Hammer in Eregion
Préface
After being surrounded by Dundelings and Half-Orcs in eastern Eregion ( Burnt Tor and Torech Andraug area ), Tindir orders a tactical retreat in southern direction, crossing the dried Sirannon. Climbing the southern banks of named river, Hammer meets more Dunlanding resistance, and the only opening to continue the retreat is in South – Western direction, crossing Emyn Naer. Struggling amongst the ruins there, yet another Dunlending stronghold looms up, and the only possible way to reach Mirobel seems to head directly west.
At that point Tindir realizes that in doing that ( actually Himwen reminds him on that, but none shall know ), they would pull along a massive horde of enemy warriors and endanger Mirobel even more.
In this hopeless situation Tindir comes up with a *cunning* plan ( yes, all by himself this time ) and decides to strike South, cross the Glanduin, and move towards the Old South Road ( Old Kings Road, Greenway) , then up to the remnants of the Tharbad bridge, and from there returning to Mirobel through the swamps of Nîn-in-Eilph.
The plan might have been *cunning*, the execution was somewhat less.
Upon crossing the ford in the Glanduin, east of Ulundín, Hammer is opposed by a huge force of Hillmen, and the various companies under known Hammer’s are dispersed. Tindir orders his newly appointed standard-bearer Celephindir to plant his banner on the sandbank in the middle of the river and sends him to Mirobel to inform the Vanimarians there, and hopefully gather some reinforcements to save the situation.
What happened after that
With a sad look in his eyes Tindir saw Celephindir disappear on the southbank of the river, dragging a kicking and scolding Himwen along. A half smile appeared on his his face, this was why he loved her, her stubbornness and at the same time her loyalty towards him. He nodded, this was the right decision, they would reach Mirobel in safety.
A sudden loud uproar from the east point of the island woke him up from his pondering, and made Tindir rush to the double row of overlapping shields the Hammerites had formed to block and repel the enemy assaults. Only here, at this point of the sandbank, the assailants could reach the island by wading through, and it was here where Hammer made its stand.
Two waves of attacks came upon them, from the north and the south bank, fierce looking Dunlanders, pushed on by half-orcs, barking commands. And again, with the same result as the former ones: Hillmen clashing into the shieldwall, hammers swinging, and the enemy retreating, leaving many lifeless body in the Glanduin to be carried downstream .
But there was something different now, all assailents retreated to the north side of the ford, regrouping on the bank, putting up fires while dusk fell in. While the Hammer warriors reorganised their defending line Tindir dropped on his knees, pondering, trying to remember the lessons he learned from older, wiser commanders, recalling the stories Veryacano told him, lessons from the past. Was this a trap? or an opportunity given to him by the Valar?
Vista changed from grey to black, only the stars giving sparse light, Tindir rose to his feet and called Seronagar, his shield-bearer, over. “Spread the word, no sound, no fire, except one. Light a small fire beneath our banner, so the villains will see the swan, bright and white. Let all gather at the east end of this mound”.
As it befell, at the darkest hour of night, the Hammerites gathered, while a single fire lit up the white swan banner, and waded through the Glanduin in silence. This had been their stand, but not their last one. They moved South, a path leading them through rough ridges, hardly any opposition was met, and the resistance they came across, was quickly dispatched of, not by hammer, but with arrow and dagger.
When the first rays of the sun coloured the grass green again, the Old Kings Road loomed up in front of them…..
