The Citadel of Annuminas

[Faron]

"I do not think that if we wait, our children will be taken from our grasp, but I don't think that we have nearly enough forces to siege and take even one realm that belongs to the evil ones. In addition, once we have our siege started, we will be flanked from behind by all the other realms of evil, for they all appear to be in this together. In short, an attack would cost us everything we have, and I for one am not willing to risk everything my race has worked for these many years since our kindred went across the sea."

[Alcorad]

"Thank you Aragorn. This decision is a great one but already members of the council are departing. We must make ready for war, because soon it shall come to us I assure you all. There must be some way that we can change the odds that go against us. What can we do?"

Doren slightly glanced at Eomund. He had been silent aside from the slight argument he had had earlier. Eomund could aid them but he doubted that he would. Middle Earth could be in danger more even so than the danger that the one ring presented. Now the disbanded forces of orcs and goblins were orginized and united. The darkness of night could bring disaster at any moment.

[Linnar Ironaxe]

Eomund was old. He was weary of these constant bickering of leaders... Pledges of war... It was time he stepped down. (With Megloren's influence)

"I will not consent to this alliance if you keep threatening Lady Megloren!" He shouted weakly over the crowd. "I trust her with my life- thus, I have decided to step down under my rulership of Rohan, and Megloren of Isengard will take over rulership. Her corrination will b sometime this year once I get my affairs in order. Rohan will always be at your service, as I am sure Megloren will follow the forces of light until the end."

(Please note that Eomund was very old to begin with, and since Megloren took control over him, her influence has weakened him greatly. See new avatar)

[Alcorad]

Doren watched him, mouth agape. Was this true? He did not have the highest standards of trust for Megloren and it seemed that Eomund as Murazor had said was clearly under her influence. "Lord Eomund, why not allow Lord Eomer of Rohan be king? A native to the riddermark would surely make your people more comfortable."

While Doren no longer distrusted Megloren as much as he had, he still had a small feeling of danger when she was near. The way she had treated her guards was not something emissaries of light often do. Not to mention that while Doren was visiting Isengard he could have sworn he smelled orc.

[Gimli]

Gimli shook his head under his mug of ale.

Belching loudly after draining it.

"I say, we must be friends Eomund. Why can't you just wait it out like a good ol' leader eh? Why, in my day, as Aragorn remembers, Theoden had much ado in our great war. He didn't move till the last moment, and things turned out alright. Be cheery and have an ale."

[Linnar Ironaxe]

Eomund looked down. "Eomer was killed by a stray warg from Dunland. He is no more... Megloren is the only person I trust! Do not question my choice. It does not involve you. I am weak, Gimli. Old and weak. There is nothing to wait for except death, and I will not leave Rohan leaderless. Megloren is my final choice. Perhaps, Doren of Arnor, you should keep your nose out of others affairs. You seem to be the one stirring up trouble. Then you rouse me from my home to tell of threats from Angmar, when you are the one who is planning acts of war! Stop nosing around, before you get yourself into a war, and then Rohan will not be there to help you." He sneered gruffly before getting off his seat, and leaving.

[Alcorad]

Doren stared at him as he left. Perhaps he was correct. Perhaps the scars of the Third Age had done more damage than he had thought previously. Perhaps he was only being paranoid. Perhaps... perhaps he should forget the entire affair.

A scout entered the citadel with urgent news for Lord Doren. He held in his hand a peice of tattered parchment. "My Lord, more news concerning the Barrow Wights. The rest of the swords in the Barrow Downs have been excavated and we have come in contact with a man living very near to our burial grounds, outside of The Old Forest. He goes by the name of Tom Bombadil and has given written a song used for warding the evil spirits."

The guard placed the parchment on the table for all still present to read.

"Get out, you old Wight! Vanish in the sunlight!
Shrivel like the cold mist, like the winds go wailing.
Out into the barren lands far beyond the mountains!
Come never here again! Leave your barrow empty!
Lost and forgotten be, darker than the darkness,
Where gates stand for ever shut, till the world is mended."

Doren scanned the parchment from his seat and nodded. "Tell the scribe to rewrite this song until we have enough to place in the barracks of Annuminas, Fornost, and Tharbad. Spread word of this to The Shire, have all warriors learn this song." The the scout nodded and began heading towards the scribe's quarters.

[Gimli]

Gimli peered over the paper, standing as high as possible to read it.

