Isildur

'Welcome to Gondor, Gildor Inglorion. Elen sila lumenn omentilmo.' The Elf clasped both the king's arms in affection and stood smiling at him. Tall as Isildur was, Gildor towered over him.

'Hail Isildur Elf-friend,' he said. His voice was soft, like the sighing of leaves at twilight. 'I rejoice in our meeting. Long and perilous have been our ways since we parted in the thunder of the Falls of Rauros.'

'Glad indeed are we to see you also, my friend. But where is Cirdan and the rest of your fleet?'

Gildor smiled, glancing at the anxious faces all about him. 'Do not fear, good people of Gondor. I was sent ahead to bring you word that all is well. The Elves of Lindon will be at Osgiliath for the Council at the appointed hour. Cirdan's Fleet is nigh.'

These words were heard by many standing near, and a cry of joy went up from the Pelargrim. 'Cirdan is nigh! The Elves are here! We are saved!' The word spread swiftly through the people now hurrying from the gate. Soon the glad cries could be heard at the gate, then from the walls, and soon the whole city was awake. Bells pealed from many towers. Gildor looked around in some surprise at the evident relief of the people. His smile faded as he saw the concern on every face.

'We have gathered far fewer men than we had hoped,' Isildur explained, 'and the Corsairs are abroad again. The Lord of this city has pledged his aid, but he will not leave the Gate of the South ajar to the pirates of Umbar. He will not ride with us until Cirdan's ships are guarding the River.'

'We saw no sign of a Corsair fleet, neither at sea nor when we crossed the bay,' said Gildor, 'and the White Fleet should arrive today.' Then all were glad, and the Elves were ushered into the city in a joyous parade. They accompanied Isildur to his camp where they sat long around a campfire, exchanging news of their respective journeys. Isildur told them of the difficulties and disappointments he had encountered on his journey around the Ered Nimrais. He spoke bitterly of the betrayal of the Eredrim.

Gildor shook his head. 'These are evil times, when friends will not come to the aid of friends. I encountered much the same when I went to see the Dwarves in their great delvings at Hadhodrond, that they call in their own tongue Khazad-dum. Those halls are great indeed, and filled with Dwarves of many kindreds. We had hoped that ten thousand would join us in our cause. They listened to my plea, and they met long and argued this way and that. At the last they decided that the war with Sauron was not their war, and they refused us. Of all the Dwarves only a handful of Durin's line seemed inclined to join us.'

'That is a great disappointment,' said Isildur, 'for the Dwarves are fierce warriors and will not quail in a battle. But I am not surprised. They often remain aloof and keep their own counsels. Still, the ancient line of Durin has always been friendliest to Elves and Men.' Isildur stifled a yawn.

'Now I am weary in my bones,' he said. 'If you will excuse me, Gildor, I feel great need for sleep, for I hope that Cirdan will arrive tomorrow and there will be much to do.' The Elves left him then and spent the night walking about the city, viewing the buildings and works of Men.

But dawn came and the sun climbed high and still but one swan floated at the quays. In mid-morning Barathor called a council in his Great Court. The chiefs of the Pelargrim were there, as were Isildur and Ingold and the leaders of their divisions. Then all eyes went to the main entrance, where Gildor and his Sea-Elves entered and bowed to Barathor and the king. They took their seats and looked about at the men and the hall with interest. Barathor opened the council and called first upon Gildor.

'Gildor Inglorion of Lindon, I bid you and your people welcome to Pelargir. Too long has it been since the Firstborn have visited us here in the south.'

'Thank you, Lord Barathor. Indeed it has been long since we walked in these lands, even in the reckoning of the Elves. For my own part it is a return to a land I once knew well. In fact, I once visited this very hill where your fair city now stands. It must be more than twelve yen ago now, before the first war with Sauron.'

The men looked at Gildor in astonishment, for they knew that a yen was one hundred forty-four years. And that meant that Gildor had been here centuries before the city was founded over a thousand years ago. They had come to accept that Isildur was over a century old, but this smiling Elf's casual comment struck them dumb with wonder.

Gildor appeared not to notice the sudden silence that fell on the listeners. 'Let us hope that we may exchange visits more often,' he went on, 'now that our kindreds are acting in concert once again.'

