Adûnaphel
Adûnaphel, from the princess of Forostar to the queen of Umbar and the quiet avenger, or the destiny of a naive heart.
- My personnal interpretations, based on different sources, including ICE (trading cards, approved by Christopher Tolkien, JRRT' son) and "The book of lost tales I/II" by JRRT.
1. Forostar
Princess Adûnaphel was born in her maternal uncle Adûnazil´s home on Atalanta´s North Cape in Forostar in the year 1823 of the second age, during the rule of her father Tar-Minastir, Isilmo's son, Eleventh King of Atalanta (Numenor). The Humans of Atalanta were closely allied with the Elves of Tol Eressea, which lay close to their western shores. Minastir loved and envied the Lindarin and he spended a great part of his days gazing westwards towards Avallonë. It was Minastir who send the first fleet of Atalanta to aid Gil-Galad in the first war against Gorthaur and it was also him who finally restored and completed Tar-Aldarions great work at Lond-Dear and secured it against attack from the sea. The great harbour at the mouth of the Greyflood was primary used for transportation of the wood from the great southern forest which was needed to build and maintain the great navy of Atalanta. The family of Adûnaphel's mother possessed noble blood and owned extensive lands in Forostar and Orostar. Even as a young child, she was recognized as being exceptionally beautiful, but her youth was scarred by the death of her mother on the sea with her father and she dwelled in remorse for many years. Her oldest brother Ciryatan, born 1634, scorned the yearnings of his father, and eased the restlessness of his heart by voyaging, east, and north, and south. It is said that he constrained his father to yield to let him go to the West. "The Valar and Elves are egoists", he said, "Humans have the same rights !"
2. Tol Eressea
In 1844, Ciryatan's young warriors came to the the south of Tol Eressea, taking by force the castle of Hagwudu. Most men of the castle fell in the battle, while women and child escaped to the white mountains in the east. The south part of Tol Eressea was then known as Isonera "the iron coast", a land of dangerous female warriors under the leadership of Mässea. Ciryatan's warriors, however, don't lived long enough to become their victimes, because they were defeated in the swamp by the lindarin Elves of Kôr. This was the first shadow upon Atalanta. Ciryatan and some of his friends escaped and reached the heaven of Avallonë in the north, from were he returned to Atalanta. Adûnaphel accompanied her brother in the south of the island, but soon go her own way; she was fascinated by the nature, the beautiful birds and discovered first the Olorë Malle ("the path of dreams"), in the center of the island. She helped the refugees in the white mountains and was welcome by the Lindarin in all parts of the lonely isle. Nobody known that she was Ciryatan's sister. "Never", the Lindarin said, "they encountered a Human with such a naive heart". She learned their language, but also the martial art together with Mäessa warriors. She visited Tavrobel in the west and meet Miril-i-turinqi, the queen of Tol Eressea. They had long discussions in which Miril feels that the shadow of a heavy destiny follows this young maiden. In the library of Tavrobel, she studied history, religion and magic art. She dreamed of a world without war and suffering, dominated by a strong hand. She asked "why dragons are evil?" Aelfin the Lord of Leithien said "they were created by Melko, and nothing what comes from the Dark Lord can be good". Adûnaphel, however, claimed that without Melko, the Valar never had the idea to create Sun and Moon, and the mountains would not be so beautiful. Aelfin replied "Of course Melko only fulfilled the plan of Iluvatar". "Why", she ask, "Melkor was punished, if it is so ?" Miril said "Fui Nienna has taken his defense her, but Melko’s crimes are too numerous... never forget the forgery of orcs." However, Adûnaphel was not convinced, she said "Iluvatar is responsible for the evil on Arda, he created it and played with Melko, imagine how upset you would be…"
3. Atalanta
Even before Minatir passed on 1873, the Lords of Atalanta designated Ciryatan 1869 to the throne. Adûnaphel came back to Eressea and her blame attributed to Minatir for her mother's dead contributed to her fervent support of the reformative fraction in the court. In spite of her anger against the old Lords, which elected her brother instead of her, she loved the courageous Ciryatan and in turn exerted a great influence on him. It happened in the days of Tar-Ciryatan that the people of Atalanta began to murmur against the ban which forbade them to sail into the West, passing Tol Eressea, and reaching Valinor. Manwë sent messengers to the people of Atalanta and reminded them of the Doom of Humans and for a while they rested, but then turned against Middle-earth where they came rather as conquers than friends. In the spirit of Adûnazil, the ancient Lord of Forostar and Orostar, Adûnaphel sought to sever Atalanta's close ties with the Lindarins, in hope that the Humans could build along their own cultural line and expand their military and economic strength. Her ultimate hope, of course, was to see the domination of Atalanta over all Humans. This drove her - together with Akhorahil the future "Blind Sorcerer" and Storm King of Khand - to leave Atalanta in 1914.
