The Lay of Argeleb I by Smeagolfan24
The Desire of Peace and the Consequence of War
Through the course of story and tale,
To the bare existence of myth,
Comes one with forgotten detail
One to you, of which I share with.The countenance of this lay
Cannot be observed in such a place.
It needs a room of such dark array
Where of happiness, there is no trace.It began in the state of Arnor,
Where splendor and beauty was general.
Such joy in the populace score!
Here, did no one want to dwell?Though, such joy was not to linger,
For of the king's children
A quarrel was beginning to spur;
One to urge Arnor's downfall to begin.Three kingdoms there rose,
Splinters of the great realm.
The rivalries were now exposed,
But which one would of these overwhelm?Cardolan first there was,
The southern state of power.
Protect Amon Sul, this kingdom does;
In it, also, the come-to-be Shire.Rhuduar, the rebel war state,
Fighter for the Seeing Stone.
They, Cardolan must constantly abate.
Here, the seeds of battle were sown.Arthedain, the supreme,
With noble blood in its king.
Of unity its ruler did dream
To the memory it does still cling.The king of this time
Saw his patience starting to ebb.
He sought to bring Arnor back into its prime.
This man's name was Argeleb.Argeleb sent out his word
To the two neighboring lands.
The news he soon heard,
Would draw a line in the sand.Cardolan wavered on the brink,
Ready to join to gain power.
The two states where ready to link,
But at Rhuduar's reply, they did cower.Rhuduar joined the Iron Crown,
And betrayed their friends ajar.
Who wore this new foe's frown?
Twas the Witch-king of Angmar.Angmar, land with sorcerer king,
Settled in colder realms up north.
Ice trolls and monsters they did bring
Against Arnor their king sent them forth.It first struck at Cardolan
To gain control of the Seeing Stone.
They first defended well, when
All of a sudden Arthedain was quite alone.Battles ensued, won and lost
And Angmar showed no signs of breaking.
Their defiance came at a terrible cost;
Still there was no move for peacemaking.In a battle on a bloody hill
Argeleb stood leading his troops.
There Angmar moved in for the kill
And slew Argeleb within his group.That is the tale of downfall
Of the forgotten kingdom of Arnor.
We must remember that we must stand tall
Lest Arnor's fate come to others nevermore.