The Battle of the Crossing of Poros
Chapter
11: Entulesse
Stories > Prologue
> Previous
> Chapter 11 > Epilogue
Now Hallas and his men rode east without haste or
joy. They had already sent messengers to Folcwine weeks ago. Their Lord
by now would have heard of his sons' death. But at the sight of the
plains of Rohan, at the sight of grasses so sweet, at the sight of
sunlight so cool, at the sight of wind so light, and at the sight of
his homeland, joy and a smile crept to his face. They carried the rich
wergild that Turin had sent to King Folcwine. On their tenth day from
Minas Tirith, they rode within the courtyard of Edoras.
They were greeted with sorrow and joy at their
return. Then Hallas went to the king and was commanded to tell all that
he knew. And Hallas told him about all that he knew about Minas Tirith,
about Endost, about the journey south, about their partition, about
their preparation for battle, about the
enemy, about the Mumaks, about battle, about the fall of Folcred and
Fastred, about their retreat, about the succor they received, about the
second round of battle, about the fall of the Mumaks, and about their
victory.
Then Hallas became among the few living men to see a
tear run down the face of Folcwine, the man of steel. He could not bear
to see the sight of the once tearless face filled with tears; he too
burst into tears and the grief that had long welled in his heart came
out and his madness and sadness was healed. Then he spoke
about their burial, he spoke about their return, and about the counsel
of Turin.
When he spoke of the gift of Turin, the king said,
"Nay. What does the steward think? That this will replace my sons? Nay,
I shall not take of it. But I say do not send it back. The rich wergild
of gold from Turin the Wise, might serve others who have lost their
loved ones like me. Let them take it for it serves no purpose with me.
Thou shalt distribute it to the families of the fallen. For I am too
sorrowful to do anything more. From this day shalt thou be the First
Marshall of the Mark. I shall bear no title other than King or wield
any brand. Let them take me if they will." Then Hallas begged leave to
go and set upon his task.
After some days, the king asked Hallas to write an
account of what happened during the war. He obliged. Hallas titled it,
"There and Back Again Alive- A Rider's Tale by Hallas".
The Editing Author titled this as "The Battle of the
Crossing of Poros- A Historian's Tale by Rallas"
Stories
> Prologue
> Previous
> Chapter 11 > Epilogue
top