[a page of an ancient journal written in Quenya. It looks so old that it feels like it is about to disintegrate in your hands. It is written with an exceptional care but the lines have faded at some parts. It is still quite readable and no parts seem to be missing..]
Afternoon, 52 Tulié, Year 472
We continue our preparations in the stronghold of Himring. It is the stronghold of Noldor, throne of Maedhros and the gathering place of the Eastern Army. Here, I have been training the men from east in the art of battle. What a strange race they are. They fight fiercely with great axes and maces. They do not seem eager to learn the languages of Eldar but they learn of battle quickly. They eat a lot and gather together around campfires where they speak loudly among themselves. Sometimes when I look upon them, I sense a deeper darkness lying in wait behind their dark eyes. Leaders of men; Bór and Ulfang are mighty and brave but there is something amiss about them. They seemed too eager to join the Union but now, we sense they are getting nerveous as the battle nears. Men of the east are raw and untrained, but mayhap if we can finish their battle training, they will prove formidable in the battles to come.
Bór and Ulfang have summoned more of their kindred from east, about another 2,000 in small groups. Their force will hold the rear, for we see their skill in battle is lesser among Noldor and the Naugrim.
As the dark of the night creeps in on Himring, I can hear the men of east speak loudly among themselves, but I hear no laughter. They sound tense and brittle. Their voices mix with the sound of furious fires and ringing of hammers upon steel.The fiery forges of Himring light the stronghold. I see the shadows of metalsmiths as they work.
The Naugrim of Belegost also make camp with us. Azaghal has held his promise and brought 10,000 of his folk. They carry the heaviest armor I’ve ever seen and they wear fearsome masks in battle. Azaghal brought the Naugrim's most skilled metalsmiths along with a vast armory of long spears, mighty axes and broad shields.
The Naugrim work swiftly and without tiring. The ringing of their hammers on steel is strong and clear. They work day and night to ready the army as soon as possible. For my company, my lord Maedhros has arranged the most skilled armorers and weaponsmiths of Naugrim and Noldor. They are forging the finest armor and weapons in middle earth for the Vanguard.
One of the smiths has forged a shield of steel for me. It is both light and strong, and it is graven with naugrim and noldor runes. I am now convinced that Naugrim are truely the finest in metalcrafting. He offered to forge a sword too, but I would not wield a sword forged in naugrim fashion. Instead, I am having a sword forged by a famed Noldor smith called Taminnar.
The greatest battle of Noldor draws near, and we are eager to face the enemy. We will once again pound on the gates of Angband and Morgoth, will find that even he, who is a Vala cannot escape the wrath of Noldor!
The Army will begin the march on Angband within days. Although I am with the bravest and mightiest warriors of Noldor,I do not know if I will survive the battle to come. Thus, this may be the last entry I write on this journal, for the battle is near now...
We will avenge our fallen brothers... We will make the dark lord pay for all his treacheries... We will reclaim the treasures of Noldor...
[Just below the last line, the page is sealed with a withered seal of Féanor's sons.]
