This statement struck a cord in the Rohirrim and they leapt gratefully to the task. They spent the long months of the winter carving on the keep. Its rooms were not changed in their size and disposition, but the outer walls and even some of the inner ones were transformed from blank stone to elaborate sculptures.
The great hall offered a vast canvas, of course, and the artisans filled it happily. This was the center of the keep, the room where their king sat at his board and where, if happier times came again, he might feast with his warrior and celebrate their victories. So the room was dedicated to Helm and his ancestors, who marched proudly about the walls. Gram and Deor (Helm's father and grandsire) stood their mounts on either side of the great doors. Beyond them were Goldwine and Freawine, and beyond them Frea and Aldor the Old. Past him and approaching the platform was Brego, and leaping up on the back wall was Eorl himself, astride Felaraf. All the kings of Rohan were arrayed about the room, on their steeds and in full battle gear, as if the Mark and all its history were going to war. And on either side of Eorl, life-sized and standing with swords at the ready, were Haleth and Hama, Helm's sons. It is said upon seeing that room, and his sons standing with their ancestors, Helm nodded, and a single tear fell from his eyes to strike the floor '€" and where that tear struck it froze into a diamond, so that still in the center of the platform is a single teardrop diamond imbedded in the stone.
-From 'œThe Lore and History of The Riddermark' by Meriadoc Brandybuck
So it is we find in this great hall a gathering of Men and Dwarves. The great hall is home to a small diner host. Greatest in numbers are the men of the Mark, for this is their home and it is they who have invited all to gather in this place. A dozen men tall and proud, typical for their kin, with blond hair, and piercing eyes sit laughing and eating and making merry. They are men of the Westfold and Helm's Deep is their stronghold, but the open plains shall ever be their homes. Chief among them is Lord of the Westfold Erkenbrand. Many have compared Erkenbrand to Helm himself, a tall and powerful Rohir, wise but strong and quick both to defend his people and to attack his foes. Others see his forebear Theostor in him, for Earkenbrand podered matters before taking action and appreciates the strong rock of Helm's Deep as much as the open plains of the Vale. Sometimes called the Wise in the lore of the Rhoirrim, it was Erkenbrand who sense an end to the time of peace and who prepared Helm's Deep against attack and siege.
For many generations the fortifications of Helm's Deep had fallen into disuse, for the Men of the Westfold had turned their attention to farming and horses rather than to threats of war. The mountain passes were still watched, but by roving patrols rather than by stationed guards. The signal mirrors were so covered in dust and grime as to be unusable. Truly, Erkenbrand sesed the changes in the world and scented the hint of war on the wind. Though he could not tell from which direction danger would come, he knhew that Helm's Deep stood at the stongest defense in the Mark, and thus he orded that it be restored to its full glory, the walls cleaned and mended and the caves kept full with provisions. His soldiers trained within the Hornburg once more, and this when war fell upon the Mark Erkenbrand was prepared and Helm's Deep stood ready to receive its king and to repulse the armies of Saurman.
In a high backed char, carved with running horses, sits Erkenbrand Lord of the Westfold. He dines at the head table along with his various captains. Yet the Men of Rohan are not the only Men here. For rarely does Erkenbrand hold such a feast for himself and his captains. Today there are men of Arnor here. Hardly what one would consider a handful of Arnorians are in attendence. The Men, known throughout Middle-earth as Rangers of the Eriador, the people from wence King Ellessar hailed, gather at a table enjoying the meaty fare of the Rohir. These are Men descended from the Edain who were given the island of Numenor, but who later returned to Middle-earth, either during the days of the rule of Westernesse there, or with Elendil and his sons after the Downfall. Though a mingling with lesser Men has much diminished the blood of Numenor, the Rangers of Eriador aer still of pure heritiage, and in them the qualities of the Numenoreans live again.
Chief among the Rangers here in Helm's Deep is Celebrindor, a tall and stately man of advanacing yet hail age. His hair falls around his face in waves of silver tresses peppered with flecks of black near the temples. During the War of the Ring he stood with Halbarad in defense of the Shire, but marched to war alongside his Captain with the Grey Company when word reached Rivendell of Aragorn's plight sent by Galadriel. Along with Halbarad, he was counted among the 30 Rangers that found Aragon near the Fords of Isen and eventually accompained him through The Paths of the Dead at Dunharrow. On the field of battle outside of Minas Tirith he was badly wounded defending his Captain Halbarad (who fell), and only the healing hands of Aragon himself through the purities of Athelas stirred his fire enough to save him from death. He saw no more fighting after that as his recovery was long and difficult. Now he leads men as ambassador and emissary of Arnor by use of his tongue and not his sword which he has not drawn since that day in Gondor. Kind and wise, well traveled, he makes friends easily, but is stern and unwavering in his devotion to King Elessar. His men admire him, and yet a pity for him can creep into their hearts if they come on him alone to find him carressing the hilt of his unused blade, which more and more often he is found doing. Sitting among the Rangers is Hwindsul enjoying the food and friends.