"Hmmm... Aragorn's memory is better than mine, but if I am not mistaken young Doren, the young hobbits, encountered this...person, Tom, on their journey during the third age."

[Alcorad]

Doren nodded remembering the buzz about the cities of Arnor concerning the quest for the ring. That long journey to Mount Doom, with a most unlikely hero. One small thing held the fate of Middle Earth. This day there was no ring to throw into the fires of Mount Doom. The darknesses of Middle Earth had gathered to form one alliance. The disbanded tribes of orcs and men descended from Ulfang the Black are united. The world of Middle Earth would fall and no matter how many swords or songs were found to hold them back, in the end they would overwealm Arnor and with that new power at their disposal they would destroy each kingdom of Middle Earth, one by one... no... It was a lie. A lie planted by Morsereg and a faulty mirror. That was all. The leaders of Middle Earth were right. We would be ready if danger should arise but none will come... none will ever come. This fabled power rising in the mountains was a myth. There was no danger... but how can that be? I saw it in Galadriel's mirror. We saw it in the palantir of Albesteen through the vision of Morsereg. Such threats would not be given without enough strength to hold them. There are seeds of evil that have been sewn this day, and I have aided their growth...

[Gimli]

Gimli kept peering at the words between gulps from his mug.

"Well...I'd say, that if I didn't know any better, you seem to be preparing for something young Doren. As Aragorn knows, I've seen enough youths to know their minds. You're plotting about something, and brooding Doren. Why not explain yourself?"

[Alcorad]

Doren laughed quietly to himself, for he knew well that he was eighty years of age and one of the Dunedain. Aragorn's second cousin to be exact. Though now he would need to explain his messenger's news no matter his age.

"When first the smokes of industry in Angmar rose, Noredred, one of my trusted Dunedain companions went to the border road of Angmar to investigate. There was beheld an evil spirit that is known as a Barrow Wight. Noredred escaped and reported to Annuminas. The Lady of Isengard did reveal to me that Angmar had interest in the Barrow Downs, My people's ancient burial grounds. I found a document about them in the libraries. I went to the Barrow Downs accompanied by a team of knights. We found weapons capable of destroying the Barrow Wights. Ancient weapons that retained the very soul of westerness and took with us ten from out first visit. Then with the aid of the swords and bows, we recruited the men of Bree to find more. It seems that now the search for each of the weapons is complete. The Barrow Wights are not effected by any weapons other than the weapons of my ancestors. Noredred tested his bow after his departure and it passed through it without even causing it to flinch. That is what I have been trying to learn about during this time but it seems it will be little aid to us."

Doren sighed now that he had ended his long explenation. The time to prepare was now and the time to say his farewell to the leaders. "I have much to do as I am sure you do aswell. I am sure the inn keeper may accomidate you free of charge if you seek to stay here but this council is now ended."

[Alcorad]

(So the council is over. we has so many other time frames that we needed to move on.)

Many days after the council, the High King sat on his throne once more. However this day Annuminas was fully prepared for a large scale attack and that is what they expected to come. Doren had ordered the scribe to record a set of documents for the library. The date was written at the top of the page and Doren began his recitement. The events were chronolized and included Morsereg's aid to the free peoples against the diminutive witch of Isengard, the council at Annuminas, and the discovery of the Barrow Blades and Songs of Tom Bombadil. The most troubling of the entries was by far the corronation of Megloren as Queen of Rohan.

Once the entries were completed, the scribe entered them with the rest of the documents of the libraries of Annuminas to be used when the need would come after no people present lived on to tell the tale aside from the elves. They were often a secluded race and Arnor's people would not often see them unless dire need presented itself.

[Linnar Ironaxe]

A stout Dwarf-Lord from Ered Luin by the name of Linnar Ironaxe entered the halls.

"Aye, I have come in search of the lord of Arnor. Have I sought the right place?"

[Alcorad]

Much time had passed since the council had ended and already Megloren had been claimed Queen of Rohan aswell as the known dissapearance of Albesteen.

The attendant of the throne stood and bowed slightly. "I am afraid he has departed with a host from Arnor to attend to pressing business to the south. I however carry Arnor's best interest aswell and would be happy to be of service to you."

[~Tom~]

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An elf ran into the throne rooma nd said "My lord , Lord Bauglir askes for aid , as he would of given you agist the threat of Angmar and Enedwaith , the Forces of Ilmare seeks to destroy Mithlond as Murazor is trying to put it back tgether, he asks for your aid to help defeat this evil who has many faces"