Isildur

seized for their crimes!'

Isildur's voice grew harder still. 'It was with regret that we were forced to honor their flag of truce, especially as I thought it most likely that their emissary was the same that had ordered the attack on Ethir Lefnui. Malithor is his name, but I called him the Mouth of Sauron, for though he pretends to speak for his Emperor Herumor, his thoughts and his speech are but the will of the Dark Lord.

'I warned Romach against his threats, but Romach is grown fearful and cautious in his old age, and he would not side with us. I think in the end he thought he would rather have Gondor as a betrayed ally than Umbar, for he knows we will not attack him for it.

'And so when I sounded my horn and called them to the aid of Gondor, they broke their oath and hid their faces from me. But Romach's cowardly cunning did not avail him, for I called upon my own not inconsiderable powers and laid a doom upon him and all his people. They shall remain undisturbed in their remote valleys as they wish, but they shall neither increase nor flourish. Their line shall wither and fade and their settlements and their works shall fall into disuse and ruin. They shall never find rest, neither in this life nor after it, until they fulfill their oath and answer the call of my horn.'

The hall remained silent, in awe and horror at this doom. Amroth studied Isildur in surprise. He could not say if Isildur had such power, but he looked so grim and determined that he doubted him not. He whispered to Elrond beside him. 'These Dunedain seem to wield powers greater than many an Elf a hundred times older. We Quendi tend to think of Men as our younger brothers, but there may come a time when they rival or even exceed us.'

Elrond must have been thinking much the same thoughts, for he whispered back, 'With allies such as Isildur, perhaps we shall indeed prevail against the enemy.'

While they were thus engaged with their thoughts, Isildur had gone on to relate the tale of the council at Pelargir and his return to Osgiliath. When he was finished he called upon Cirdan, who told of his voyage, the storm at sea, their mad race up Anduin, and the battle at Pelargir. Since Amroth had taken part in these adventures, he was giving only half an ear as he scanned the faces in the hall. But then Cirdan said something that caught his attention.

'And near the end of the battle,' Cirdan was saying, 'when it was clear that the Corsairs could not have the victory, one galley broke free and dashed for the eastern shore. We pursued it and caught it, but not before one of their officers took to a great black horse and escaped. Of all the men of Umbar in that fleet, I believe he is the only one to escape alive.'

'Lord Isildur,' said Amroth. 'You told of an emissary from Umbar that came to Erech. What was his name?'

'Malithor.'

'And what his likeness?'

'Very tall and dark, with a long face and a nose hooked like a hawk's.'

'It is the same man!' exclaimed Amroth. 'Our eyes met as his galley swept past ours. Such a face, and such a look of hatred upon it. I would know him anywhere.'

'Which way did he ride?' asked Isildur sharply.

'East and north, toward Mordor, my lord. We noted it at the time.'

'Returning to his true master, no doubt,' said Isildur. 'Would you had caught him. Our entire enterprise depends on surprise. If he has learned or guessed our plans and bears them to Sauron, we have but little hope of success.'

'Then we must move swiftly,' said Galadriel, speaking for the first time. All turned at the sound of her voice, like water falling in a fountain on a still night.

'I would urge the greatest possible haste,' she continued. 'We have heard the reasons for this council and how we have been gathered here. This Malithor threatens Gil-galad's plan, root and leaf. Our only hope is to strike before he can reach the Barad-dur. What would you have us do, Isildur?'

Isildur nodded. 'All our tales are told. Now is the time for us to fulfill our part of the final acts of the war. The Lords of the West bid us to cross the Anduin and assail Minas Ithil using all the weapons at our disposal. Our task is to strike swiftly and rout the foul carrion things that now rule the Tower of the Moon before they can send to the Barad-dur for aid. We are to secure the city as quickly as possible, then drive east without delay to join him in Gorgoroth. We have reason to believe that Sauron will soon perceive that the city has been attacked. He will be compelled to come forth to attack us. Gil-galad and Elendil will do all they can to stop him when he issues from his Tower. If fortune is on our side, they will have bested him before we arrive. If not, we will be there to finish him. This is my charge by my king and father. I will fulfill my duty, if I have to ride alone. But most of you are not subjects of Elendil. You are not compelled and must choose. I ask you all, will you ride with me?'

Turgon leaped to his feet. 'My king, if you go to assail Mordor, to the death would I follow you!'

'So say also the men of Pelargir, my lord,' said Barathor. 'The Enemy tried to destroy our city. We are eager to return the compliment.'

'The men of Angrenost,' said Thardun, 'will always serve our king, through both duty and love.'

'We too serve our king,' said Cirdan, 'for Gil-galad has ruled us since the world was changed, and always we have fought against evil. We will do as he bids.'

'The Galadrim,' said Celeborn, 'also recognize Gil-galad as High King of the Exiles. We will not shirk our duty.'

'My lord Isildur,' said Surion, 'the men of Cair Andros will also serve you.'

'And of the Harlond,' shouted Halgon.

'And Linhir!' 'And Calembel!' 'And Emyn Arnen!' 'And Minas Anor!' Then all were shouting, calling out their support. Isildur stood smiling at them. Gradually the shouting ceased.

'My friends, my heart is moved by your loyalty and trust. We have a difficult task before us. I have sworn to slay Sauron and throw his Tower into the abyss. But now with your help we will surely have the victory at last and I will fulfill that oath.'

Then a great cheer broke out from many throats: 'Isildur! Isildur! Isildur!' There were also many shouts of 'Elendil!' and 'Gil-galad!' Isildur acknowledged the cheers with a smile, but then he raised his hand for quiet.

'My friends,' he shouted, 'with such allies, how can we fail? We are armed and ready. We should move as soon as possible.'

'A moment, Isildur,' said Galadriel, rising, her soft voice cutting through the many voices in the room. 'One more tale needs to be told here today. If these good folk are risking their all to fight with us, they should be aware of all the forces that will enter the field. Do you not agree?'

Isildur's smile faded. He looked at her seriously, then at the watching faces.

'Aye, my lady, it is meet. The time for secrecy is now past. Will you tell the tale, since you know it best?'

She bowed gracefully in acceptance, then turned to the hall. 'My friends,' she began, 'what I will now relate is known to many of the Elves here but probably to few of the others. The tale begins long ago, but if you will bear with me, I think you will see that it has great import to our enterprise now.

'Long ago as Men reckon the years, in Ost-in-Edhil, the city of the Elves of Eregion which is no more, one of the greatest of all the Noldorin smiths, Celebrimbor son of Curufin, labored at his forge. After many yen, he found a way of forging gold and incorporating into the metal the powers of the great Eldarin arts, those with which we create and maintain the wonderful beauties that surround us in our own realms and which remind us of our home in the immortal lands across the sea. These are arts only partially understood even by those of us who practice them. Most Men call them magic. Celebrimbor discovered the means of distilling the essence of these powers and mixing it with the molten metal. With this process, Celebrimbor forged many rings of power, rings which gave their bearers the power to alter the world around them. With each ring, his skill increased, until he created the greatest of all, the Three Great Rings: Nenya, Narya, and Vilya.

'Using the Three, the Noldor built many fair places in Middle-earth and imparted them with some of the eternal beauty of Valinor. Great works were done and much good was accomplished. Many places fouled by Morgoth in the Elder Days were cleansed and made fair again. But always Celebrimbor sought to make even greater rings to accomplish even more.

'Celebrimbor sought also for other great smiths with whom he could share his knowledge and from whom he could learn and improve his skills. Many master smiths came to his workshops and foundries in Eregion. The