'It would give us great pleasure to have the fair people as our guests at any time,' said Barathor. 'But you are especially welcome now, as we have been very anxious about the Corsairs of Umbar, especially as we withdrew our fleet from the Bay of Belfalas. We are most concerned how long we must lie thus open to attack. We must ask you for your best estimate of Cirdan's arrival at Pelargir.'

Gildor bowed to the Lord. 'The fleet was nearing readiness when I sailed from Mithlond on the eleventh day of this month,' he said. 'The last ships were still being loaded. They would surely have sailed in another day or two at the most. My Varda travels somewhat faster than the fleet, of course. I would expect him this day or before the end of the next.'

The entire company relaxed and Barathor broke into a wide smile, the first seen on his face in many a day. 'Your news is most welcome, Gildor,' he said. 'In these latter times we rarely have good news from any quarter, and my mind has not been easy in my decision to leave the River unguarded. Now at last we will have strong friends at our backs, so that we may advance. We are nearly in readiness. We shall ride with Isildur to Osgiliath as soon as Cirdan arrives.'

But Isildur then spoke. 'My lord, the time is very precious. Every day we tarry here, the enemy has one more day to learn of our plans and to plot against us. Only by a swift and united stroke can we hope to defeat the forces arrayed against us. Many peoples and armies are moving in Middle-earth as we sit here, and they will be gathering at Osgiliath only four days hence. We must leave tomorrow if we are to reach Osgiliath in time.'

'Then let us hope,' said Barathor, 'that when the sun first tops the mountain in the morning, she sees a hundred swan ships in the roads.' Many of the Pelargrim murmured their agreement.

That night Isildur went not to the Blue Tower, but left the watching to others. The walls and parapets were lined with eager eyes, each wishing to be the first to spy the Elves. Isildur left word to be awakened when the first sail was seen, but no call came and the night passed slowly. Morning found the River empty and the people growing again troubled and anxious. 'Will they never come?' was the question on everyone's lips. When they had broken their fast, Isildur and Ohtar went to the Great Court seeking Barathor. They found him in his chambers near the court, speaking with Duitirith and Luindor.

Isildur hailed Barathor. 'Lord, the time has come. I must ride this morning for Osgiliath. Will you ride with me?'

Barathor glanced quickly at Luindor. 'My king,' said he, 'some there are among my people who counsel me to abide here until Cirdan's forces are in place.'

Isildur turned to face Luindor. 'Well I understand your fears, Captain,' he said. 'But we can wait no longer. Great events are afoot. Gildor assures you that Cirdan is near, perhaps even now meeting with your pickets at the Ethir. The time for caution is past. Would you have orcs streaming down the River Road, burning your lands and slaying your people before you march against them?'

'Nay, Sire,' replied Luindor, flushing hot, 'but our men are needed here in Pelargir. We have a good bridge, high walls, and a strong fleet. Fully manned, we can hold the southlands against the minions of Mordor. But we must have the men. The walls alone will not stop the orcs for long. You would have us strip our defenses and bare our breasts to the Black Ones.'

'I would instead have you gird yourselves and confront the evil in its own places, so that Pelargir and the southlands may not be torn by the cloven hooves of War. I tell you the time to strike is now. Even now, watching eyes are peering across Anduin, spying out our encampment here. Perhaps they already know that I am here. Messengers may at this moment be hurrying to Mordor with the news. Soon Sauron will be pondering what it means, perhaps guessing where our stroke will fall, strengthening his forces there. We must not delay, not another hour. Great powers are gathering at Osgiliath, and we must be there.'

'But, Sire,' said Duitirith, 'surely there can be no council until Cirdan himself comes. Could we not wait and ride with him to Osgiliath?'

Isildur's eyes flashed as his temper rose. 'Again I tell you nay. We will wait for no one, not even for Cirdan and his Sea-Elves. We go now to the capital to meet with others whose powers are greater even than Cirdan's, for all his Elvish magic. There can be no further delay. Events are already in motion that will change the world forever, for good or ill. Doom has taken up his gaming cup and we must be there when the die is cast. The time for talk is past. Captain, whom do you serve?'