The Witch-King of Angmar slays King Arvedui King and thus completes the overthrow of Arnor. But Gondor’s reinforcements arrive and completely destroy the victorious Witch-King’s army: effectively destroying Angmar. Only the Witch-King escapes back to Mordor.
The Witch-King raged as his minions fought.
But all went wrong that day –
For his previous victories counted nought
Which had been achieved just yesterday.
Arnor was destroyed, now their king was dead –
He was slain by the Witch-King’s hand –
Reinforcements from Gondor now fight in their stead
With their numbers like the grains of sand.
Gondor had assembled and had sailed north
With great force up to the North Downs plain
And the riders of Rhovanion rode boldly forth
To heap high the piles of dead orcs slain.
There between Nenuial and the North Downs fell
All the mighty host of Angmar’s Witch-King
Slain by arrows from archers up from Rivendell
And the longsword blades the Rhovanion swing.
All who followed the Witch-King lay dead on the field
Every man’s son did Gondor slay
And no quarter was asked – and no quarter was given –
So his black hordes perished in a day.
Alone was the Witch-King, yet strong in his power
And the Captain of Gondor he cursed
For he singled out Eärnur for death in that hour
With the malevolent hatred he nursed.
Dark as night was the Witch-King, coal-black was his steed,
As he charged out in Mordor’s name
Bearing down Eärnur – who in that hour of need
None could help. Fast the Witch-King came.
Eärnur never blenched, but his steed fled in fright:
The Witch-King his destrier could not stand.
The mock-laughter of Angmar shrieked out through the night
Like a fiend scenting prey close at hand.
Then Glorfindel advanced, like a bright, levin blast
At the Witch-King the bold elf-lord rode.
So the Witch-King took flight to Carn Dûm in the north
At the gallop and never once slowed.
Eärnur swore his revenge. Glorfindel bade him to peace
And prevented all hasty pursuit
Speaking prophetic words as the battle did cease
Which in ages to come would bear fruit:
“Angmar now is destroyed! The Witch-King from this land
He is fled. Nor will reign any more.
Yet his doom is far off – nor by any man’s hand
Will he die. This is certain and sure.”
Now the battle had ended, Eärnur took his leave
Leaving Arnor empty, overthrown.
But Mordor by its guile Eärnur’s life planned to reave
As our subsequent histories have shown.
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