Over the previous weeks errand-riders brought messages from Minas Tirth to Dol Amroth:
In mid-March the Battle of Pelennor Fields was fought. The Men of Gondor and their allies from Rohan successfully defended the White City. but it came at great cost. Denethor II, Ruling Steward and Lord of Minas Tirith, perished in a great fire. Théoden, King of the Rohirrim, fell in battle on the Pelennor Fields. Many other valiant Men fell besides.
~Song of the Mounds of Mundburg~
We heard of the horns in the hills ringing,
the swords shining in the South-kingdom,
Steeds went striding to the Stoningland
as wind in the morning. War was kindled.
There Théoden fell, Thengling mighty,
to his golden halls and green pastures
in the Northern fields never returning,
high lord of the host. Harding and Guthláf,
Dúnhere and Déorwine, doughty Grimbold,
Herefara and Herubrand, Horn and Fastred,
fought and fell there in a far country:
in the Mounds of Mundburg under mould they lie
with their league-fellows, lords of Gondor.
Neither Hirluin the Fair to the hills by the sea,
nor Forlong the old to the flowering vales
ever, to Arnach, to his own country
returned in triumph; nor the tall bowmen,
Derufin and Duilin, to their dark waters,
meres of Morthond under mountain-shadows.
Death in the morning and at day's ending
lords took and lowly. Long now they sleep
under grass in Gondor by the Great River
Grey now as tears, gleaming silver,
red then it rolled, roaring water:
foam dyed with blood flamed at sunset;
as beacons mountains burned at evening;
red fell the dew in Rammas Echor.(1)
On the twenty-fifth of March the Dark Tower of Barad-dûr was thrown down, and the reign of the Dark Lord Sauron was ended forever.
A great Eagle came to the White City singing:
Sing now, ye people of the Tower of Anor,
for the Realm of Sauron is ended for ever,
and the Dark Tower is thrown down.
Sing and rejoice, ye people of the Tower of Guard,
for your watch hath not been in vain,
and the Black Gate is broken,
and your King hath passed through,
and he is victorious.
Sing and be glad, all ye children of the West,
for your King shall come again,
and he shall dwell among you
all the days of your life.
And the Tree that was withered shall be renewed,
and he shall plant it in the high places,
and the City shall be blessed.
Sing all ye people!(2)
On the first of May Aragorn son of Arathorn was crowned sovereign of the Reunited Kingdoms of Arnor and Gondor, taking the royal title King Elessar Telcontar.
Mithrandir set the crown upon Elessar's head and said,
'Now come the days of the King, and may they be blessed while the thrones of the Valar endure!'(3)
Finally, a message arrived announcing the wedding of King Elessar to Arwen Undómiel on Midsummer's Day.
~The Wedding Invitation~
'Good morning, Lady Eregiel and Lady Calentauriel,' Lothíriel greeted her guests at breakfast. 'Would you please be seated? I have very important news to share!'
The princess showed the invitation to her guests, the sisters Eregiel and Calentauriel of the Golden Wood. Lothíriel could not have been more excited if the wedding were her own.
Although Eregiel and Calentauriel were not soldiers--historically, with very few exceptions, this duty was the sole purview of males among both Men and Elves--the sisters had demonstrated that they were very capable of defending themselves and, by extension, those who accompanied them. With that in mind, as well as the counsel and frienship the sisters had provided during the absence of Prince Imrahil, Lothíriel's father, the princess had an important favour to ask of the sisters.
'I would very much like to attend this wedding, and wish that you two would accompany me,' requested Lothíriel.
Eregiel and Calentauriel looked at each other a moment. They seemed almost to communicate between themselves by thought. In less than a minute, although it seemed like hours to Lothíriel, the sisters gave their reply.
'We would be very honoured to accompany you to Minas Tirith,' said Eregiel.
Lothíriel breathed a happy sigh of relief, and smiled brightly at their acceptance. 'This is wonderful indeed! Thank you! I will speak with those necessary for providing our supplies and transportation.'
'Lady, if I may ask, how will we be travelling to Minas Tirith?' asked Calentauriel.
'By ship, of course!' Lothíriel answered gleefully.
~The Súlrohir~
~The End of Part One~
(1) J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, 'The Return of the King', The Battle of the Pelennor Fields
(2) J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, 'The Return of the King', The Steward and the King
(3) ibid.
