New chapter up, did not mention before, but comments, opinions and critics are more than welcomed, Hope you enjoy!
Chapter 1
The reunion part 1
Razii and I made our way to the Throne Room, black and golden doors in our way, Nabulung was the first to step forward and to order the guards that the warlords of Harad had answered their Emperor´s summons.
-I, Nabulung, First Spear of Harad.- he said. –Have come, and all the others have come, Red Spear, and Golden Shield, as well as the Black Serpents. Our Emperor called, we came, open the doors.-
As this monologue took place, another one of the Emperor´s sons joined us.
-Fuilnor! How long old friend, how long.- he said clasping my shoulder and into his embrace.
-Haran! You have silver in your hair now!-I said surprised, for others, it might not be wise to greet the Empire´s Heir commenting on his age, but we were close friends. –What news from Harondor?- I asked with a smile.
He laughed heartily at my previous comment.
-Silver is better than that raven´s hair of yours Fuilnor, what my sister saw on you I shall never know.- Razii and himself laughed with mirth. But the Prince sobered up in a moment. –There are many rumors running about, I heard them first since I´m the closest to the Northern lands, I reported what I heard to my father, I do not like it.- Said Haran shaking his head. – I see storm clouds gathering in Mordor, and I saw first the envoy that is here today.- He turned to his brother. –He is here brother, Amandil came in person, 5 guards no more, all in purple and gold; he stayed with me for three days and then he parted for Umbar.-
-Then we are to assume that all of us got letters from him?- Asked Razii, talking about their brothers.
-He said so, although I didn’t get a letter, got the personal visit.- The Prince shook his head. –It´s bad brother, never liked him much to begin with, I preferred his brother´s company and their sister…-
-Look, the gates are opening.- I said motioning them forward. –We must not keep your Father waiting.-
We entered the Throne Room, passing by the high columns of red and gold serpents around a black column, so wide that a man could not embrace it, the roof was covered with red and black clothes, to remember us of our nomad ancestry, and from the sides of the roof, between the columns were the great tusks of ancient Mumakils that our ancestors hunted, some were small, roughly the size of a grown man, but the ones nearer to the throne room were almost as tall as the Hall itself, 20 meters from point to base, if they had not been curved they would have gone right through the ceiling. The Emperor´s Throne was made of ivory, carved from a single husk of a gigantic Mumak, and on the sides of the Throne, behind it were the husks I described earlier. On the Throne of Harad sat Mulnissar, Black Serpent of our people, he rose and extended his arms in welcome, and we all knelt before him.
-Arise, warriors of Harad!- the Emperor said stepping down the short stairs that elevated him from us. –My dear sons, Nabulung, and all of you warlords of the Empire, I welcome you!- He said, his voice booming through the room even though the Emperor was very old now, 68 years he had lived.
-Father.- Said Prince Haran, stepping forward. –We have come from far and wide, from all over your lands, great and small we have come. What have do you called us for?-
-So you all can hear, and then speak your voice.- He addressed all of us. –You may have heard rumors of a foreign envoy arriving at my Palace, those rumors are true, and a King has come to deliver a message.- He said pointing to the shadows at his left, where a group of 5 men walked into the light.
The 4 guards were clad in golden armor, with purple cloaks embroidered with golden stars, golden helmets and long black spears, the man that led them wore an ornate silver armor, purple cloak and a golden crown with a purple star in its crest, on his hip a longsword, he looked no more than forty, but we all knew that he was nearing his 80´s, such was the race of Numenor.
-Amandil.- murmured Razii, so that only I could hear it.
The new comer walked in front of the throne, with a broad smile and his arms stretched to us.
