Will I ever get time to relax? Will I ever be allowed to actually settle on some place until the end of my ages? And will she?
What I mean is this.
I am exhausted. During the past ten days I have covered about a thousand miles, not to mention Malheru is the one who had to gallop through all this. If he was the man and I his horse, I cannot imagine what madness would haunt me for the rest of my horse-life after such a journey. He is a skilful horse who barely needs to be told where to go and how fast. I am amazed and stunned at what he performed so far. This is not the clumsy horse I remember back from Lórien - this is a true champion.
At first, Malheru brought me to Rivendell. After a day spent with Muiley I have decided to prepare a surprise for her. Malheru galloped to Falathlorn, where I have spent whole two days buying and sorting a new house. I have bought a large one in Sarngarth, situated on a cliff with a beautiful view around. There is a waterfall nearby and it is a very calm place overall. And because we share our favourite color and she likes darkness, I have managed the interior to serve us just perfectly. Still, this house may or may not be our last one - I am well prepared for the possibility of her rejection to live among the Eldar and in that case we would settle in a different place. Anything for her.
When I finished establishing this new sanctuary, I have yet again jumped on Malheru’s back and was brought to Forochel, where I have planned to go and check on recent happenings. But instead of going around the Arthedain mountain range – meaning going east and turning north before the Barrow Downs – I have tried a much faster route. I thought going straight north-east would save us time and energy, and Malheru seemed to agree with me. So we went north through Ered Luin and we made a stop at Thorin’s Hall, as I needed to get myself rid of a few gems I have gathered on my way. The vaults in Thorin’s Hall are the safest place to store such things and that is why I keep them all there. So then we set off north-east and crossed numerous peaks. There was no road whatsoever and I was thinking we should probably turn around and take the long way, but the mountains were being crossed one by one and soon we reached the coast of the Lune river. It took about another day to finally get to Forochel, but the path along Lune was flat and safe.
When we arrived to the Ice Bay and now rather slowly made our way to Pynti-peldot, I was caught by a messenger of the Leijona-heimo who called around for help. When I asked what is going on and he said that Sûri-kylä is under attack by armies sent from the Ironspan, I did not even have the time to express my shock and Malheru flied away with me on his back. I barely recollected myself and we were standing on the peak overlooking the ‘pools’. The sounds of war once again caught my ears, but my eyes were already scanning the odds. The battle seemed to be matched, yet both sides had barely any losses. This meant that the battle has just started and I charged downhill, around the battlefield, before finally joining my Lossoth allies. Both armies seemed to lack good leadership, and when I looked around for Launo, I did not see him. But at this point I must mention the pride I have felt when we pushed back the assault. There were many losses on our side and Pentti called us back. But me and several others refused. We were so angered by this act that we furiously counterattacked the Jä-rannit encampment and burned nearly a half of it before we decided to return back.
Soon before I finished helping with gathering and burying the bodies, I was absolutely stunned to notice the crowds are hailing me. Some of them called out ‘Nareloth, meidän sankari!’ and the rest called me ‘kirous Angmarin’ – meaning something like ‘bane of Angmar’. I did not know what to think at that moment as I did not understand their sudden cheerfulness, yet I felt as proud as almost never before. My mentor in Lórien kept telling me that ‘I was born on the battlefield’ and at this moment I thought him to be a genius. When I finally got inside the Elder’s tent, Yrjänä – the high elder – thanked me in a way I am quite used to. He offered me one of his precious rings and I expressed the usual modesty one would raise in such a case. He refused to allow me to refuse and I took it. It is a very pretty ring made of mammoth tusks, lined with ancient silver and topped with a large shiny sapphire in the middle.
But as soon as my short-term pride was over, disgust came over me. I made a mistake when I led the counterattack, yet nobody among these simple tribes thinks the way I do. But I still have to admit that ‘Bane of Angmar’ doesn’t sound bad at all.
I was offered to stay in the large tent overnight and celebrate the victory, but as I said, I am too tired. I took a small tent for myself and I am just about fine with a lighted candle.
Back in Rivendell I have checked on Muiley and stayed with her for a day. She is exhausted, but in a very different way than I am. She barely eats, almost always sleeps, and during that day ‘I love you, Gar’ was all I have heard from her.
So I am very sorry, but this is it! I am done with all that stupid killing, spying, saving lives and being cheered upon. SHE is what I have chosen a long time ago. The very thought of leaving her behind for my own glory is completely foul. In the morning I will make my way back to her; and when I think about it, this will finalize a very nice triangle. The ‘Eriador triangle’.