Not only Men enjoy the feast this evening, for every empty tankard of honey mead drank two more are drank by one of the Khazad. Durin's Folk have become stauch allies of the Men of the Mark since the coming of Gimli son of Gloin to the Glittering Caves of Aglarond. After the War of the Ring, Gimli and his kin returned to Helm's Deep. With the permission of Eomer King they settled in the Glittering Caves, beyond those chambers already in use by the Rohirrim. There the Dwarves are fashioning a mighty city, though to the eys of Men they hav done little crafting, for the beauty of the caves they have left untouched, making only tiny alterations to enchance the natural spelndor of their new realm. The floors they smooth, though columns and archs and other protrusions are left undisturbed, and here and there a jagged edge is smoothed to blend with its surroundings. The largest change brought by the Dwarves are the lights, for they have crafted great ornate lamps and hung these on the walls throughout, so the caves are filled with light and colour, reflected throughout in a great array. Furs and rugs are laid down, and furniture is wrought from stone that has been carved, or from the graninte quarried in the Horn beyond, but the walls are not covered, for their deauty surpasses that of any tapestry. The Dwarves are building great forges within the caverns, near the Deepining Stream for its cooling waters and near channels through the roof for their clean arir, and work in metals mined from the deep within the caves, crafting great and wounder items of steel, iron, silver and other metals. Many jewels they also pluck from the walls around, though only where the removel would not mar the cavern itself, and these they fashion into jewellery: rings, brooches, diadems, great helms, and other such ornaments.
The Dwarves are proving to be merry neighbours, and trade briskly with thet Rohirrim and others. They are exploring many of the caverns, and often a Dwarf and Dern-deeper can be found together wandering in some far-off chamber, discussing which path to try next. The Dwarves lend their strength to guarding and protecting the caves, and ths the great refuge of Helm's Deep has become even more strongly defended.
Ten of Durin's Folk are spread out at a long low table kept here just for their use. Plates and mugs and bowls and great platters of eaten food litter their table. With wagging tongues the Dwarves laugh and talk of the good times, of good friends, and of the glory of the caves and the wonders that they have seen or will see come from their forges. Their voice tonight here in Helm's Deep is Balwain cousin of Balin Lord of Moria. The Khazad followed Gimli from the Lonely Mountain to Aglarond years ago when the wonder lust, and promise of the beauty of the caves came to him. He is more dour than most, unless he dips to far into his drink, then he becomes as foolish as a Hobbit, having seen battle time and time again. He came from the Iron Mountains in defense of the Thorin Oakshield in the Battle of Five Armies and won himself fame. When Dol Guldur attacked Esgaroth upon the Long Lake, Dale and Erebor at the end of the War of the Ring he stood once more in defense of the King Under the Mountain and won himself reknown.
His long black beard is thick and dark, and his hood is dark blue (hung politely on a peg near the door, with nine others). Balwain has earned himself the name of "Iron Ripper" since his arrival here; for his hammer swing at the forge is said to rip through iron stock at an alarming pace. Destined to be a great craftsmen of Aglarond he must first deal with his other duties such as this, which serves to tighen relations with the Men of the Mark and learn their ways and lore and which also allows the miners time to replenish the iron ore Balwain has used up. Invited to join the feasting, Balwain has led a small company of younger Dwarves out of Aglarond and to the Hornburg at the request of Gimli. Among the steadily drunken growing Dwarves (who are threatening to break into song) is Borir son fo Thorir.
Men and Dwarves are a common sight in Helm's Deep, for they live and work here day in and day out. What is not a common sight, and what is the focus of some attention, is the Noldor Elf that has joined the feasting. Since the crowning of King Elessar more of the Fair Folk have been seen in Rohan than they had for centuries before. It is a paradox for since the destruction of the One Ring in the fires of Mount Doom the Elven kingdoms have begun to fade. More and more of the Fair Folk have left the Gray Havens and taken the Straight Way to Tol Eressëa in Aman. However as the First Born leave Middle-earth for the last time, there are many among them that wish to see the lands one last time. Faladril is one such of the Eldar and has wandered the realms of King Elessar in the North slowly making his way south from Arnor to Gondor. Here in Rohan he has recieved a warm enough welcome from the men of the Riddermark, but espcially from the Dunedain Rangers, and so at their table does he now sit.
Drinking, eating and merry making continues into the evening of this fine summer day in June, the 3rd Year of the Fourth Age of Middle-earth.
