Chapter 102
We remained at the camp at Amon Perin for a further two days as Prince Merendir had ordained, and during that time I took the opportunity to learn something of our fellow travellers. Although considerably more must have set off from the West Gate into the night just a few days since scarce three hundred remained. Many among them were nobles or merchants who had feared wrath of the Hillmen, but there were ordinary folk too and soldiers of all ranks. It was with a mixture of pleasure and some sadness too that I discovered that Eryndir and other men of the Watersmeet Company were amongst them, men who I had served with at Northford. They too professed a wish to join the exiles at Amon Sul and seek revenge on our enemy, and I was heartened by the thought that I might soon be serving alongside them once again.
On the third day we resumed our journey westward, with the travellers from Rhudaur following the horsemen on foot or riding in the wagons of the supply train. Prince Merendir did not join us however, but he was there in the morning to bid us farewell and wish us good fortune. Elien and I had been offered horses to ride again, but she had declined, declaring that she wished to travel with the rest of our companions, and I was not unhappy to be able to follow her lead. The column went at a slow pace under skies that were increasingly overcast for three days until we came into more open lands and finally within view of the tower. My heart quickened at the sight of it, standing proudly on the horizon for I knew my journey would soon be at an end, and my new life, so different from the one I had hoped lay ahead so recently with Idhrethil, would begin. That loss weighed heavily on me and during that time I spoke little to those around me, keeping my own counsel. Elien spent much of the journey in the company of Thanguron, who had resolved to travel to Fornost with her, and if it seemed that love now blossomed between them I felt no rancour at the thought of it. I could only welcome the thought of Elien finding some love and happiness when she had known so little before. There was no longer a place for such things in my life, plain living and hard deeds were all that lay ahead for me now.
She did however purposely seek me out when we reached the vale where the battle had taken place and where the burial mounds, now green with grass, stood alongside the road. There were tears in her eyes as she asked me if I knew where her brother lay, and we left the column and passed towards the barrow, arm in arm through scrub where forgotten rusting relics of the battle still lay scattered. When we reached the summit she fell to the ground and wept inconsolably for a brother she had loved better than any other, and I stood over her in mute witness, suddenly weeping too for all those who had fought alongside me and not lived to see the sun set. In all the time I had known her I had never seen her so bereft and forlorn, all her outward steel and purpose forsaken. The sight of it tore at my heart, but eventually she fell quiet and composed herself once again and rose to her feet. "Farewell Eldir, last Prince of Rhudaur, my ever joyful and steadfast companion through all the years of my life. Ever did your great heart and rash courage lead you astray and in the end it proved your undoing. I miss you so, foolish brother". I went to her side and held her close to me and after a while we turned away and went back down together in silence to rejoin the others.
The column climbed the rise out of the vale and the final long straight that ran to the foot of the hill came into view. The tower loomed ever closer above us as we approached and was a source of wonderment to all those who were seeing it for the first time. I saw that the camp that had stood below the hill when I had last been there was gone, and a veritable town had sprung up in its place to service the growing garrison. Warehouses, stables, inns, forges and dormitory halls stood there now, all soundly built and well ordered as was only to be expected in this land.
After an further hour or so we reached the place and my journey was at an end. There, stood at the side of the road among the crowd of soldiers who watched us arrive, dressed incongruously in the gear of Arthedain I saw Norchon and some of his men. There were cries of joy as others too amongst our number recognised long lost friends and comrades and were reunited with them, and I too left my companions and called out to him."Of all the faces I hoped most for but least expected to see here today yours was the foremost" he said laughing after we had embraced each other strongly and stood facing each other. His face became serious as he looked me up and down. "Esteldir friend, I would hardly have known you. I know not what terrible trials you have endured since last we stood together, but they have truly left their mark on you and aged you beyond your years. But you have reached this place now and you will be able to rest awhile in safety. There is a place for you and any of the others newly arrived who wish to take up arms again and serve here if you desire it, and the King of Arthedain is as good a master as any soldier could hope to serve. For we are treated most excellently here". I smiled sadly, suddenly feeling the weight of my grief again. "Norchon, I am gladdened to hear your words, and I say that my only wish now is to do as you say and serve here alongside you. There are many others who have travelled here who I know are of the same mind and I foresee that the strength of your company will soon be greatly increased".
The column came to a halt shortly afterwards and began to disperse, and the travellers from Rhudaur were ushered into a large hall filled with rows of tables and benches and walls lined with bright banners. There we were seated and served steaming bowls of stew along with good bread and ale, the first and best hot meal many of us had eaten for a very long time. I was again with Elien and Thanguron and the others and we ate eagerly in silence, and felt much restored afterwards. When all around us had had taken their fill there was some activity at the far end of the hall and a familiar dark robed figure climbed onto the dais. A guard stamped his spear butt on the floor to call for silience and Norgalad, Master of the Stone and Lord of the tower of Amon Sul began to address the hall in the common tongue . "Men and women of Rhudaur, it is my duty to welcome you here, in the name of King Malvegil, to the ancient watch tower and stronghold of Amon Sul in the Kingdom Of Arthedain . You have endured much in order to reach this place, and I salute your courage and strength and we share the sorrow of any of you who lost loved ones on the road here. Our kingdoms were sundered long ago but we remain kin, bound by ties of blood and history and we did not abandon you in your hour of need. Now you will be welcomed back among us and given the opportunity to begin your lives afresh in our land. Your journey westward towards Bree will resume tomorrow, and from there you will have the choice of remaining in Cardolan and travelling to Ost-en-Edhil or the taking the longer road northward to Fornost. However if there are any among you who wish to join Captain Norchon and his company of men from Rhudaur who serve here then I would ask that you make yourselves known and make your way outside this hall, for once all is set in order we will leave for the tower. I wish you all good fortune and happiness for the future, and may the Valar watch over and protect you". He bowed and left the dais and warm and grateful applause erupted in the hall.
I realised with a sudden shock that the hour of my parting from Elien and the others had come, much sooner than I had hoped or expected it would, and I rose at once to my feet. She too rose from her seat, her face now grave, and though she was weary, her clothes travel stained and her fair hair tousled and awry it was as if I saw her for the very first time. I suddenly realised how very beautiful she was, and with a pang how deeply I would miss her companionship. I was filled with sharp regret then that I had not chosen to remain with her and travelled to Fornost, but I had made a vow of vengeance and could not amend my chosen course now. "Farewell Esteldir, staunch friend and companion, to who I owe so much and without whom I would not have survived this journey" she said softly. I replied, my voice suddenly thick with emotion. "My Lady, if you owed me any debt you have already repaid it tenfold, and it is I who remain in debt to you forever for all you have done for me. I will not forget you, and I pray that you will find peace and contentment on your chosen path. Mayhap we will meet again, and I will promise to seek for you if I am ever in Fornost". She smiled, but her grey eyes were sad. "I hope it is so" she said simply, and then we embraced and she took me in her arms with a vehemence that surprised me and held me for a long time. We parted reluctantly and I kissed her gently on the brow before she left me.
Then it was time to say goodbye to the others, including Thanguron. I wished them all good fortune for the future and secured a solemn promise from him to watch over and protect Elien, which he was only too happy to give. Then finally, when all was done I turned away without looking back and left the hall, and another chapter of my life was come to an end.