as recounted by Athair

Listen:

You have heard the tales of Dúnadan Lords

in the days of old and how

they were mighty warriors.

Isildur, the first son of Elendil son of Amandil,

slew many a servant of the Black.

Claiming Isildur's Bane as weregild

for the deaths of his father and brother.

To home in Arnor he went when Sauron fell.

He was a good king!

Isildur died at his fated hour,

slain by fell orc arrow.

Valandil ruled Arnor

a long time after his father's death,

and to him was born Eldacar

who ruled until he was old.

Eldacar had one son--

Arantar, a wise king.

Arantar ruled in less broken peace,

by the sons of Isildur

until Eärendur.

His people carried him to the sea,

which was his last request.

In the harbour stood

a well-built ship

ready for the passage.

I've never heard

of a more beautiful death ship.

The wisest alive cannot tell

where a death ship goes.

Amlaith Becomes King of Arnor, civil war and the sundering of Arnor

After Amlaith became king

he won many battles:

his friends willingly obeyed him

but his brothers defied him.

War despoiled the land of Arnor

and many passed away.

So Amlaith decided

he would not permit this,

a kingdom for each brother must be.

The lands of the great families

divided equally.

At Annúminas,

there he would share out

to brother young and old alike

all that his birth right gave him.

Thus the three kingdoms were born

and our line, which gave

our lord, moved south.

The Sons Of Anguil, Lord of Dol-duin

Many were the years pass

since Rhudaur came to be.

Anguil, son of Athuil,

Lord of Dol-duin,

great warrior, wise philosopher,

sailed into the after-wold.

Envy -- desire, did Arnath,

younger son of Anguil.

Arnuil, fair, wise and

a good kinsman ruled.

The Sons of Anguil knew

balance sided wit cursed Hillmen.

Arnuil guardian of the land,

a wise man but no warrior.

Arnath, great warrior,

but no wise man.

Both would be scrutinised,

and accordingly marked.

Embittered war betwixt

Rhudaur and Arthedain for

Amon Sûl and palantír.

He who had been brother,

he who were one people

did slay and were slain.

All was withered

to the wailing of women.

On such day did Arnath howl,

Arnuil was borne away:

he was a good lord.

Many battles did Arnath fight.

Many times did he avenge,

many did suffer.

Hearing the anguish,

blood satisfied, he returned home.

Many years were passed,

Arnath did feed the people

and make anew the homes lost.

In wisdom did he grow,

so did he grow in their love.

The Lay of Arnath

For scores of year

the lord kept the peace,

twisted aside the enemy.

But Arnath longed,

no more warrior

wise lord was he.

Love had soothed spirit,

subjugated darkness

within.

In his aged time,

arose in the North

a thing clawing from

Morgoth's pit.

Corruption it slithered,

venom its breath.

Long ago put to rest

once again beckoned to serve.

It whispered to Aranath,

evoked the dark thoughts

of jealous youth.

Reminding, recalling, revealing,

the nature of hidden past.

He who had fought many,

he who ne’er fright,

sense fear for the first.

The truth revelated,

He girded his loins,

assembled his bravest men

numbering twelve and one.

He kissed her goodbye,

rode out to tears.

Countless a day battled north

from beginning to end

all manner of foul creature.

Many brothers put down to rest

last they numbered only six.

In darkness they came to

the wyrm's barrow.

Shadows fogged up their minds

turned hearts to ice.

Dread almost turning them aside,

he strode forward

and roared the challenge.

The thing charged

begetting poison and gas.

It raked with claw and tooth.

His shield protected life and body

for a shorter time than needed.

Trusted shield,

rent and thrown aside.

The Lord of Dol-duin raised his arm,

assailed the dark thing

with ancestral blade,

but the edge cracked:

the bright sword of his fathers'

broke away.

Laughter released from the dark beast

savage was its mood.

With vim it lashed

with barded tail,

stabbing through

the lord's battle gear.

Darkness pierced his heart

like spear to flesh:

that dominant warrior,

would have to leave his people,

his kin,

would have, against his will,

move to the after-wold.

As must every man

give up these transitory days.

Taking heart at wound inflicted,

the beast cast its baleful eye about.

He who once ruled wisely

would face the dread beast

desolate of friend;

no strong captain to stand with him:

they ran to the woods

to save their lives

and live in shame.

Yet in one of them lay a grief-stricken heart.

Not one to forget kinship,

Enamir he was called, son of Arlamir,

a man of the Dúnadan,

a kinsman of Athelron.

