The morning wind carried a piercing cold from the peaks of the Misty Mountains.
It blew against the silver banner of the Star of Elendil and the symbol of the Ice Sword, which fluttered bravely atop the highest keep of *Cameth Brin*.
The Black Battalion of Gundabad was gone, leaving a solemn silence on the legendary stone cliffs of Rhudaur.
Although Arthur won the battle, lives were lost in the war, though not many.
Arthur stood at the edge of the outer courtyard, looking out over the frozen chasms and the northern valleys.
Beside him, Valerin, Halbarad, Arandhir, Elmir, Kaelan, and Chieftain Boran gathered in a command circle.
“Today’s battle proves one thing,” Arthur said, his voice calm but full of authority.
“The enemy in the north is panicked.
They realize this fortress is not just a passive line of defense, but a steel stake driven straight into the heart of their territory.”
Valerin wiped black blood from his sword before putting it back in its sheath.
“My Cavalry Scouts report that the remaining Orc watchposts along the northern fortress chain have emptied their camps, Your Majesty.
The death of Gothmog-Utar and the destruction of a thousand soldiers of the Black Battalion have spread terrible fear all the way to the roots of Mount Gundabad.”
“However, their fear will turn to rage if we do not secure this region perfectly,” Halbarad interrupted.
He pointed to a leather map spread out on a wooden shield lying on the ground.
“The remaining forces of darkness in the east will shift their focus.
We must use this moment of confusion to strengthen the *Echoriath-Sûl* network.”
Arthur nodded in agreement.
He looked at Elmir, who stood tall even though his shoulders were stained with the dust of battle.
“Interim Commander Elmir,” Arthur called out.
“The reinforcement force of two hundred soldiers brought by Kaelan is now officially under your command.
Secure every cliff path, repair the damaged main gate, and place *Gargor-Dun* sharpshooters in every watchtower.”
Elmir placed his hand on his chest, giving a formal salute.
“In the name of the Kingdom, Cameth Brin will stand as firm as a rock in a storm, Your Majesty.
Not a single shadow from Gundabad will pass these cliffs without paying with their lives.”
Arthur then turned to Boran.
“Boran, lead the *Dagor-Gathol* forces back through the passages of *Nogrod-dûm*.
Close and trap the secondary tunnels we do not use, but keep the main path to *Zhar-Gij* and *Barad-Grinn Nim* open for our supplies.”
“The order will be carried out, My Lord,” Boran answered, his eyes shining with the pride of the mountain people.
“The stones and the darkness of the earth’s belly will remain ours.”
With the defense of Cameth Brin secured under Elmir’s leadership, the northern border of rising Aetherion was now unshakable.
The front fortress had locked down the enemy’s movement, while the underground path of *Nogrod-dûm* guaranteed a steady flow of supplies.
Arthur walked toward his horse, looking straight south—toward *Barad-Glinn Nim* and the Weather Hills that awaited his leadership.
“Our work at the northern fortress is finished for now,” King Arthur declared as he mounted Rochgál.
“Valerin, Halbarad, Arandhir—we return to Amon Sûl.
We have broken the northern storm, and now it is time to prepare for Eriador’s next great destiny!”
They left behind the peak of Cameth Brin, which now stood firm under the banner of the Star of Elendil.
From high atop the watchtower, Elmir watched the King depart.
Around him, 250 combined soldiers and the *Gargor-Dun* clan were busy building new barricades and piling up the remains of the Black Battalion’s iron armor as a victory monument.
The total victory at Cameth Brin did not just break the teeth of Gundabad’s power on the border of Eriador.
It also sent a quiet shockwave creeping through the furthest corners of Middle-earth.
— in the high halls of Imladris – Rivendell, a light afternoon wind blew softly.
It carried the scent of pine needles and the sound of rushing waterfalls.
Lord Elrond stood on a marble balcony, looking far to the west toward the stretch of the Weather Hills.
Beside him, Glorfindel stood tall with the elegance of a High Elven Lord.
His golden hair reflected the twilight sun, while his sharp eyes stared at the clouds on the western horizon.
“A report from the Scouts has arrived, Elrond,” Glorfindel said quietly, his voice clear like the ringing of silver bells.
“The Gundabad Black Battalion—a thousand heavily armored Orcs along with Gothmog-Utar—has been totally wiped out on the cliffs of Cameth Brin.”
Elrond tilted his head, his fingers rubbing the wood carving on the balcony railing.
