Timeline Event
Erkenbrand shows mercy to the Dunlendings after the Battle of the Hornburg
Event Type: Military/Strategic
Age: 3rd Age - Ring War
Dates: March 4, 3019 ~ March 5, 3019
Description:
An event in the aftermath of the Battle of the Hornburg; see that entry for an overview:
No Orcs remained alive; their bodies were uncounted. But a great many of the hillmen had given themselves up; and they were afraid, and cried for mercy.
The Men of the Mark took their weapons from them, and set them to work.
'Help now to repair the evil in which you have joined,' said Erkenbrand; 'and afterwards you shall take an oath never again to pass the Fords of Isen in arms, nor to march with the enemies of Men; and then you shall go free back to your land. For you have been deluded by Saruman. Many of you have got death as the reward of your trust in him; but had you conquered, little better would your wages have been.'
The men of Dunland were amazed, for Saruman had told them that the men of Rohan were cruel and burned their captives alive.
In the midst of the field before the Hornburg two mounds were raised, and beneath them were laid all the Riders of the Mark who fell in the defence, those of the East Dales upon one side, and those of Westfold upon the other. ...
The Orcs were piled in great heaps, away from the mounds of Men, not far from the eaves of the forest. And the people were troubled in their minds; for the heaps of carrion were too great for burial or for burning. They had little wood for firing, and none would have dared to take an axe to the strange trees, even if Gandalf had not warned them to hurt neither bark nor bough....
'Let the Orcs lie,' said Gandalf. 'The morning may bring new counsel.'
The Two Towers, LoTR Book 3, Ch 8, The Road to Isengard
Contributors:
Elena Tiriel 11Jan05
