Celebration of the West

Ciryaher stopped as he passed through the gate in the Rammas Echor. The endless lines of troops behind him took a while to stop, but by the time the last had rested, the front was moving again...

Thus the ordered columns of Arnor's vast infantry came behind the elite Praetorians, and they marched around the wall of Minas Anor, saluting the White Tower as they did. When they reached the great road from Osgiliath to Minas Anor, they turned towards the Citadel of the Stars upon the Anduin.

They reached the gate in the Rammas Echor, outside the city, and rested. The Emperor waited for the other participants to arrive while he sat upon the wall, moving his legs idly.

*Shortly after Eomer rode to the great walls. After him came his elite forces. After that the endless number of his army.

"Greetings Lord Ciryaher, Is the gate open, I would like to show off my new army and my armour ehehehehehee. When will the parade start? I am i need of rest"

All heads turned to see the newest spectacle. Singing echoed over the hills as the elves of the army of Dor-Taur-Sir sang a song in the sildarian language. The sound of their horses added a rough beat to the singing, and music filled the land. There were men singing too, and their lower voices rang out in harmony with the elven. Elessar was at the front. He was wearing dark silver armour, with the sign of an eagle on his breastplate. He had men riding behind him, who were taller than the Beornings and woodsmen. They were Dunedian, surely, most thought, Kinsmen of the Lord Elessar and Lady Arathin themselves. For she was there too, riding beside Elessar. The Dunedian were holding banners raised on great spears. Three in the background were undistinguishable, for they were a great distance still. But the foremost was larger than the rest, and it was the banner of Dor-Taur-Sir. It was the sign of the Eagle; in one hand it held a fish, the sign of the river, and in the other it held a brach with three leaves, the sign of the forest.

Elessar spurred Bill on, as Arathin did to Gildor. Tarien, captain of Dor-Taur-Sir, ordered the men to turn and make camp on a flat place on the plain. The standards that had followed Elessar turned with Tarien, save the one of Dor-Taur-Sir. The man holding it galloped instead to the city, to add the standard of Dor-Taur-Sir to the banners of Gondor, Arnor, and Rohan that flew from the tower of Minas-Tirith.

Elessar rode up to Eomer and Ciryaher. "Hail, lords of the valliant west, what an occasion this day is. Where is the lord Valar? I have a gift that was due to him on his crowning, but I was unable to present it then..."

Suddenly a loud horn rang in the hills and a great light filled the land. The lords looked in the direction of the light knowing it could only be one person, for light is his trademark.

Over the hills a man clad in white armor, with a white cloak, rode ever closer. The spectacle, however, was not Mithrandir who the company had seen many times, but the small force that rode behind him.

The Mithril Knights, only 30 in number, strode valiantly behind Mithrandir and. All clad in a shiny metal that much resembled Mithril the army was small, yet remarkable. This was the first time the army had been seen by a large group of people, and all together. Normally the secret militia of the White Council, the Knights was a glorious sight indeed.

Mithrandir called the army to a halt as they came to the other forces, and strode up to the other leaders,"Good day my friends, it is a splendid day for this little parade is it not. The Lady Talierin should as well be coming shortly with her forces. So, tell me, what do you think of my little force? They do not look like much, but let me tell you each one fights with the might of ten soldiers. Now, where is the lord Valar, I wish to congratulate him, and present him, and his lady with a gift......"

(ooc:I will not make this metal mithril, due to the fact that the metal is meant to be rare)

*Nearly All of the army of Gondor were by now positioned along side The Infantry of Arnor. So Vast the Armys of The nations present were, that for as far as the eye could see were shining spears and helms, like a see of diamonds.*

*A quiet fell upon Minas Tirith for a few moments, Then horns and voices called out, the sang till all around could hear the clear, strong voices of the Men of Minas tirith.*

*The Gates opended and out rode the knights and paladins of Gondors army, flags raised high and horns blazing. They escoted the King and Queen of Gondor out to meet the Start of the Parade. They're chariot, fashioned in Gold and Silver was like a sunset rolling across the Green plain.*

*Valar called to his men and all but a few rode off to the head of his Army and Valar and Elbereth went to great they're guests*

"Friends and Allies, Lords and Ladys welcome to the festival and parade of Gondor. I am pleased to see that all Such fine military strength is here to honour the occasion"

*Valar stepped down from the charriot and took his Ladys hand and helped her down, They walked hands clasped towards Lords Ciryaher, Elessar, Eomer and Mithrander*

"Welcome my friends"

The Dwarves of Ered Nimrais had completed their preparations for the parade, and were gathered in the halls at the easternmost gate of the White Mountains.

