Gondor

The ship groaned and swayed against the rain and wind. Waves lashed against its sides threatening to engulf the entire vessel and everyone aboard. Sailors manned their stations, clinging on for dear life as sea and foam spilled upon the main deck. One misstep, one slip of the rigging would be a matter of life or death for these men. The Bay of Belfalas seemed a world away.

Many days have passed since the Forngarmo left Minas Tirith, after the coronation of the King Elessar. But she knew that her mission is not yet over as her life was all about protecting the lands she loves and her Chieftain, now the King of Gondor. She was sent once again to her homelands, Evendim and Forochel. As she reached Tinnudir she looked around and sighed. So many of her brothers and sisters in arms have perished during the War. She rested on a barrel that she put her belongings in as she was to stay there until the land is made safe again.

And so it was as so it was so as we rode from Isengard in triumph, singing songs and riding our horses.  Then did the King Thèoden, say, ‘So be it!  The wicked Saramn is dead, and Rohan is safe!  Hurrah!’ and everyone cheered cheerfully.

I was exiled, cast out from my own lands, by the evil High Steward Denethor of Gondor.  My heart wept and my mind railed against this injustice, yet ever foremost was my thought turned toward stopping whatever evilness the evil man was planning.  Also, I hadn’t had lunch and I was getting a bit peckish.  All in all, the overwhelming tragedy of my miserable lot made me quite grumpy indeed.

Yes, the evil High Steward¹ Denethor, stood even in the doorway to my castle, his wicked eyes glittering with malice as he sneered at me wickedly.

If memory serves me right, it was a fair day in a goodly Spring that the first stroke of the War of the Ring was struck, when an evil doom came to my door.  I was sitting at table in my castle, somewhere in Gondor near Lamedon, enjoying a simple meal and pondering weighty matters of state, when I heard a knock at my door.¹

Conspicuous by their absence from the wedding were Éomer and Éowyn of Rohan. They had business to attend to at Edoras, but Éomer would soon return to accompany Théoden's body on its journey home...