-My friends, it is an honor to be standing amongst you.- He turned to the Emperor´s sons. –How long has been since we last saw each other, to those that do not know me, I am Amandil Telcontar, the first of his name, King of Adunabar and friend of all who would aid me.-
-What is this?- Asked Nabulung, his face a dark grimace. –There is a King in Gondor, and it is not you, you are the younger brother!-
-Yes, I am the younger brother, and I am not King of Gondor, I am King of a younger Kingdom, stronger, my brother may sit on Minas Anor and wear the Winged Crown.- His smile never faltered, as he looked upon the room. –Mine is a different path, my father dispossessed me of what should have been mine, and so I shall take by force that which was taken from me.-
-King of what?- asked Haran. –Of a few villages and outposts on the far reaches of Gondor, Cemendur is King, why are we hearing this pretender?- he turned to his father. –Harad doesn´t need other “Kingdom” bordering our lands and threatening our freedom.-
Amandil only laughed at the words of the Crown´s Prince.
-Haran! How have you grown!- He said, fixing his blue eyes upon our Prince. –Not many years ago you were still a child, playing with my sister and riding with my brother, we sparred once or twice no? Ah, the memories… I am a friend now, as I was before, Haran, would you not hear me?- He said, his voice full of sense and piety.
-I have nothing but respect for the great people of Harad, I remember the last war, and I never agreed with my father´s orders of bringing you as hostages to Minas Anor, because that´s what you were.- He said pointing at the Black Snakes. –Hostages, to ensure your father´s behavior, such contempt my father had for you, and my brother does too, make no mistake.-
-That´s a lie!- Cried Haran. –Your King treated us with honor.-
-We were prisoners!- Cried Magor, the youngest son of the Emperor. –Ten years under the tower, unable to see our family!-
-And where were the chains brother?- Asked Razii. –We may have been prisoners in name, but we slept right next to the princes, didn´t Prince Amandil gave you your first horse?-
-It´s King now, my dear Razii.- Amandil said, pacing the room, his guards not far off. –But as I gave a gift to you Magor, now I have a gift for all the people of Harad.-
-And what gift is this?- asked our Emperor.
-I will give you Gondor.- he said bowing his head to him. –Gondor and all it´s fiefdoms, save for Minas Anor and Osgiliath, for the end of times.-
It was at this moment that I dared speak.
-No doubt, you will give them to us, after we had fought and bled for them, fighting under your banner.- I confronted him. –Are the armies of your Kingdom not great enough to do this yourself? You Numenoreans are all the same, filled with promises, but all we have gotten from you is war and grieve!- A deep silence followed my words, but Amandil did not notice it and smiled at me as he talked.
-Fuilnor, am I right?- he asked, but without waiting for my answer he carried on. –You of all people, I expected would be eager for this gift I freely give to you, your friends may not have told you this, but after your invasion, my father´s captains brought to the Citadel all the banners of your fallen armies, the banner of your father amongst them, tinted red with his blood.- He put his hands on my shoulders. –Would you not like to have Dol Amroth? The fields where your father fell under your grasp?-
-The Empire gained nothing in Dol Amroth.- I said, looking at his eyes. –I lost my father.- I took his hands off my shoulders
-Where are your armies?- Asked Nabulung, ever the warrior. –How many men can you muster? Your strongholds? Your gold? Gondor is a gift, yes, that will be paid with the blood of our warriors no doubt.-
-If you could take Minas Anor by yourself, you wouldn´t have come.- Said Haran. –You need our spears and sails to do your dirty work.- Amandil turned to face him, but our Prince carried on. –And we shall get the cities that our warriors take, while you claim the crown´s jewel for your own, yes we have been through this before.- Haran turned to his father.- It did not work then, and it will not work now!-
-We were alone that time.- The Black Serpent said. –King Amandil promises that half of the Reunited Kingdom will flock to his banner, his forces shall take Osgiliath and Minas Anor, while we plunder the coast, it will not be what happened 30 years ago.-
-Promises again!- I cried. –The only promise that is certain is death! Black Serpent!- I said kneeling. –Cast out this pretender! Hear no more of this nonsense!-
The Room burst out, many called me coward, while others cheered for me, Amandil´s smile faltered for a second. His brow turning into a frown.
-Silence!- the Emperor said, as his guards thumped the floor with their spears. –Silence I say!-
Razii spoke next.