Mormegil gave the order, and the great gate was opened. The King was at the front riding his horse, in front of 500 rangers, who were in turn followed by the Dwarven army. They began to file out through the gate onto the plains of Anorien.

The Dwarves marched in a neat formation, wearing black armour lined with silver. They carried their axes slung on their backs, and held their sheilds which bore the emblem of Ered Nimrais; white mountains against a blue background.

Up ahead Mormegil could see the Mithril Knights, the light shining brightly off of their armour.

The Dwarves continued to file out onto the plain until eventually they were all out. Mormegil gave the order and the great gate was closed.


And they marched, following the Mithril Knights and Mithrandir. Arriving soon after Mithrandir. Mormegil bade his men set up camp near to Elessar's men. Then he rode towards the gathering of the Lords.
"Greetings Lord Ciryaher, Lord Eomer, Lord Elessar, Lord Valar and friend Mithrandir. What a great day it is. I hope that the parade will go as planned. I also have brought a gift for the Lord Valar, I will present it later."

Mormegil turned to survey the gathered might of the West.

The Lady Talierin appeared, clad in her best green holding Ithilien's green/black banner high, bow at her side, riding her great black steed Talemi. Her elite archer team of about a thousand walked in format all around her in full battle dress. Behind them came Ithilien's infantry of four thousand, first swords, then pikes, and finally battle axes, all upraised in front of them.

They marched until they came alongside Mithrandir's knights, and Talierin rode forward and dismounted in front of the lords, bowed, then said "Hail, my lords. Ithilien ready for parade." She then took her place at Mithrandir's side.

"Well, shall we not do something? I am tired from the long ride, and Bill would much like me off of him. I say that we go and see the halls of Minas Tirith, or is the capitol once again at Osgiliath, citadel of the stars? It has been long since I have seen the places of my forefathers."

Elgee i Nanar who will be serious this time watches the great rulers enter, awed by their slendor. She fades into the background, watching and waiting.

"Elessar, I believe we are awaiting the last of our guests, but please feel free to dismount your fine steed so that he may have a rest." says Elbereth with a warm smile.

She then excuses herself and makes her way toward Lady Talierin and Elgee and greets them accordingly.

Arathin dismounts Gildor, and stands beside Elessar as he dismounts. She gazes around at the assembled arms and mutters. "Everyone shows there strengths so that they will not be attacked fore fear of might, but showing our strengths and ignoring our weaknesses is our first and last defeat." She turns to the other leaders gathered, an almost mournful expression on her face. "War and armies lead to not but death, destruction, and defeat. They are pointless necessities." She shakes her head. "Ah well. Even if it is pointless, it is still a necessity."

Suddenly, a loud bugle sounds out from the North. Five hundred elves march with the Lady of Rivendell at their head on Asfaloth. Between her and the elves are two heralds and flag bearers. One is proudly bearing the flag of Arnor, and the other bears a flag with seven stars in a circle on it, with two trees in the center, both representing the house of Feanor, and Aredhel's own emblem of an eight sided gem above them all. They enter the city, and she greets the Lords.

Ciryaher jumped down from the wall and removed his heavy armour, feeling the grass on his now-bare feet. "We shall have festivities for 19 days. On the 18th of June, a sign will come and signal the end of the festival. For now, let us enjoy the company of friends and allies while the sun is bright, and the weather cheerful."

He smiles and ordered the hand-towed carts to be unloaded. Pavilions went up, and banners flowed in the breeze.

*Arathin, gloomy thoughts forgot, smiles in the dazzaling sunlight. She asks several of her Dunedain soldiers to play the instruments they brought. As everyone knows, Dunedain are as skilled on instruments as they are with their weapons and at tracking anything in the wild. Arathin begins to dance to the music of the Dunedain. Slowly at first, but soon the pace of her dancing and the music grow faster and faster. Soon her silken gown of foresty green and brown hues is whipping around her lithe Elvenish form. The dance is an ancient one of celebration brought from Numenur itself before the flood. The sky seems to banish the few clouds that had resided within its hold as her dance continues.*

Soon it was Nain's group of dwarves who came, a little late, but alls well. He rode up and egnolged all the Emperors, Kings, and Queens around him.