The Last Ringbearer Read Online Free Page B

status quo , was ideally positioned for an offensive war (whereby it could immediately force its opponents to fight on two fronts), but highly unfavorably for a defensive one (in which the united opponents could conduct a blitzkrieg, crushing foes one by one).
    However, Saruman lost no time, either. He visited Théoden and Denethor (the kings of Rohan and Gondor) and used his personal charm and eloquence to convince them that Isengard and Barad-dúr wanted nothing but peace. In addition, he partially revealed to Denethor and Sauron the secret of the two palantíri that have been kept in both capitals since time immemorial, and taught them the use of those ancient magic crystals as a means of direct communication; this simple move did much to build trust between the neighboring sovereigns. An Isengard consulate was established in Edoras at King Théoden’s court; it was headed by Grima – an excellent diplomat, experienced spy, and master of courtly intrigue. For quite some time Saruman and Gandalf carefully jockeyed for position, strictly in the area of dynastic relationships.
    To wit, Théoden’s only son Théodred, known for his sober mind and temperance, was killed in the North under suspicious circumstances, allegedly in an Orc raid. As a result, the new heir was the king’s nephew Éomer – a brilliant general, the darling of the officer corps, and, obviously, one of the ‘war party’ leaders. In a setback to Gandalf, however, he began ‘measuring the drapes of the palace’ way too openly with his friends. Grima, who had an excellent intelligence network, had no trouble putting together a good collection of all the drunken boasts and submitting it to Théoden through a proxy. Consequently, Éomer was excluded from active politics to such an extent that Grima stopped paying any attention to him (which turned out later to have been a big mistake). In Gondor, Saruman succeeded in undermining the position of Prince Boromir, another well-known brawler, and getting him removed from the court; the prince left in a huff, seeking adventure in northern lands (with rather unpleasant consequences, but again later). In general, the first round went to Saruman.
    Nevertheless, although all three kings understood clearly that “a bad peace is better than a good war,” the state of affairs remained highly unstable. The food situation in Mordor continued to deteriorate slowly but surely, so the security of the trade routes to the South through Ithilien became what is known as “national paranoia.” In such circumstances the smallest provocation can cascade, and there was no lack of those. So after several caravans in a row were wiped out near Ithilien Crossroads by people who came from nowhere but wore green cloaks of Gondor (although they spoke with a pronounced Northern accent), there was a full-fledged reaction.
    Saruman immediately contacted Sauron via his palantír ; he cajoled, pleaded, and threatened, but to no avail. Logical arguments did not work any more, and the king, whose power had always been rather nominal, could do nothing about the fear-crazed storekeepers sitting in the parliament. So it was that on the morrow of April 14 th , 3016 of the Third Era the army of Mordor, two hundred light cavalry strong, entered the demilitarized (under a recent treaty with Gondor) Ithilien “to provide security against robbers to the trade routes.” In response, Gondor mobilized its army and took control of the Osgiliath Crossing. The trap was sprung.
    Mordor then made its second mistake … although, as it always is with strategic decisions, that could only be judged post factum : had the move worked, as it had every chance of doing, it would no doubt have been recorded as brilliant. An attempt was made to split the enemy coalition by getting Rohan out of the spat over Ithilien, which was of no real concern to them. To that end, four best battalions of Mordor’s army were sent over Anduin. This expeditionary force was