-Amandil, you have always been kind to me while we lived in the White Tower, and I say this to you, desist! Its clear to us that you need our armies to help you, you fear defeat at the hands of your brother, for you stand alone!- he said with passion in his voice.
-He is not alone.- A voice emerged from the dark shadows of the Room, a man clad in dark purple robes, stepped forward, no one noticed his presence before, even the Emperor looked surprised at him. Clearly he wasn´t in the original envoy. –Not alone young Snake.-
Everyone paused and silenced to look at this man, his face covered by the hood of his robes. His hands full with golden rings.
-I am Annatar, for I am the Giver of Gifts, and as I forged with Amandil a new Kingdom, we shall give one to you as well.- His voice, soothing and charming, entranced us all. –All of Mordor´s colonies will come to us, Rhun has pledged their help to us, and ancient powers…have come to our aid.- His smile was visible under his hood. –We are not alone, but you shall be if you reject our gift.-
The King of Adunabar followed on his words.
-It is as my trusted Annatar says, in two weeks time our plan will be in motion, the Easterlings will raid north of the Ephel Duath, while my followers sweep across Mordor the flames of liberation, Minas Ithil shall be my seat, and from there I will take the lands that were robbed from me.-
-In two weeks, March 25th?- Asked Razii.
-Yes, I shall go to Minas Anor for the celebration of the New Year, and there I will raise my banners, declare my Kingdom and kill my old brother if the opportunity arises.- He said with a glint of fury in his eyes. –When I march out of Minas Ithil I shall send messengers to you, signaling the time for you to strike the fiefdoms and together we shall take Minas Anor by storm!- Many of our warlords cheered at him.
While the King spoke, I had only eyes for Annatar, and so did the Emperor, who had not taken his eyes from him since he made his presence known.
-So what say you men of Harad! Will you fight with me?- Cried Amandil, drawing his sword. What of you Fuilnor! Will you fight?-
-I will fight.- I answered calmly. –I will fight against the men that killed my family, that burned down my house, and ripped my country to shreds.- I shoved the King out of my way, as I drew my scimitar and walked to the robed figure. –Annatar might be your name, but you have named yourself different before, haven’t you?- As I put my scimitar to his neck. –And you are no stranger to this lands either.- Amandil´s knights drew their spears at me, while the other men clamored in shock and anger, some drawing their weapons as well. –My emperor, this is no “giver of gifts”, I name you Herumor! And your only gift to Harad was the death of it´s people!-
The figure that stood before me, only laughed.
-But you were only a child back then, how did you recognize me?- He said smirking. –My Emperor.- he said bowing. –I fear that what this servant of yours says is true, I am Herumor, your advisor, will you not heed me one more time?-
Silence once again took hold of the Throne Room, Nabulung looking in awe at the old advisor, that had plunged Harad into war and fire.
-You abandoned us when fortune turned against us.- Said Mulnissar. –Where were you when our fleet burned at sea, and when Harondor was sacked? Where were you when we turned to eat rats to keep alive? What were your advices then?-
-My good Emperor, you cannot blame me for the incompetence of your generals.- He said with a jest.
Nabulung´s eyes filled with anger but spoke with ease.
-I lost all of my sons on the attack you suggested, the disaster of the Rammas Echor.-
-You sent them to your deaths if I recall, you old Spear, I only suggested, you ordered.- He said shrugging off, all the while ignoring my scimitar at his neck. –And if your father young pup, had been of better breed he would not have lost his entire force in Dol Amroth.-
-You lying piece of!- I yelled, the Knights of Adunabar closing distance with me.
-Enough! Stand down!- Said Amandil, taking Herumor´s side. –Hear reason Mulnissar! Aid us and I shall keep my word, leave us and we shall come for you once I´m done with my brother.- He said as he began to walk out of the Room, Herumor and his guards following close.
-Two weeks.- Herumor said looking right at me. –Or are all of Harad´s spears blunted, and all of it´s snakes without venom?- Instants later they had left the Palace.
After their leave, the discussion began, and it did not end until well into the night.