Chapter 21: Fornost Erain

The 30th Day of Ivanneth. T.A. 1640

Kirahan stepped forward, extending his hand towards Tarma. "I am Kirahan," he said, smiling, "and it is an honor to meet you finally. I met my companions after you'd been returned, but I've heard a great deal none the less."
Marl took Kirahan's hand and pressed it warmly. "And it is good to meet you, sir. You are most welcome. I am only sorry that I have met you all in such a troubled time. Were it otherwise, I would have liked to show you my home, at Tarmabar. Perhaps that shall still come to pass, that is if Eru will favor us in the coming days."
"Eru will favor us if we favor ourselves," Kirahan responded, looking over the gathered host. "I know not what difference one sword will do, but tell me how I may help."
"One sword could make all the difference, if it is held by a stalwart and worthy hand. Your offer is timely and very welcome, sir. I only wish I had a thousand more like you."
Marl whispered to an attendant nearby. "When we are done here, Kirahan, this man will see that you are assigned to a unit. You may tell him of your needs, if any."
While Kirahan and Marl talked, others noted that Lord Eketta stood nearby, as if impatiently waiting for Marl to be finished with his interviews.
Ranciryon, Clarissa, Daern and Takenya also presented themselves, makings small comments to Lord Tarma. Ranciryon was beside himself, also asking to be allowed to join the Arethdan host.
After Kirahan, and the others who presented themselves to Lord Tarma were done, Fred approached Marl and said, "Your Lordship, I am Fred Underhill and along with Ordain and the others I helped to rescue you as a babe from that dark manor many years ago. I understand your feeling toward my folk, and I wish that the granting of a home for them did not have to come at your expense. I hope that their courage and valor in the coming battle will be some consolation for an agreement that took from you something that was yours. I only pray that you will remember us for the role we play today, and not for past grievences. I thank you for treating them with respect, and for arming and feeding them. I know that the sacrifices my companions and I made long ago, even the death of Eoras," Fred paused for a moment in silence, before continuing "was not too great if it resulted in bringing such a wise and benevolent leader to Fornost in its time of need."
Marl looked sternly at Fred and then lowered himself, presenting his hand. Fred paused at first, not knowing what to do, so Marl took the initiative by taking Fred's hand and grasping it firmly.
"My good friend, Fred, allow me to call you that - I am the most sorry of all that politics and necessity have forced this course upon us. But I want you to know that I know of all of you and what you've done for me and my familly. Noble sons do not always have the freedom they wish but to follow the course set for them by their fathers. But always know this, that there will always be a place at my hearth for You, and those whom you call friends. After this is all over, I shall make proof of these words."
"Marl, please," Lord Eketta protested. "Shall we be away before others see you?"
Marl stood up and addressed the group. "Well, I am away now good people. I have much to do, but when this is over, and hopefully we shall all come out of this well, Eru willing, then you are all invited back to Tarmabar with me. All of you," Marl said, looking directly at Fred. "And now, if you will excuse me, I have very pressing concerns to attend to. Though I must say, you will all one day have to tell me how you keep yourselves so well preserved. Certainly you all can't have such strong elven blood within you."
At this point, the party broke up to attend each to their own private affairs, before the army should leave at dawn.

Fred excused himself to try an obtain clothing and some manner of insignia for the Shire levy. With his good fortune, he felt a need to help his fellow hobbits show themselves well in the coming battle. However, with so many men camped outside the city, there was precious little to be had in the way of clothing, outside that which had been comandeered by the King's men. As for cloth, what little there was left could not be worked into suitible garments for the small sized halflings before their dawn departure. The best Fred could do was to secure five-hundred and one white swam feathers, to be placed in the hobbit caps, or tied to their hair. On such short notice, it was the best he could do. He thanked the ladies who assembled the feathers for him freely, and rushed off to distribute them.

