Aglahad and the Dead City (In Tharbad: Volume Three)

Afterword

Here the narrative ends. How the great swords Glamdring and Orcrist made their way to a cave in the Trollshaws is uncertain. We know that Aglahad had returned to Dol Amroth by late summer of that year, so it is certain that he did not complete his ride to Rivendell. It is thought that after leaving Siriondil, he rode to Mithlond, where he was met by messengers from his father. Urged to sail back to Dol Amroth, he gave the weapons to Círdan, who granted his wish that Elrond should be their keeper. Who it was that was tasked with taking the swords to Rivendell is unknown but they almost certainly died at the hands of trolls.

It is not clear why the author left the tale of Aglahad and the Dead City unfinished. Much of Cemendur Siriondil's long life is clouded in mystery. What we do know is that in the year 2071 of the Third Age, he was indeed appointed to serve the House of Dol Amroth. The Annals of Círdan show that he accompanied the wayward Aglahad during his youthful exploits in Eriador. But the significance of those events did not come to light until many years later, here related by Elrond in the Red Book of Westmarch:

"They are old swords, very old swords of the High Elves of the West, my kin. They were made in Gondolin for the Goblin-wars. They must have come from a dragon's hoard or goblin plunder, for dragons and goblins destroyed that city many ages ago...This, Gandalf, was Glamdring, Foe-hammer that the king of Gondolin once wore."

In addition, there is Gandalf's account of what transpired after his fall from the Bridge of Khazad-dûm:

"From out of the shadow a red sword leaped flaming. Glamdring glittered white in answer. There was a ringing clash and a stab of white fire. The Balrog fell back and its sword flew up in molten fragments."

"Long I fell, and he fell with me. His fire was about me. I was burned...We fought far under the living earth, where time is not counted. Ever he clutched me and ever I hewed him, till at last he fled into the dark tunnels...From the lowest dungeon to the highest peak it climbed...until it issued at last in Durin's Tower...I threw down my enemy, and he fell from the high place and broke the mountain-side where he smote it in his ruin."

The fate of the Dwarf Lofar of Durin's Folk is unknown, at least in Mithlond. But a hint to the Dúnedain Ranger's fate comes to us from the Chronicles of Dol Amroth. Therein is mentioned one General Finduilas of Bree who, at the age of one hundred and ninety-five, rode to war with Prince Imrahil, Aglahad's great-grandson. It is thought that she was present at the Battle of the Pelennor Fields although it is not known in what capacity she served. Her name was not recorded among the survivors of that battle. It may be noted that Imrahil's older sisters were named Finduilas and Ivriniel.

The tale of Aglahad and the Dead City is the last of the chronicles that Cemendur Siriondil wrote. His deeds after the recovery of Glamdring are uncertain. But we know that at some point after the War of the Ring, he returned to Mithlond. His name and that of Raindis are among those listed in the muster roll of the Last Ship. Thus, Siriondil and Raindis along with Círdan himself, sailed into the Uttermost West, never to return to the shores of Middle-earth.