The Heirs of Haeron

Dol Amroth

Despite rumours of a heretofore unknown enemy scheming to undermine the dominion of the Faithful in the West, the first years of the reign of King Elessar were a time of peace. In those days Aldanur served as chief of Sir Thannor's guard in Dol Amroth, a post which required him to oversee the security of the members of the knight's household during their journeys along the treacherous roads of the Southern Kingdom, a legacy of the Dark Years ere the fall of Barad-dûr. Of greatest concern to the knight, was the safety of his impetuous daughter Limwen, whose inquisitive nature often caused her to stray from the course; and so he asked Aldanur, his most able guard, to personally lead her escort on her travels far from home.

Nigh on six months after his coming to the Land of the Prince, on the eve of Wintertide Festival, the Northerner was asked to accompany Sir Thannor's daughter to the citadel upon the Rock of Dol Amroth. It was a place that was very dear to Limwen, and she journeyed thither time and again, for ever and anon the desire arose in her heart to climb to the top of Tirith Aear that stood tall above the waters of the bay. And gazing at Cobas Haven from that lofty tower, she would try to picture in her mind the haunting scene oft beheld by the men of Belfalas in the Elder Days, when swan-ships sailed those waters silently in the twilight to carry the elves into the Ancient West. For of all the epochs known to Men, none was dearer to her than the time wherein her forefathers had dwelt alongside the Firstborn on that shore, those mysterious days of wonder and enchantment when the realm was young.

On previous journeys, ever she had chosen to climb alone to the top of the tower, but on that day she asked Aldanur to accompany her to the lookout spire. "Have you heard the tale of Amroth?" she said to him as they gazed out at the sea."

I have not, my lady," he replied.

"He was an elf-king who came from the North long ago," she said, "and it is said that he drowned in these waters trying to swim back to shore to seek his beloved."

Aldanur felt uncomfortable with the topic of the conversation. "Unfortunate," he replied dryly.

The young lady turned her head to look at him. "You care not for these sort of tales, I see," she said.

"I do not," said the Northerner.

Limwen was bothered by his insensitive tone. "I suppose there is no place in the heart of a mighty warrior for such nonsense," she said bitingly.

"No, ma'am," he replied starkly, and Limwen said no more.

After that day the two did not interact at all save for the occasional polite remark. Aldanur stopped accepting Sir Thannor's invitations to dine at the main table on special dates, and at times it seemed as though he was trying to avoid spending time at the manor house altogether.

The years that followed were mostly uneventful, and few threats were there to the members of Sir Thannor's house, as the brigands and outlaws who had flourished throughout Gondor during the Dark Years had now all but vanished. But the peace enjoyed then by the knight's family would soon be disturbed, for in the summer of Fo.A. 2 Sir Thannor was seriously injured during a hunting trip, and despite a stout heart, he could recover not from his wounds and passed away shortly after returning home.

In accordance with the laws of Dol Amroth, Thannor's landholdings passed to Bardhil, his eldest son. And the new master, who greatly admired Aldanur's skill as a soldier, went to the Northerner soon after assuming lordship of the estate and asked him to remain as head of his guard, but the latter turned down the offer. "Your father's invitation," he said, "I accepted in payment of his debt to me, but to your obligations I hold no claim."

On the eve of his departure, as Aldanur prepared for the long journey ahead, Limwen came unlooked-for to his small abode. "I hear that you turned down Bardhil's offer," she said as he opened the door.