Upon Dagorlad the battle raged. And at its height, with victory still undecided, the Northmen charged into battle in a great eored aided by horsemen of Gondor. This turned the battle and the Wainriders soon fled. "They had left well nigh a third of their host dead to rot upon the Dagorlad among bones of other and more nobler battles of the past" (p. 290, Unfinished Tales). Calimehtar did not pursue his enemy but the Northmen rode on driving the enemy to the sight of Mirkwood saying; "'Fly east not north, folk of Sauron! See, the homes you stole are in flames!'" (p. 290, Unfinished Tales). The revolt had taken place during battle as desperate outlaws and slaves attacked the Wainrider homesteads while their armies were engaged in battle. Yet, once again, many of the Northmen were lost and they never returned to their old homelands.
While the Wainriders were defeated the victory was not complete. But for a time, from 1899-1944 Third Age, Gondor had peace. "It was in the reign of Araphant in the North and Ondoher son of Calimehtar in the South that the two kingdoms again took counsel together after long silence and estrangement. For at last they percieved that some single power and will was directing the assault from many quarters upon the survivors of Númenor" (p. 329, The Return of the King). I was wondering when the Northern (Isildur's descendants) and Southern (Anarion's descendants) Dunedain would reconnect, if ever. And it's nice to see they realize all the internal wars, external wars, and plagues are not simply coincidence. Which gives an interesting thought; often in Christianity we can talk about how God is at work even if we don't always realize it (as I've commented even in this blog, take for example the Valar sending the Istari). And yet, I think often evil is at work even if we don't always realize it either.
"In the meanwhile the Wainriders licked their wounds, and plotted their revenge" (p. 290, Unfinished Tales). They had fled East but lusted after the land and riches of Gondor so they waited and regained their strength. Neither the Wainriders nor Gondor had any solid news of the other during this time of peace as each tried to regain strength. As the Wainriders multiplied and moved South they began to war the the peoples of Khand and others. "Eventually a peace and alliance was agreed between these enemies of Gondor, and an attack was prepared that should be made at the same time from north and south" (p. 291, Unfinished Tales). In 1936 Ondoher, son of Calimehtar, became King and was warned by the Northmen of raids on their land, a signal that the Wainriders in Rhovanion were gaining strength and possible aid from somewhere else. "But Gondor could do no more at that time than gather and train as great an army as it could find or afford. Thus when the assault came at last it did not find Gondor unprepared, though its strength was less than it needed" (p. 291, Unfinished Tales).
And even if the payoff wasn't immediate the there was much good that came from the renewed alliance between the Southern/Northern Dúnedain. "It was at that time that Arvedui heir of Araphant wedded Fíriel daughter of Ondoher (1940). But neither kingdom was able to send help to the other; for Angmar renewed its attack upon Arthedain at the same time as the Wainriders reappeared in great force" (p. 329, The Return of the King). Much good would also come from the alliance of Gondor/the Northmen as has been seen currently but more so in the histories to come. "But the greatest effect of the alliance lay far in the future which none could then foresee: the two great rides of the Rohirrim to the salvation of Gondor, the coming of Eorl to the Field of Celebrant, and the horns of King Theoden upon the Pelennor but for which the return of the King would have been in vain" (p. 290, Unfinished Tales).
Middle-earth timeline: Third Age, 1899-1944
Today's reading comes from: Unfinished Tales, pages 289-290; and The Return of the King, pages 329
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