4. Middle-earth
They followed the course of many of their friends and went to Middle-earth. Landing with her retainers at the haven of Umbar, she erected a citadel that became the focus of her expanding domain. Following her demand, Ciryatan built a great fleet of royal ships, and his servants brought back great store of metals and gems, but Adûnaphel's warriors imposed a strong discipline to the Humans of Middle-earth. Tar-Ciryatan had two sons, Atanamir and Tindomul He resigned 2029, giving the sceptre of Atalanta to his oldest son, Prince Atanamir; and died 2035. His second son, Prince Tindomul ("Twilight Son"), born 1820, grow up with Adûnaphel in her uncle's home of Forostar. He was born during a solar eclipse and his hair was blacker than any they had ever seen. Like his entire family, he was exceptionally proud and was a fierce supporter of the interests of Atalanta. Fiery and given to rash aggression, Tindomul take the name Er-Mûrazor ("Black Prince") and became embroiled in the campaigns of rapid conquest in Middle-earth. Prince Mûrazor went to Barad-dûr 1883 and signed a treaty with Gorthaur, the second Dark Lord, also known under the names of Annatar and Sauron. Gorthaur was one of the mightiest Maiar, and in the beginning of days he served Aulë the Smith. From Aulë he learnt much of forging and making, knowledge that he would make use of many thousands of years later when he built Barad-dûr and forged the One Ring. Gorthaur was chocked by the punishment of Aulë by Iluvatar upon creation of the dwarves. As a reaction, he turned his eyes to Melko, fascinated by the independency and strength of this spirit, and soon became his most trusted lieutenant. In the Wars of Artanor and Beleriand, he was the most feared of Melko's servants, but after the War of Wrath and the expulsion of the first Dark Lord, Gorthaur rose to become the greatest enemy of Elves and Humans, the children's Iluvatar.
5. The Rings of Power
While Angband still stood in the dark north of the world, Gorthaur was given command of the lesser fortress of Tol-i-Gauroth, the isle of the werewolves, on the upper Sirion. In Angband, Luthien and Beren take the Silmaril from Melkor's crown. Thereafter, the Valar assaulted Melko and took him in chains back to Valinor, but Gorthaur escaped, and remained in Middle-earth. After the defeat of Melkor at end of the First Age, some of the remaining Noldorin Elves settled in Eregion and built a city called Ost-in-Edhil around the year 750 in the Second Age close to the west gate of the dwarven kingdom of Khazad-dûm. About the year 1200, Gorthaur came among these Elves in a fair form using the name Annatar ("Lord of Gifts"), but with a subtle plan. Their skill was subverted by Gorthaur, who turned their abilities to the making of the Rings of Power in 1590. Using the fire of the Mount of Doom, Gorthaur forged the Master Ring in 1600, which controlled them all. During the next 150 years, Mûrazor expanded his knowledge of enchantments and spell casting, becoming an exceedingly powerful sorcerer. His knowledge of the black arts was second only to Gorthaur, and he quickly rose to become the evil one's most trusted lieutenant and 1998 he received the first Ring of Power. Exact time and place for the meeting of Adûnaphel with the Dark Lord is unknown, but probably she welcome Gorthaur in her citadel of Umbar. They discussed a long time about Melko and the destiny of Arda. Many signs point around 2150, during the rule of Atanamir the Great, and the Dark Lord gave her the second Ring of Power. Tar-Adûnaphel was known thereafter as the queen of Umbar, in the south of Middle-earth. They fell pray to the Dark Lord´s promises of wealth, power and immortality. The seven other Ringwraiths among Humans were Khamûl the Easterling (Dragon Lord), Dwar of Waw (Dog King), Jí Indûr Dawndeath (Cloud Lord), Akhôrahil of Atalanta (Blind Sorcerer and Storm King), Hoarmûrath of Dír (Ice King), Ren of Angmar (Fire King), and Ûvatha of Khand (the Horseman). Those who used the Nine Rings became mighty in their day, kings, sorcerers, and warriors of old. They obtained glory and great wealth. They had, as it seemed, unending life, yet life became unendurable to them. They could walk, if they would, unseen by all eyes in this world beneath the sun, and they could see things in worlds invisible to mortal Humans. However, they submitted also their spirits to Gorthaur and the One Ring.
