Post by Angoreth on Aug 17, 2006 4:00:23 GMT -5
After the fall of Sauron
After the overthrow of Sauron following the Battle of Dagorlad and the long and gruesome siege of Barad-dûr, the various hosts forming the army of the Last Alliance took the road back home. All were reduced in number and many lamented grievious losses among their leaders. The Elves of Eryn Galen (the great forest later known as Mirkwood) had lost their king, Oropher, who rushed forward with his best warriors even before Gil-Gald had given the signal for the first assault upon the Gates of Mordor and was slaughtered with most of them. Thranduil, his son and the new king of the Woodland Realm, guided the survivors back to the North.
The Elves of Lòrien, who had come to the war with the Silvan Elves of Oropher, also had lost their king: Amdìr, apparent father of Amroth, was cut off from the main host and driven to the Dead Marshes with most of his followers.
The Noldorin Elves of Lindon were guided back by Círdan the Shipwright, for even their mighty sovereign, Gil-Galad the High King had perished, burnt to death in his fatal struggle with Sauron by the heat of the Enemy’s hand. Others went to Imladris with Elrond, to perpetuate that last haven of Elven lore and wisdom. With them were also Galadriel and Celeborn, and their daughter Celebrían, whom Elrond married in year 109 of the third age.
The Three Rings of the Elves, free for the first time of the dominance of the One Ring, which was held now by Isildur, were used to mend the hurts of the land and cleanse the stain of the evil of Sauron. In Imladris was Nenya, the Ring of Water, held by Galadriel and Vilya the Ring of Air, worn by Elrond Half-Elven; in Lindon Círdan kept Narya the Ring of Fire.
The Dwarves returned to their halls of stone and Durin’s Folk came back to Khazad-dûm; they stood guard on their treasures, seldom coming into contact with the other peoples until evil rose again.
In Gondor, Minas Ithil was retaken and repopulated and its Palantír recovered.
Many of the servants of Sauron among the Men repented and went under the rule of the Kings of Gondor and Arnor, but still more remained subject to his evil influence and waited for the right occasion to wage war to the heirs of Elendil. The Men of the Mountains, who swore their loyalty to the Last Alliance, but fled from battle, were cursed forever by Isildur for their treachery.
The Dark Tower was levelled, but its foundations, having been made with the Ring, could not be unmade until the Ring lasted. The Men of Gondor built many forts and strong castles to guard Mordor and assure that none of the evil creatures that still lurked there could issue from its ashen wastes: the Tower of Cirith Ungol, guarding the high pass on the Ephel Dúath; Narchost and Carchost, the Towers of the Teeth watching the Black Gate in the North, and Durthang Castle, just inside the Gate, high on a branching spur of the Mountains of Shadow.
But the long darkness of the Dark Lord seemed departed for good, at least for the present, and mirth and hope prevailed in Gondor. Isildur himself, who had saved a seediling of the White Tree of Minas Ithil, planted it in the Citadel of Minas Anor, in memory of his brother Anàrion, killed during the siege of the Dark Tower. And there it grew, recalling to all the glory of Númenor and the bliss of the True West beyond.
Isildur's Departure for Arnor
After the overthrow of Sauron following the Battle of Dagorlad and the long and gruesome siege of Barad-dûr, the various hosts forming the army of the Last Alliance took the road back home. All were reduced in number and many lamented grievious losses among their leaders. The Elves of Eryn Galen (the great forest later known as Mirkwood) had lost their king, Oropher, who rushed forward with his best warriors even before Gil-Gald had given the signal for the first assault upon the Gates of Mordor and was slaughtered with most of them. Thranduil, his son and the new king of the Woodland Realm, guided the survivors back to the North.
The Elves of Lòrien, who had come to the war with the Silvan Elves of Oropher, also had lost their king: Amdìr, apparent father of Amroth, was cut off from the main host and driven to the Dead Marshes with most of his followers.
The Noldorin Elves of Lindon were guided back by Círdan the Shipwright, for even their mighty sovereign, Gil-Galad the High King had perished, burnt to death in his fatal struggle with Sauron by the heat of the Enemy’s hand. Others went to Imladris with Elrond, to perpetuate that last haven of Elven lore and wisdom. With them were also Galadriel and Celeborn, and their daughter Celebrían, whom Elrond married in year 109 of the third age.
The Three Rings of the Elves, free for the first time of the dominance of the One Ring, which was held now by Isildur, were used to mend the hurts of the land and cleanse the stain of the evil of Sauron. In Imladris was Nenya, the Ring of Water, held by Galadriel and Vilya the Ring of Air, worn by Elrond Half-Elven; in Lindon Círdan kept Narya the Ring of Fire.
The Dwarves returned to their halls of stone and Durin’s Folk came back to Khazad-dûm; they stood guard on their treasures, seldom coming into contact with the other peoples until evil rose again.
In Gondor, Minas Ithil was retaken and repopulated and its Palantír recovered.
Many of the servants of Sauron among the Men repented and went under the rule of the Kings of Gondor and Arnor, but still more remained subject to his evil influence and waited for the right occasion to wage war to the heirs of Elendil. The Men of the Mountains, who swore their loyalty to the Last Alliance, but fled from battle, were cursed forever by Isildur for their treachery.
The Dark Tower was levelled, but its foundations, having been made with the Ring, could not be unmade until the Ring lasted. The Men of Gondor built many forts and strong castles to guard Mordor and assure that none of the evil creatures that still lurked there could issue from its ashen wastes: the Tower of Cirith Ungol, guarding the high pass on the Ephel Dúath; Narchost and Carchost, the Towers of the Teeth watching the Black Gate in the North, and Durthang Castle, just inside the Gate, high on a branching spur of the Mountains of Shadow.
But the long darkness of the Dark Lord seemed departed for good, at least for the present, and mirth and hope prevailed in Gondor. Isildur himself, who had saved a seediling of the White Tree of Minas Ithil, planted it in the Citadel of Minas Anor, in memory of his brother Anàrion, killed during the siege of the Dark Tower. And there it grew, recalling to all the glory of Númenor and the bliss of the True West beyond.
Isildur's Departure for Arnor