The Silent Pilgrims

“What is this?”

Blinking away the dust of sleep, Amardal found herself sprawled in a chair between the shelves of Elrond’s library, An open book and a lamp whose flame had long guttered out were resting on a nearby table.

Before she could further take stock of her circumstances, the voice that had stirred her from sleep sounded from the doorway once more. “You must be the one called Amardal.” There, illuminated by wan gray light, stood the figure of an Elf.

The trek upon the Misty Mountains was long and difficult. Outside the valley of Rivendell, the winter was in full swing, which made the mountain passes even more dangerous than usual. A less skilled company would have lost a member or two to the uneven rocks and slippery ice, but Thorneth and her Company managed to avoid any serious misadventure.

Unlike the regions surrounding it, Rivendell appeared to have been sheltered from the darkness out of Angmar. As the Company entered into the valley, they found the biting cold of the harsh winter subsiding the further they descended down the path. When they reached the bottom, there was but a thin sprinkling of snow upon the ground. No trace of ice could be seen within the flowing streams or the majestic waterfalls which fed them.

Here, our tale turns once more to Bregur. After the enemy took control of Fornost Erain, what remained of the Betrayer was brought to the fortress city. His serpent helm, breastplate and greaves were returned to him, and over them were draped the red robes of the Cargûl. His pauldrons and gauntlets were then placed atop the robes, securing them in place. When he re-emerged, the soldiers of the enemy knew not who he was, only that he was once a knight of Arthedain from his helm.

For now, the tale returns to Thorneth and the Fellowship of Last Hope, as it is not yet time to detail that final battle. The Company stayed with the Hobbits for two nights, and on the morning after that second night, they made preparations to resume their journey. Accompanying them were the twin brothers Broco and Falco Underhill, the hunters who had first taken Caranhelf to the nook where they hid the mare.

The region known as the Weather Hills was once home to several fortresses of Cardolan, including a great tower atop Amon Sûl, the highest of these hills. In the year 1409, the forces of Angmar swept through the region, bringing down the Watchtower of Amon Sûl. Afterward, the Dúnedain did not return to re-establish their hold there as they could no longer spare the number of men needed to do so.

Following the events at Pontgar, the Company deemed it best to avoid the towns of Bree in case the enemy had more spies there. Instead, they circumvented the villages by passing across the Eastern Bree-fields and then through the forest known as the Chetwood, which would bring them to the Weather Hills.

Thorneth and her companions lingered in Minas Vrûn for four more days. This gave Thorneth’s wounds time to fully heal. During the rest, she picked out a new blade, having lost her old one in her duel with the Champion of Angmar. By the King’s leave, she could have any weapon she wished, and Thorneth selected a sword forged by ancient Westernesse techniques. Dagúl it was named by its smith, the Slayer of Sorcery, for it was made to drive back the evil that came out of Angmar.

After fleeing Fornost, King Arvedui and his family found refuge behind the walls of Minas Vrûn. Thorneth and Dínendír arrived a short while after them with the soldiers who had come from the city to the King’s aid. The Guardsman took her into a House of Healing so her wounds could be treated. Fortunately, Amarthiel’s blade had no fell sorceries upon it unlike the Witch-king’s Morgul-knives, and one of the healers told her she would recover fully with some rest.