Belenir Thend of House Beleganor, Captain of Gondor and Leader of the Hand of Numenor


 

Amidst the majestic, white-stoned spires of Minas Tirith, where legends of old intertwine with the tapestry of the present, Belenir Thend's story began. Born into a venerable lineage deeply intertwined with Gondor's illustrious martial history, it seemed the fates had etched out his path as a guardian of the realm even before his first breath. Gondor, with its storied past, was not just a realm; it was the beacon of Men, standing defiantly against the encroaching shadows from the East. The proud legacy of Númenor flowed in the veins of every Gondorian, and Belenir was no exception. The mighty Anduin's whispers, tales of valor from the days of Isildur, and the solemn responsibility of guarding the West shaped his early years.

Nurtured under Minas Tirith's protective gaze, young Belenir's education was as much about martial prowess as it was about the rich lore of his land. By the age of 18, his skills were so renowned that he was knighted, joining his father in Minas Tirith's esteemed cavalry. However, the heart of this warrior wasn't just sculpted by battle drills. In life's quieter moments, he found love with a woman named Lireth, but as fate would have it, that love was not meant to last. His life took an unexpected turn, and he found love once again, this time with a beautiful woman from Minas Tirith, Isilme, and they were married. This union blessed him with a son, Annord, whose arrival filled his heart with joy. Yet, peace was a fleeting dream, with darkness brewing in the East. Gondor's mighty bastions, from Osgiliath to the coastal fortress of Dol Amroth, echoed with warnings of impending war. As the threat drew nearer, Belenir, accompanied by his father and their battalion, raced to Cair Andros' defense. Tragically, his father fell in this prelude to the great conflict that would engulf Middle-Earth. Belenir's valor during the Siege of Minas Tirith and the Battle of Pelennor Fields was the stuff of legends. Tales of him leading his men against a Mûmakil and defeating a Haradrim Warlord were sung in every corner of Gondor. Yet, triumph was juxtaposed with personal loss, as he returned to a home robbed of its warmth with the passing of his wife and son. The call of the Battle of the Black Gate beckoned, and Belenir stood at the frontlines, alongside the Free Peoples of Middle-Earth. The very gates of Mordor bore witness to his courage as he took on the enemy, unwavering in his resolve.

The war had ended, but for Belenir, the journey had only just begun. Consumed by grief over the loss of his family and the horrors of war, he committed himself to a perilous venture - purging the remaining evils of Mordor. From Udûn to Barad-dûr, from Seregost to Nargroth, Belenir led his forces into the very heart of the enemy's domain. These endeavors were not without cost; in one fateful skirmish, he lost an eye.

Post the monumental battle, with Sauron's threat quelled, Belenir's deeds earned him the distinguished title of Captain of the Gondorian Armies by the council of Minas Tirith. Once possessing raven-black locks, his hair had turned to a battle-hardened shade of grey. In the heart of Minas Tirith, a changed but unbroken warrior formed the "Hand of Numenor." Drawing inspiration from Gondor's rich legacy and his own trials, this order stood as a testament to Gondor's unyielding spirit and commitment to peace. In today's age, as Minas Tirith's banners flutter proudly under the Gondorian sun, Captain Belenir Thend, flanked by his loyal kin, stands as a living embodiment of Gondor's valor, hope, and undying legacy.