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appendix a 1377
pride he did not await the onset of his enemies in his stronghold,
but went out to meet them, thinking to sweep them, as others
before, into the Lune.
‘But the Host of the West came down on him out of the Hills
of Evendim, and there was a great battle on the plain between
Nenuial and the North Downs. The forces of Angmar were
already giving way and retreating towards Fornost when the
main body of the horsemen that had passed round the hills came
down from the north and scattered them in a great rout. Then
the Witch-king, with all that he could gather from the wreck,
fled northwards, seeking his own land of Angmar. Before he
could gain the shelter of Carn Dûm the cavalry of Gondor
overtook him with Eärnur riding at their head. At the same time
a force under Glorfindel the Elf-lord came up out of Rivendell.
Then so utterly was Angmar defeated that not a man nor an orc
of that realm remained west of the Mountains.
‘But it is said that when all was lost suddenly the Witch-king
himself appeared, black-robed and black-masked upon a black
horse. Fear fell upon all who beheld him; but he singled out
the Captain of Gondor for the fullness of his hatred, and
with a terrible cry he rode straight upon him. Eärnur would
have withstood him; but his horse could not endure that
onset, and it swerved and bore him far away before he could
master it.
‘Then the Witch-king laughed, and none that heard it ever
forgot the horror of that cry. But Glorfindel rode up then on his
white horse, and in the midst of his laughter the Witch-king
turned to flight and passed into the shadows. For night came
down on the battlefield, and he was lost, and none saw whither
he went.
‘Eärnur now rode back, but Glorfindel, looking into the gathering
dark, said: ‘‘Do not pursue him! He will not return to this
land. Far off yet is his doom, and not by the hand of man will
he fall.’’ These words many remembered; but Eärnur was angry,
desiring only to be avenged for his disgrace.
‘So ended the evil realm of Angmar; and so did Eärnur, Captain
of Gondor, earn the chief hatred of the Witch-king; but
many years were still to pass before that was revealed.’
* * *