Even though Gondor, the Southern Kingdom of the Dúnedain, rejected Arvedui of the North's claim as King of all Dúnedain their leader did not do so out of hunger for power. "...Earnil was a wise man, and not arrogant, even if, as to most men in Gondor, the realm in Arthedain seemed a small thing, for all the lineage of its lords" (p. 330, The Return of the King). Therefore King Earnil affirmed the kinship of the two kingdoms and as a token that they not be estranged offered help to Arvedui should need ever arrive. Unfortunately given the nearly 100 years of war with the Wainriders Earnil possessed little strength and ability to back up his words. For years the Northern Kingdom was left to defend itself from the advances of Angmar.
In 1973, Third Age, Arvedui called for aid from Earnil. The Witch-king of Angmar was preparing his final stroke against the Northern Kingdom and without out aid they would fall. "Then Earnil sent his son Earnur north with a fleet, as swiftly as he could, and with as great a strength as he could spare. Too late" (p. 331, The Return of the King). Arthedain was overrun in 1974 and the Witch-king captured Fornost driving the Dúnedain over the Lune, including the King's sons. "But King Arvedui held out upon the North Downs until the last, and then fled north with some of his guard; and they escaped by the swiftness of their horses" (p. 321, The Return of the King).
There Arvedui and his men hid in the tunnels of mountains until utter need of food and supply drove him to seek help from the Lossoth, the Snowmen of Forochel. "These are strange, unfriendly people, remnant of the Forodwaith, Men of the far-off days, accustomed to the bitter colds of the realm of Morgoth...The Lossoth house in the snow, and it is said that they can run on the ice with bones on their feet, and have carts without wheels" (p. 321, The Return of the King). Out of pity for Arvedui and his starving men (for they did not value his jewels and treasures) they built snow-huts and offered food to the King. They were not allies of the Dúnedain but the Lossoth had no love for the Witch-king.
"When Círdan heard from Aranarth son of Arvedui of the king's flight to the north, he at once sent a ship to Forochel to seek him" (p. 322, The Return of the King). After a long journey battling the icy and tricky winter winds the mariners were as close to Arvedui as the ice would allow. The Lossoth were filled with fearful awe for they had not seen a ship in the mostly inaccessible extreme North before. By now they had formed a friendship with Arvedui and took he and his men by sled to the ship.
"But the Snowmen were uneasy; for they said that they smelled danger in the wind" (p. 322, The Return of the King). Their chief urged Arvedui not to board the ship, encouraging him rather to take what supplies they had, and wait out the winter when the Witch-king's power was lesser (whom the Lossoth thought could control the winter weather) in the summer. Arvedui chose to go with Círdan's mariners. But he left the Lossoth with a gift: "'This is a thing worth beyond your reckoning. For its ancientry alone. It has no power, save the esteem in which those who hold it who love my house. It will not help you, but if ever you are in need, my kin will ransom it with great store of all that you desire'" (p. 322, The Return of the King). Indeed, it was a mighty gift, for it was the Ring of Barahir. "In this way the ring of the House of Isildur was saved; for it was afterwords ransomed by the Dúnedain. It is said it was none other than the ring which Felugund of Nargothrond gave to Barahir, and Beren recovered with great peril" (p. 322, The Return of the King).
Unfortunately, the foreboding of the Snowmen proved true. Upon leaving the ship was caught in a great storm and ice crushed its hull. All aboard the ship perished including Arvedui, last King of the North, and two of the palantiri he had with him.
Meanwhile Earnur, son of Earnil, arrived in Lindon. By now the Witch-king had conquered Arthedain. The people of Lindon were greatly encouraged by the number of ships and men that Gondor had sent forth. Therefore Círdan assembled all who would go and together with Earnur marched forth to bring war upon the Witch-king. The host of the west destroyed the Witch-king's troops. Earnur, at the head of his cavalry cut off the fleeing Witch-king. "At the same time a force under Glorfindel the Elf-lord came up out of Rivendell. Then so utterly was Angmar defeated that not a man nor an orc of that realm remained west of the Mountains" (p. 331, The Return of the King).
"But it is said that when all was lost suddenly the Witch-king himself appeared, black-robed and black-masked upon a black horse. Fear fell upon all who beheld him; but he singled out the Captain of Gondor for the fullness of his hatred, and with a terrible cry he rode straight upon him. Earnur would have withstood him; but his horse could not endure that onset, and it swerved and bore him away before he could master it" (p. 331, The Return of the King). Given Tolkien's description of the Witch-king here I would say Peter Jackson's movie interpretation was spot on. The Witch-king laughed a horrible laugh that none would forget yet Glorfindel, on his white horse, charged him. But night was drawing nigh and the Witch-king turn and fled. No one knew where he rode.
"Earnur now rode back, but Glorfindel, looking into the gathering dark, said: 'Do not pursue him! He will not return to this land. Far off yet is his doom, and not by the hand of man will he fall' These words many remembered; but Earnur was angry, desiring only to be avenged for his disgrace" (p. 332, The Return of the King). Ah yes, here is the prophecy concerning the defeat of the Witch-king; and it would ring true years later when Eowyn of the Eotheod encountered the Witch-king. But for the present, Earnur's desire to prove his courage would be his downfall, as he would be the last King of the Southern kingdom of the Dúnedain.
Tied to this reading is a quick not about the Shire-folk, the Hobbits. Most of them went into hiding during the wars with Angmar. "To help the king they sent some archers who never returned; and others went also to the battle in which Angmar was overthrown" (p. 322-323, The Return of the King). When peace came to the land they prospered. "They chose a Thain to take the place of the King, and were content; though for a long time many still looked for the return of the King. But at last that hope was forgotten, and remained only in the saying When the King comes back, used for some good that could not be achieved, or of some evil that could not be amended" (p. 323, The Return of the King). Bucca of the Marish was the first Thrain in 1979 Third Age (379 Shire Reckoning). Indeed it would be over 1000 years before a King did return. It reminds me of my faith; that the Bible promises a second coming of Christ and yet he left over 2,000 years ago. It can be easy to forget that hope as the Hobbits (and others I'm sure) did. Lord, when I say come, Lord Jesus, may it be a prayer full of faith and hope and not just a saying about some unattainable good or irredeemable evil.
Middle-earth timeline: Third Age, 1973-1979
Today's reading comes from: The Return of the King, pages 330-331; 321-323; and 345-346
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