Battle of Celebrant

Third age 2510

The treat from the North and East of Ithilien in Rhovanion never left the mind of the rulers in Gondor and the Northmen had moved into the far North of the Vales of Anduin but Gondor were occupied in the South of its realm, defending itself from the danger of Mordor, Sauron and the Witchking.
Minas Ithil had been taken, the Dwarves had left Moria, Osgiliath were ruined , the Watchful Peace has ended and Orcs were spreading in Hithaeglir.

It was under these circumstances Cirion became Steward of Gondor in the Third age, year 2489. The strength and population of Gondor had dwindled due to the wars with the corsairs of Umbar and the forts along Anduin; the North-Eastern borders, had long been unmanned.
Cirion, who knew, and were concerned of the weak North-Eastern frontier, had some few men posted at the forts along the line of the Anduin. He sent spies and scouts into the East and thus he became aware of a new and dangerous enemy who were steadily drifting in from beyond the Sea of Rhûn. They were slaying or driving away those few, friendly but scattered, people who were still living South and South-East of Mirkwood. But at the time there was nothing he could do to aid or prevent it. It became more and more dangerous for his spies and scouts to gather news and many of these brave men never returned to Gondor.

It was not until late in the winter of 2509 he became aware that a great movement against Gondor were being prepared. The Balchoth, as they were called, were mustering a great host along the South of Mirkwood. The Balchoth were preparing an assault upon Gondor over the North and South Undeeps into Calenardhon. Cirion had no great amount of men to spare for this new threat at the Northern frontier and thus was Gondor seriously threatened . In desperation, the thoughts of Cirion went to the Éothéod, the former Northmen, long term friends and allies of Gondor, in the upper vales of Anduin. Though they were far away he saw no other possibilities than trying to get a message through, explaining the great peril Gondor were in and ask for their aid.

It was a far shot and a dangerous task, nearly 1000 Miles for a messenger through unknown dangers and little known lands. He called for volunteers, and among those who came forth, six riders were chosen. They should go, two by two, with one day between each pair. Each messenger had learnt a message by heart and carried a small stone incised with the seal of the steward. In the early spring, March the tenth, in the Third age year 2510, the first pair rode off. One man, Borondir, descendant of a Northman who had went into service of Gondor, were one of the first pair; and by fortune, skill and a fast horse he alone of the six send forth 15 days later reached Framsburg in the North and delivered his message.

Eorl, the Lord of the Éothéod, took counsel with himself but not for long and as he rose he answered and said " I will come. If Mundburg falls, whither shall we flee from the darkness" and he took Borondir`s hand as a token of his promise.
Eorl saw that nothing but his whole strength would serve. Even with the greatest speed of the ordering of his land and the mustering of his men, the host were not assembled and ready to depart before the sixth day of April. Only a few hundreds were left behind for the support of the females, children and those of age. But with him Eorl lead around 7000 fully armed riders and a couple of hundred horsed archers.

In Gondor, after the departure of the last messenger, Cirion had gathered as great a force as he could, his son Hallas was left in command at Minas Tirith while Cirion took command of the army and set out West through Anórien. He passed South of the Mouth of Entwash and then he went North to the Undeeps and the Wold were the Balchoth had to cross river Anduin.

Eorl departed upon Felaróf the sixth day of April, with Borondir at his side to lead the way, and with the greatest speed possible. The host was not in any way threatened or assailed during its long journey down the vales of Anduin. That was partly because the Balchoth were busy transferring their army across Anduin but also because of Eorl's might and splendor. As they came near the heights of Dol Guldur and the dark shadows and clouds that flowed from that place, Eorl turned Westward and drew within the sight of Anduin. Out of Loth-Lórien, at the other side of the river, a white gleaming mist spread and passed across the river and flowed over the land before them, cowering their advance from the evil in Dol Guldur.

When the mist lifted on the third day, the Undeeps were in sight. It was now the fifteenth of April. In nine days with speed beyond hope they had traveled nearly 600 Miles and then host of Eorl crossed river Anduin.

The fifteenth of April had Cirion deployed his army at the Wold, facing the Balchoth who had crossed Anduin upon rafts. Though the Balchoth were rudely armed they made up in numbers what they lacked in gear and Cirion were defeated in the Wold and driven back North across river Limlight to the Field of Celebrant. At the same time Orcs, who had come out of Hithaeglir, suddenly assailed the flank of Cirion from the West and now he was driven towards Anduin. He had been cut off from the South by the Balchoth and the Gondorian army was trapped and in peril, with all hope lost.

Suddenly the Balchoth wavered and the pressure upon the Gondorian army was lifted. Cries of pain and fear replaced the Balchots`songs of victory. Unlooked for the riders of Éothéod came out of the North and they broke in upon the rear of the enemy and the fortunes of battle were reversed.

It is recorded in Rivendel that Elladan and his brother Elrohir took part in this battle of Celebrant "..In the forefront of the charge they saw two great horsemen, clad in grey, unlike all others, and the Orcs fled before them; but when the battle was won they could not be found, and none knew whence they came or whither they went.."

The enemy were driven, with slaughter, South over river Limlight into the Wold. So great was the fear, that went before the horsemen of the North, that the invaders were thrown into panic and Eorl led his men in pursuit and his riders hunted the enemy to death across the plains of Calenardhon.