He saw his lord’s agony from sting

of wound.

Recollecting the warm hearth,

the kind gifts of his

Lord's family.

The rich birthright and

stirring speeches given

at his own father’s funeral rites by

his lord.

He could not renounce his duty,

drawing his ancient blade

that among his kind was

know as Light of Eldanon

which served with his father's

father's father, the son of

Anthuil.

Arlamir gave the sword

and his war-dress to Enamir

and a great many treasures,

then departed this earth

old.

But this was the first time

the young champion

had gone into such perilous battle.

His spirit did not fail,

nor his heirloom: that

the dragon discovered

when they met in

war most savage.

Enamir shouted words about duty,

cried in shame to his companions:

"Where is your honour?

Your pride?

Are we not men, hearty and strong?

Come aid our lord,

or are you worms!

We did swear to our lord

that we would repay all his largess,

if the need should ever befall!

With glad heart did he choose us,

his best men for this task.

What honour he gave us.

He knew us to be his best.

Did he choose his best men,

or was he wrong?

Do you make our lord a fool,

you craven cowards?

He did propose to do this task alone because

he loved us so.

Begged us think of our wife and child.

Did we not plead to take this

task as we could not

bare to desert our lord.

Our lord is in need of captains,

of brave champions.

Let us go to him and bare him forth

victorious from the maul

of the dragon.

It isn't proper that we bare shields

back to our homes before we can

defend our lord and slay the enemy.

We should share his destiny as was our oath.

In victory or defeat we swore."

Then Enamir advanced

through the death-fumes.

Though his eyes did water

and his breath wheeze,

he did stride resolutely

into the lair of the beast.

With satisfaction it watched

Enamir's revulsion at

the sight of his stricken lord.

It spoke these words:

"Potent once were the race of

men.

Sallow, they are now.

Not since ages past

have two such as

you faced my wroth

with such valour.

I shall allow you to

bare your lord hence to

shelter that he might die

amid the cowards without,

if you gain sake me your oath to return

that I might gulp down the heart

that throbs within your torso."

Deviously, it delayed.

Twisting its great tail

at the rear of the Lord

and his faithful captain.

Enamir wisely answered thus:

"Fetid Darkness,

great captain of the pits:

you would have me bring shame on

my lord and myself by baring

him forth when battle has been met

with victory unclaimed.

Nay.

You, though you are evil,

are a mighty and laudable foe.

Worthy of a hundred men

such as us to battle.

We would not insult you by

not trying to give you a fight that

is deserving of your strength.

Give me but a moment,

let me set my lord

to his feet and then

you may take our strength.

Lest you feel you cannot."

The great beast did snarl

but held itself at bay.

Showing no dread,

Enamir went to his lord

and lifting him up,

He spoke these words:

"Lord, you who have

cared for your vassals

well.

You who drove out enemies

and wrought their fear,

as you did in youth,

as I have heard tell.

This is not the time to

surrender the glories

of your life. Think well

on the things yet to be done.

of the great deeds yet

to be accomplished.

Defend now, with all your strength,

your brave deeds

and that yet we will achieve.

I will help.

Together we shall drive

this foul, vain, beast

back to the depths

and take its life.

That is our destiny."

With a roar that dreadful beast

came at them in frenzy

surging forth a blast frightful acid and poison.

The blast did burn and melt

Enamir's shield down to the strap,

only his mail undercoat protected the young captain.

Then Arnath

harkened back to his past strength

he did strike with the shard of his sword,

life still shining forth from it,

but once again it was turn aside

Then the foul creature rushed once again,

baring down on Enamir, death in its eyes.

Arnath struck his loyal kinsman away,

and bore the wound as the mighty beast

sank its teeth into his neck –

terrible was the gush

of blood as it pulsed out in waves.

Arnath groaned but his life was not yet spent.

Enamir seeing this,

struck with terrible purpose

driving his sword into the beast's eye

through into its brain.

Arnath drew his battle knife

and viciously sawed through the beast’s throat.

The dire enemy fell –

the kinsmens' strength having

driven out its life together.

Arnath passed knowing they had saved many.

As he drew his last, he made Enamir his heir.

He was a mighty lord.

Enamir weeping carried the body of his

lord into the morning.

Calling forth the oaths of the cowards,

he bound them together swearing them

to his cause and he became the first lord

of the Arnathian Brotherhood: which later,

after his passing --wise and compassionate a lord--

and fall of Rhudaur,

claimed also codicil “Of Eriador”.