The 1st Day of Nórui. T.A. 1640

At dawn, the army assembled and began the long march to the frontier. The Royal Army of the King was the best equipped, each man wearing a Royal surcoat and were well armoured. The characters of the Noble armies, though similar, still varied according to the habit and custom of their lords and people. Of the rest of the army, the bulk was drawn from the levies and vassals of the seven High Lords, or Roereter as they were called, after the fashion of the elves. Much of Lord Tarma's levy was made of heavy horsemen, drawn from the southern plains that lay to the north of the Shire. The proud men of Lord Eketta, heavily armoured, were as well equipped as the King's own men, each bearing a white surcoat with red stars emblazoned on it. They were reputed to be the best swordsmen in all of Arthedain. The men of House Foros and House Emerie contained many good foot archers in their ranks, while House Noirins small retinue consisted almost totally of heavy clad knights. House Hyam brought with them mounted infantry called dragoons. While House Orros marched onto the field in ranks of spearmen. Adding to this the levys brought by those of the fifty-six lesser houses, or Ereter, who'd had time to march to Fornost, the diversity of the army became truly staggering, not even counting the levy of the Shire. There were however, no long pikemen, such as the famed Raggers of Cardolan. There would be no time to see such arrive before the army was to leave. In looking at the assembled soldiers, if there was one common piece of equipment that they had, it was the fearsome Eket, or Arthedan short sword from which House Eketta took its name, and whose use they were legendary.
As the army marched out, the Royal Army, or Dagarim Aran, took the van, followed by the combined Noble host, or Degerím Ereter. The Royal Army had the largest percentage of knights, Arequian, each carrying extra mounts for each knight. These were considered super heavy cavalry. They were accompanied by the Ohtari Ryhn, superb heavy cavalry horse archers who wore black chain shirts with short sleeves that would not hamper their ability to fire their bows while maneuvering their horses. Besides bows, these men carried lances. Behind this, marched the Ohtari, or Royal Footmen, who marched in close formation, spears and shields held ready.
As had been said, the Noble armies varied in character. Requain, or Noble knights, were very much like their royal counterparts, perhaps a little less uniform and vastly more colourful. Noble cavalry, called Rorivilur were clad also in chain, but used spear, lances or shield has their primary weapons, fighting either on horseback, or dismounting as mounted infantry. The largest noble contingents present were the Rhivulur, or noble foot, mostly chain clad spearmen who used bows at long distance, closing with spear or eket. Irregular levies of light horse and skirmishers, such as the hobbits made up the rest. Though varied in character, even the most casual observer could see that the basic Arthedan philosphy in war was to rely on heavy clad troops, well trained and disciplined, to carry the field against all odds. Time had proven this a wise tactic against the armies of Carn Dûm, but always, there was the chance that superior numbers would carry the day, and certainly, Angmar always had had that. Disturbing word came from the Rangers screening the Angmarim host that this time, that having learned their lesson, the Angmarim had also brought heavy troops in the form of iron clad hobgoblins and giant war trolls.
As the army marched forward, it was learned that Lord Tarma would leave the main body for a while, leaving the heavy cavalry and foot under Lord Eketta, while he took the lighter contingents of horse forward in a bold gamble to try and save the beleagured force in the besieged keep. The light horse moved forward while the ponderous weight of the main army plodded forward.

{The normal marching time of the remarkably quick Arthedain army would take them at least a week to reach the frontier. Lord Tarma has ordered the army to make the journey in only four days, meaning the men will arrive tired. He is taking the light cavalry on ahead and promises to return. This means that they won't be all that fresh either. In reading the above summary of the basic units, you each need to make a decision about which unit, type of unit, or even house, that you wish to attach yourself to. This will affect what character of fighting, if any, your character might see, and what sort of persons he/she will meet. For now, that and any other small considerations are all you need to do. I'll continue this move once those decisions are made.}

As they marched northward, those in see empty lands from plague

x.p.. award: Fred - 325, Kirahan - 130

Minimove:
1. Fred buys for himself new boots, a nice padded coat, new pants shirt and boots for one crown (5 s.p.). From a Dwarven merchant at the city gate, he buys a nice dress coat for five soverigns (5 g.p.). NOTE: prices are outrageously inflated now, because of the scarcity of goods while the army is present.
2. Fenstil of Rood is just closing shop, dressed in old leather and padded armour that ill fits the man. As Fred walks up, he hurredly agrees to craft a flute on (he say's "if") Fred returns, and then impatiently hurries on to join his King's Reserve Guard levy.
3. Clarissa's needs are met by the expenditure of one pound, five shillings (1.5 g.p.).
4. "Jo-nag, do you remember that young girl who I met outside of your inn on my first day here, Lassandra was her name? If so, do you know her last name, or where I could find her?"
"Oh yes, I know her. Our darling little Lass, we call her. She comes to fetch a piece of sugar from me now and then. Her father is Thornbregil, an Arequain serving his Majesty.
"Well, I would like to get her something for being the first friendly face in this city. Maybe a necklace with a flower on it. If I can locate her I will have a jeweler make something nice."
"Oh, I'm sure she'd love that. You'd be a friend for life. You might want to get her parent's permission though."
Fred went on to say, "You also mentioned that if I were richer or willing to use some, shall we say 'unconventional' methods, I and my friends could possibly help Ordain out. When this battle with Angmar has been resolved, and with Eru's blessing we are triumphant, I'd like to talk to you about both options."
"Certainly, Master Fred. I would be open to hearing anything you have to say on the matter."
Fred makes arrangements with another Dwarven merchant to craft a necklace of silver, set with a small amethyst crafted into the design of a flower. The necklace will cost a crown (5 s.p.) half payable now and the other half upon delivery. The dwarf will hand the order to one of his cousins travelling back to the Blue Mountains. Another cousin will probably be coming back this way and will seek Fred out to deliver the necklace. The dwarf assures Fred that it will be no trouble to fill out such an order.
6. Fred pays Gorwin a shilling (1.s.p.) to stuff his ears with cotton and wax and hear Fred play his flute. Nothing happens to Gorwin, but a nearby cat starts dancing a jig, and protesting it loudly to boot. Fred even begins to begin being affected by his own playing but stops just in time.
However, when he tries to implement his plan with the hobbits of the levy, he finds them suspicious and uncooperative. They do not take to the idea of stuffing their ears with wax and cotton and act as if they do not trust Fred, demanding to know which clan he comes from and from whom he is decended. Fred then realizes that the clannish hobbits, seeing him as an outsider, react much as the hobbits of his own day would, with suspicion, derision, and distrust. Fred realizes that the hobbits are just as bad as the Dunedain in their prejudices, and ten times as stubborn.

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