6. The dark queen of Umbar
In spite of her magic power, queen Adûnaphel was forced to resign in 2280 by the wild human tribes of Gondor and Rohan. She rides far away to the South-East of Middle-eart, where she meets Khamûl the Dragon Lord. She remembers her dreams many years ago, the world of the dragons. She was first kept in a cave and treated as a slave. She escaped with help of her Ring of Power. In the land of Khand, she was considered as a lovely witch, helping a lot of peoples in difficulty. She thought to use her Ring of Power to making good. For her, Evil had a name, Gondor, the slaves of the Valar which detroyed her holy world. In 2885, commanding a group of Haradrim, Adûnaphel returned in the southern part of Gondor. She considered as a part of her domain and occupied it in the name and for the glory of Atalanta, but the citadel of Umbar resisted. Following their great victory, the Haradrim healed up, while the Gondorians were left to suffer in their fortress, fending off repeated Mordain attacks. As their greatness and power grew, the Lords of Atalanta began to turn against the Ban of the Valar, and at last Ar-Adûnakhôr, who became King in 2899 turned openly against it, though he did not dare defy it. The last King of Atalanta was Ar-Pharazôn the Golden, who usurped the throne of the rightful queen Míriel in 3255. He took his armies to Middle-earth to make war upon the Dark Lord, and so great had the warriors of Atalanta become that Gorthaur's forces deserted him. Seeing no other possibility, Gorthaur sued for peace and returned with the King to Atalanta. He gradually gained Ar-Pharazôn's trust, and persuaded him to sail openly against the Valar. This he did in 3319, but as he set foot on the forbidden shores of Valinor, Atalanta swallowed beneath the waves forever. Only a small southern part of Atalanta came out from the sea again with time and was called Tol Amtani, the isle of the human's dawn. Adûnaphel commanded a ship - designated by the wild Gondorians as "pirate" - at large of Umbar. She observed the disaster of Atalanta with her own eyes, firstly not believing that Iluvatar indeed and its slaves, the Valar, can be so cruel and cried a long time, then prying for the return of Melkor, the mightiest of the Ainur. Some few survived the downfall; Elendil, his sons and his followers had prepared themselves for the disaster and taken ship, and were driven back across the seas to Middle-earth. There they founded the realms of Arnor and Gondor, which together with the wild tribes will constitute the great opponents to the plans of Adûnaphel. Her close ties with the caravan masters allows her to tap the vast store of information accumulated by these wandering traders. The rich martial and diplomatic traditions of the surrounding peoples allows Adûnaphel to recruit from an elite source of skilled individuals. For many years, Endora suffered from the bloody war between on the one side Adûnaphel and her friends Mûrazor and Khamûl, and on the other side the realms of Arnor and Gondor. In 3384, she succeeded to take back her citadel of Umbar. She lived alone in her hall, hiding her hair and body under a long black cape. Thereafter, even loyal servants have rarely seen Adûnaphel. The Easterlings and Haradrims gave her the name "Dark Queen", but the Gondorians called her the "Quiet Avenger". Adûnaphel's learned diplomats and military commanders to execute her whispers throughout the region of Harondor and Harad. The warriors at Adûnaphel's disposal are not the best-trained nor the most skilled. However, the delicate position of her realm places great emphasis in balancing the many neighbouring forces and in keeping events happening as her desires.
