In the thousands of years since its construction, the Black Gate had only truly been breached once, during the War of the Last Alliance at the end of the Second Age.
That time, both the defeated forces of Mordor and the victorious alliance had suffered tremendous losses. In return, they had gained nearly a thousand years of peace, followed by more than two thousand years of lurking in the shadows.
Now, in the Harvest Moon of Third Age 2964, the alliance had once again laid siege to the Black Gate. A vast sea of soldiers surrounded it, and after a brief rest, they prepared to launch their assault on Mordor.
More than half a year had passed since the battle on the Pelennor Plain.
In that battle, Mordor had committed all its forces and ultimately been routed, but the alliance had also suffered grievous losses. The troops defending Gondor had been almost entirely wiped out, while the reinforcements had suffered heavy casualties fighting the enemy.
Recovery alone had taken more than half a year.
Many things had happened in the meantime. Gondor's Steward and lords, for instance, had all maintained good relations with Aragorn, who had traveled from afar.
Yet both sides had tacitly avoided any discussion of who should inherit the throne. Everyone seemed to be watching and waiting-waiting for the war to end, watching how Aragorn conducted himself.
Perhaps, once the right moment arrived, Ecthelion would formally hand over his authority to the young man who had once served him.
Allen had stayed out of the matter. For one thing, it concerned Gondor and Arnor, and he did not want to voice his opinions at such a sensitive time.
For another, he was busy. As expected, the Easterlings had attacked Waronian with greater force than ever before. The