“A new King who restores the honor of Arnor that had fallen…
and he controls a powerful Ice force.”
“It is not just power,” Glorfindel interrupted, his eyes burning with the pride of a veteran of the War of the First Age.
“Tactics, leadership, and his speed in locking the ancient tunnels of *Nogrod-dûm* show that Arthur is no ordinary man who just holds a sharp sword.
He understands the politics of Middle-earth.
He used the opening while the Eye of Darkness is distracted by the movement toward the Lonely Mountain.”
Elrond was silent for a moment.
He walked into Imladris’s silver archive room and rubbed an ancient, silver-inked parchment that was old and worn.
His eyes followed the old family tree of the ancient kings, connected to the rulers of ancient secret ice powers in the past.
“Do you believe he is the answer to the threat creeping in Dol Guldur?” Elrond asked flatly.
He looked at the drawing of that ancient bloodline without mentioning any names from the past.
“Something that has slept for a long time in his family tree has now woken up again.
That ice power is no accident; it is a destiny of blood that woke to protect him.”
Glorfindel rubbed the hilt of his sword, looking far beyond the valley of Imladris.
“The future of Eriador, which before was choking in the fog of death…
is now starting to shine a blinding silver light.
However, the Darkness will not allow the fortress at Amon Sûl to grow into a second Númenor.
This break is only the calm before the real storm hits.”
Meanwhile, at the summit Barad-Grinn Nim,the sound of King Arthur and his troops’ horses was greeted by the loud blast of bronze trumpets.
The civilians, stonemasons, and mountain clan families who now lived in the *Barad-Glinn Nim* complex came out to the main courtyard.
They welcomed the King home with proud cheers.
Arthur jumped down from Rochgál, letting the guards take care of it.
Not long after, Kaelan stepped closer, having just followed Arthur in the war.
Valerin stepped forward beside Arthur, handing over the temporary cavalry command banner he had carried during the battle in the north.
Arthur accepted the banner and handed it directly to Kaelan in front of all the officers.
“Valerin’s task of leading the Royal Cavalry during the emergency at Cameth Brin has been completed perfectly,” Arthur said, his voice strong, rising above the noise of the courtyard.
“Kaelan, the entire Aetherion Cavalry regiment is now back fully under your command.”
Kaelan accepted the banner with deep respect, placing it against his chest.
“Thank you, Your Majesty.
The Aetherion Cavalry is ready to ride wherever the Kingdom’s border needs us.”
Arthur smiled proudly, then led the officers straight to the main strategy table in the great hall.
Arandhir, Valerin, Halbarad, and Kaelan followed behind him.
“We have secured the north,” Arthur said as he took off his leather gloves and placed them on the map of Eriador.
“But we must not become lazy because of the victory at Cameth Brin.”
Valerin pointed to a strategic spot along the *East Road*.
“Your Majesty, with Cameth Brin and Zhar-Gij secured, the trade route from Bree to the border of Imladris is now under our full control.
Merchants and refugees are starting to come to our border to seek protection.”
“That means our population will jump up quickly in the next few months,” Arandhir added.
“The need for food, housing infrastructure around *Barad-Glinn Nim*, and the training of new soldier divisions must be increased immediately.”
Arthur looked at Halbarad, who stood quietly by the side of the table.
He clapped the Dúnedain captain’s shoulder warmly.
“Halbarad,” Arthur said firmly.
“Victory at Cameth Brin gives us breathing room in the north, but our defense in the west must not become careless.
Return to Nordfall.
Lead your Rangers there to strengthen the watch on the western region.
Secure the villages around the border of the Shire, and make sure no spies of darkness get past the western post.”
Halbarad placed his hand on his chest, giving a respectful salute.
“The order will be carried out, Your Majesty.
Nordfall will be a firm shield in the west.
I and the Rangers will ensure the border line remains clean.”
After Halbarad said goodbye and prepared to ride to Nordfall, Arthur looked back at the Star of Elendil banner reflected on the surface of his ice sword.
“Then we will build it,” Arthur declared with absolute authority to the remaining officers.
“Kaelan, lead the cavalry to map quick patrol routes along the border.
Valerin, you and your scouts will be our eyes and ears.”
Arthur stood up tall, looking out the great hall window where the setting sun lit up the peaks of the Eriador hills.
“The enemy thinks they have five years before they look back to the West,” Arthur whispered softly.
“When that time comes, they will not find a fragile kingdom…
but an empire of steel and frost ready to shake Middle-earth!”