as surprised as anyone at this turn of events, and could not initially think of a suitable reply, but then a thought came to me. "My liege, there is one small thing that would give me much pleasure, and that would be to be granted access to the Library here in the Citadel when my duties allow, for my old friend Angon showed me many wonders there that I desire to look upon again". The mention of his name stirred something in the King and he nodded. "It shall be so. Now I am weary, and you are all dismissed". With that he slumped back in his chair, plainly exhausted by the effort his intervention had cost him, his ruined face wracked with pain and his breath coming in sobs, and servants came quickly to his side to attend to him. We all bowed and I left the chamber with the others but kept my eyes straight ahead and spoke to none, parting from them as soon as the opportunity arose and making my way back to the gatehouse alone.
As I crossed the great courtyard towards the halls where I hoped to find my men my rage subsided and I felt weary and heartsick. In the space of an afternoon I had lost the woman I loved and made dangerous enemies into the bargain. Perhaps it would have been better for me if I had deserted and remained at Amon Sul, but I could still not have brought myself to follow that course and know I would never see Idhrethil again, for at least this way some little hope remained. When I reach our billet I was told by an orderly that my men, released from service for a week to rest recover from their journey had left to descend into the town and seek the comforts of an inn. Without a moments hesitation I stripped off my finery, and set off in pursuit.