Romach gave a thin smile. 'You ascribe all the misfortunes of the world to him, Sire. Is it not more likely that these other peoples are merely opportunists? People on the outside of power, uneasily watching the rising might of Gondor, now seeing their chance when she is weakened, distracted by Sauron?'
Isildur shook his head quickly. 'Most of our neighbors view us as protectors and friends. Throughout the Dark Years each petty kingdom was at constant war with its neighbors, instigated by Sauron himself. We Dunedain have brought peace and understanding throughout the many lands of the Uialedain. We have not come to conquer you nor to take your land. We come as friends, with skills and assistance to offer you. Their lords are happy to have us here. Lords like yourself, Romach, who have long seen the wisdom of joining us for the mutual good of our peoples. You know Gondor is not a threat to you. Your people have long been our allies.'
'Aye,' agreed Romach carefully. 'We have ever been on friendly terms with the kings of Gondor.'
Soon a stocky man came in wearing Isildur's livery. Romach recognized him as the herald who had announced the king.
'Ah, there you are,' called Isildur. 'Lord Romach, this is Ohtar, my esquire and friend. What news from the camp, Ohtar? How are the men?'
'Weary and dusty, Sire, and glad of a stop. The people of Lefnui are finding it hard to maintain the pace.'
'I am sorry for that, but it cannot be helped.'
'Ethir Lefnui?' exclaimed Romach with a start. 'The men of Ethir Lefnui are among you?' Isildur gave him a sharp look.
'That surprises you?'
Romach fought to contain his surprise. 'No, it…, well, yes. I have never known Ethir Lefnui to send her men to fight in another land's cause.'
'It is their cause as well. They bear the same hatred for the enemy as I, and for the same cause: he has destroyed our homes. Ethir Lefnui is no more.'
'Be it not so! How did this happen?'
'Aye, not these ten days past, lord,' said Ohtar. 'We were bound there from Anglond, and in the Nanbrethil Valley, between the mountains and the Green Hills, we came upon a ragged party of thirty men and women, the sole survivors of Ethir Lefnui. It was the Corsairs. The cursed Black Numenoreans, servants of Sauron.'
Romach nodded absently, seemingly lost in thought. 'We have heard they were abroad again, though we fear them little. Our mountain valleys are far from the sea.'
'Perhaps not far enough,' said Isildur. 'They have assailed the strong-walled city of Anglond, and it is well up the river Anga. They nearly took it, too. Their black ships could sail far up the Morthond, and it is not impossible that you could see not friends but Corsairs coming up the west road one day soon.'
Romach smiled. 'We are strong and well prepared. In truth we do not fear an attack from the seamen of Umbar. Still, we stand ever ready.'
'It would seem so. You marshalled your forces quickly.'
'Yes, we use horns to call the men of the other valleys. They are trained to come at the first alarm.'
'Mighty must those horns be,' said Ohtar, 'if they can be heard to the next valley. The ramparts of the Ered Nimrais are high indeed.'
Romach nodded. 'We use the horns of the wild kine of Araw. They are as long as a man and give a sound when well winded that will carry for many miles.'
Ohtar turned to Isildur. 'Such a horn would be of great use in a battle, Sire,' he said.
'Indeed it would,' agreed Isildur. 'Oft it is that the men cannot hear their orders in the tumult of battle. Armies have been lost because of it.'
'If you wish, Sire,' said Romach, 'I can have a horn brought for you. A gift from the Eredrim.'
'That would please us indeed, Romach. We thank you. But we are here to ask you for a far greater gift.'
'Indeed?' said Romach, his smile fading. But he was clearly not surprised.
'Yes. We have need of your help, to aid us in the war against Sauron. We have tried to spare the western provinces as much as possible. At first it was thought that with the aid of the Elves, the men of Ithilien and Anorien would be sufficient. I also believe my father just wanted to know that there was a corner of the realm as yet untouched by the Shadow, where people could live in peace as before. Therefore we have never called upon the people of the Ered Nimrais and the western coasts, though we have had many volunteers from Lamedon and Lebennin and even as far as Anfalas. But as you see, the war in the east does not go well. The men are weary of the long siege on the plain of Gorgoroth. Gondor has need of your help. We need every man you can spare from the needs of your own safety. I must call on you at last to fulfill the oath of the Eredrim, as was sworn to me by Karmach on this very spot nearly six score years ago.'
'The Oath of Karmach is well-remembered by the Eredrim,' Romach assured them. 'Although it was a very long time ago. Karmach has slept in his barrow these ninety years now.' He was finding it hard to reconcile the man before him with the semi-religious royal figure out of the old legends. This man had actually spoken with Romach's distant ancestor, the founder of his line.
'Karmach was a good man and a brave warrior,' said Isildur, his eyes distant as he stared into the past. 'And well-loved by his people.' He smiled. 'I can still hear their cheers when he announced our alliance. He was a wise and far-sighted king.'
Romach was less than certain that his ancestor had acted wisely in joining the fortunes of his people to those of the Dunedain. He couldn't help wondering if old Karmach hadn't been simply seeking the strongest ally in a dangerous time. After all, his old master Sauron, who had guided and advised the Eredrim for centuries, was suddenly and unexpectedly undone, lost in the downfall of Numenor that he had helped to bring about. Now enemies threatened on every side. And here were these newcomers, these Dunedain, borne on the wings of storm out of the sea, asking if he wanted to be their allies. They were numerous and mighty, fierce warriors, a hundred or more years old, learned in all arts, bearers of magical weapons and Elvish sorcery. How far-sighted did he have to be to see which way the wind blew?
But things were different now. Sauron, whom all thought lost, had returned in another form, no longer fair to look upon, it was said, but more powerful than ever. In all these years of war, the Dunedain and the Elves have been able to accomplish little more than retake a few miles of desert.
But Romach was careful to let none of these thoughts show on his face. He licked his lips anxiously. Much depended on how he chose his next words.
'Much has changed in the world since those times, Sire,' he said, watching Isildur's face. 'Karmach was speaking for a nomadic tribe of a few thousands, helpless against its warlike neighbors. But now our neighbors are our friends. And we Eredrim have not been idle. We number nearer a hundred thousands now, and we have villages in every bay of the mountains from Nanbrethil to Gilrain. We watch the mountain passes and the fords of the great roads for Gondor.'
'Much has changed,' said Isildur calmly, though Ohtar saw the hard dark gleam in his eye that always bode ill for someone. 'But much remains the same. The Gondorrim and the Eredrim are still allies, and common enemies still threaten. Karmach swore to me on the Great Stone that the Eredrim would always come at need if called by the King of Gondor. As I swore for Gondor's part to aid the Eredrim against any attack. And we both did agree that these oaths would be binding on our descendants and successors. It was a solemn bond. Such things do not change.'
'Of, course, Sire,' said Romach quickly. 'The Oath of Karmach is taught to every child. Indeed, it has been but recently the subject of much discussion among the people. To be honest, Sire, many of my people feel that we should remain here to guard our homes. They have little interest in the war between Gondor and Mordor. They feel it does not concern them.'
'And what of you, Romach,' asked Isildur. 'Do you deem the war with Sauron is of no concern to you?'
'Of course we are concerned. It is most uncomfortable when one's neighbors are at war with each other. It is difficult not to become involved. After all, our friends are suffering, and our trade is disrupted.'
'You will have more than your trade disrupted if Gondor falls.'
'We know that. But we are no longer bands of wandering warriors. We are a nation of herdsmen and farmers. We have no mighty army to send with you.'
'Were you not just praising the readiness of your army?' asked Isildur slyly.
