Tzel earns a bow of legend

Elowan Mistweaver writes : As a Scholar and Historian with a particular interest in our Peoples involvment in the War against Sauron and the aid granted to the race of Man, the role and development of the Warband of Imladris within that conflict is of particular fascination to me. In my tome "The Trials and Triumphs of the Warband of Imladris" I devote a chapter to the significence of the granting of the legendary bow Alagos-Naur to one of the Race of Men who went by the name of Tzel. Without doubt this act was of major importance and marked perhaps the first real indication of a true shift of attitude towards Men from Lord Elrond, with all the subsequent events of his active involvement within the conflict following on from this. Clearly the role of Men within the Warband both in their steadfastness and effectiveness had a profound effect on Lord Elrond as well as the leadership of the group themselves for such an honour to be bestowed and for Tzel to be declared Elf-friend. That said, it was only a start in that change and one that still met with a great deal of resistance and indeed hostility from our people and, as I discovered, from within the Warband itself. One such example of this opposing view was held by Ridaran Iceblade, at that time a Chosen Warrior within the Warband and who was present at the ceremony at which the bow was presented to Tzel. After his death, a Journal written by Ridaran of Lorien was discovered carefully hidden within his last home. I was fortunate enough to acquire this book some time ago and it has proved an invaluable source of information relating to the Warband as well as his life before and after his membership of it. Of the cermony he wrote... "I could scarce believe what I was witnessing ! A legendary weapon of our people being granted to this Man of whom we knew little and who within the scales of time that Elf kind measure our lives had achieved so little of worth or note. The Officers of the Warband seem to hold him in some kind of affection, presumably in the same way as others of us may have affection towards a favourite pet or steed. While I cannot doubt Tzels courage and skills on combat, to grant him such a revered weapon is little less than sacrilage and a dishonourment of the memory of the heroic Andoreth. What is more to give such a powerful weapon to one of who's kind have repeatedly proved themselves weak and untrustworthy does begger all sane thought and consideration. I was only just able to hold my council as I witnessed the whole sorry farce unfold and had to quickly excuse myself afterwards to ride out and vent my rage on the first unfortunate foes I could find once I arrived back in the depths of Moria..." Clearly the episode had a profoundly negative effect on him and we know that many others of our kind shared a similar view at that time. Of course we now know that over time Ridaran's attitude to Menfolk modified considerably and that his subsequent interactions and shared experiences with Tzel had much to do with this. That said quite how he managed at this stage to function within the Warband while holding such antipathetic views is a complex story in itself. For those who may have interest in this, my upcoming book on this most complex and enigmatic of Elves (the first in a planned trilogy) entitled "Ridaran Iceblade : Dark Exile" is soon to be published and will hopefully explain much of the events that made him and of his early times within the Warband.