Two months later, the bitter winter of the North had run its course.
Through the long cold, Kaen Eowenríel had chosen and trained a number of men from among Tusgar's petty officials. One man in particular, Domhere, drew his notice.
Domhere had once studied in Rivendell. When Kaen set forth to found his capital, Domhere came with the civil ministers and swore fealty. He had served in the kingdom's administration, learned in affairs of state, humble in manner, and he bore toward Kaen a worship that was almost blind.
After a season of testing, Kaen made Domhere the Lord of Tusgar. He permitted him to set up his lordly house and to form his own council of governance.
With the coming of spring, and by Kaen's direction, Domhere led the people of Tusgar on into new labors. They raised walls and reclaimed fields. Under the thrice-blessed impetus of rapid growth, all things advanced with startling swiftness.
In matters of war, Tusgar was reshaped as well. The host of five thousand hillfolk bowmen, once reduced by the losses of the Lonely Mountain, had been replenished. Kaen resolved to take with him two of the regiments. Of the three that remained, two remained as foot-archer regiments, while the third was remade into mounted archers.
Andric was appointed garrison commander, to lead the kingdom's forces in the Anduin Valley.
As ice thawed and the rivers ran, spring came alive. The frozen bands upon the Anduin loosened and the waters, no longer dull with winter, surged southward with a new, eager haste. Being high upon the river, the floods were seldom of a magnitude to sweep away bridges or drown both banks, and thus the valley was spared the worst.
The Avari and the Nandor of the valley, drawn by the gleam of the Arkenstone—the Star of Eowenríel—sent envoys in increasing numbers to see Kaen. Like Yenagath before them, they sought places near Tusgar in which to dwell beneath the light. Kaen welcomed them gladly.
In time nearly twenty thousand Avari and Nandor made their homes in the woods about Tusgar. Being of kin they soon joined Yenagath's folk in peace. Kaen sometimes went into those woods to hunt, and there he would bear his radiance to the scattered tribes. Tales of his deeds were woven into verse and passed from mouth to mouth until his fame grew with every season.
The Elves, drinking of Kaen's light, found within themselves a warmth they had not felt for ages. One day, led by Yenagath, they came together and swore fealty to Kaen, taking the name Caladhîn Elves, the Elves of the Light. Thus their numbers rose from five thousand to thirty thousand.
They dwelt in the forests around Tusgar, living in harmony with the townsfolk. Under the Star of Eowenríel,the Arkenstone, in that fair Anduin valley, they tilled the fields together. The Elves learned smithcraft and carpentry, they learned to raise dwellings, and from the speech of Men—Anglian—grew a distinct Caladhîn culture.
The Caladhîn's reverence was given wholly to their High King, Kaen Eowenríel. To them he became the embodiment of light, an emblem of salvation, of healing, and of hope.
As the seasons turned, the Anduin's floodwaters grew clearer and gentler.
Elladan and Elrohir, the two Elven princes, came to Kaen to take their leave. With the Elves of Lothlórien and the wealth won in their journey, they boarded their elven-ship and set out for Lothlórien. With them went Saruman the White, who dwelt in the tower of Isengard at the southern verge of the Misty Mountains, thence the river runs swiftest to the south.
At the last upon the quay they bid their farewells. Elladan said, "We part here, but my father's realm lies near your capital. When time permits we shall visit; I hope you will welcome us."
Kaen smiled. "Convey my greetings to Queen Galadriel. I will tell your father, my teacher, how brave you were in this war."
Saruman in white spoke then: "Fare well, young and mighty King. I return now to Isengard. I give you my sincere blessing. May your realm prosper and endure."
Kaen inclined his head, "Master Saruman, you are a sage in my sight. Though we part with reluctance, part we must. May wisdom ever be yours. If you ever have leisure, come visit my realm."
Watching them go, Kaen knew that the time would come when he, too, with his army, would turn from the Anduin Valley and take the road back to the capital, Elarothiell.
On a bright spring day Kaen called his returning companies together. Besides Gandalf the Grey and the hobbit Bilbo Baggins, the force he mustered was counted thus: from Elarothiel there had gone forth five thousand men, of whom two thousand seven hundred were regulars and the rest were auxiliaries. Though losses were taken in the Lonely Mountain, in Tusgar recruits had filled the ranks, and with the two regiments Kaen took, the army now numbered seven thousand.
Not every one of the thirty thousand Caladhîn chose the march. Some ten thousand lingered behind, unwilling to leave the valley that had been their home for generations. Yenagath remained their leader. Kaen gave him authority equal to that of Andric and Domhere in the governance and guardianship of the Anduin lands.
Yenistriel, the lively and fair sister of Yenagath, drawn by her devotion to Kaen's light, chose to travel with Tauriel and twenty thousand Caladhîn to Elarothiel in the West.
Thus a host of twenty-seven thousand set out. Under the watchful, sorrowful eyes of the folk of Tusgar they set their feet toward the Misty Mountains. First they made for the old ford and then into the mountain passes. The line of march was long. To prevent stragglers from being lost in the passes, Kaen bade Artemis and her white birds fly above, guiding those at the rear.
The realms of Orcs that lie within the mountains took note of such a sight. Their scouts hid in shadow, eyes greedy at the sight of the thousands of cartloads heavy with treasure. Yet they dared not sally forth. Kaen's light, Artemis's vigilant birds, and the well-armed host made rashness perilous.
Those lurking monsters were discovered by Kaen's watchful gaze. Looking upon that ancient narrow road, threaded with danger, a thought rose in Kaen's mind: he must hold this passage.
Eowenríel's lands lay upon both east and west of the mountains. To have the realm split by the Misty Mountains, with dark things lurking within, was an ill advantage if Sauron or another fell lord should muster forces inside and strike both flanks. A road into the heart of your realm at any hour is a peril most grievous.
So, within Kaen, a plan took root, quiet as seed beneath loam.
….