Prologue

It all began with a meteor streaking across the skies of Middle-earth. Eru Ilúvatar, the one God who dwelled in the Eternal Halls, the Father of all beings and all things, instantly sensed this meteor that had suddenly appeared in his realm. It was not a creation of his or of the Ainur.

"An interlude?"

The great God pondered. A moment later, without any visible movement from him, the meteor, which had seemed to be heading toward Rohan and Gondor, suddenly changed course and plunged into Rhovanion, east of the Misty Mountains-the Wilderland.

"Heh."

The Eternal Halls fell silent once more.