7. Dol Guldur
The location of Adûnaphel's stronghold provides her with a rich source of supplies and good potential for further, although controlled, expansion. She dwelt secretly in Nurn until the arrival of Mûrazor, whose coming heralded the assault on Osgiliath, throwing the Gondorians across the river, and thereafter the tower of Minas Ithil in 3429. Its fall signified the end of Gondor's hold on Mordor and the return of Gorthaur, the Dark Lord. However, the Last Alliance between Elves and Humans, against all hope, defeated Gorthaur's army in 3430. The One Ring was taken by Isildur, but lost. This was the end of the Second Age. During the Third Age, about 1300, Gorthaur returned to Middle-earth and sent Mûrazor to the north, where he founded a stronghold in Angmar, and fought a long war with the Arnorian army. Altough the King of Angmar crushed Arnor, he faced the relief army of Gondor who marched to challenge the victors. Eärnur of Gondor and his Eriadoran allies vanquished the Host of Angmar near the ruins of the ancient Arnorian capital of Annúminas. Later that year, the Wraith-Lords iron home fell, ending the saga of the Northern wars. After a great plague ravaged Eriador in the mid Third Age, Gondor's watch on Mordor became less vigilant and Gorthaur sent Adûnaphel to Mordor to prepare it for his eventual return. After Gorthaur's return to Barad-dûr, Khamul and Adûnaphel were commanded to make fast the ancient stronghold of Dol Guldur on the elves of Mirkwood and Lothlorien. Ûvatha was the messenger between Tol Guldur and Barad-dûr. In 3018, as the battle raged in Ithilien, Khamul and Adûnaphel led the Orcs of Dol Guldur against Thranduil's Elf-kingdom in northern Mirkwood. Their plan was to crush the Silvan Elves, but the scale of their assault proved too modest to afford any significant victory. As the Elves melted northward through the wood, they inflicted tremendous losses on Khamul's underlings. In fact, the aim of this action was to hide the real mission of the Ringwaiths. Khamul and Adûnaphel meet the other 7 near the Anduin, the great river. The attempt to found the One Ring began. It was discovered first by Smeagol ("Gollum"), a Hobbit, and was hidden a long time. The Orcs of Tol Guldur captured Gollum, but the Ring already has passed to Bilbo and Frodo Baggins from the Shire. Khamul was very close to found the Ring in the Shire, but the Hobbits escaped. Khamul, Adûnaphel and Hoarmûrath rode toward the Iach Sarn (Stone Ford, also Athrad Sarn ) and on to Sackville. Mûrazor and the 5 other Riders went directly north toward Andrath and Bree. Some days later, Mûrazor struck Frodo with his knife, and after meeting Khamûl and the rest of the Riders, he chased the Hobbits to the Bruinen ford. There he cried for Frodo to surrender, and plunged into the river with Ûvatha and Dwar - only to find themselves engulfed beneath a torrential tide of magically summoned floodwaters. So ended the search for the One Ring, which came in the Hand of Elrond, the Lord of the Grey Elves of Imladris. After the disaster at the Bruinen Ford, Mûrazor retired to Barad-dûr and returned as commander of Mordor´s southern host. Khamul and Adûnaphel returned to Dol Guldur and prepared for the war. Their orders were simple, but their mission was ambitious: Gaurthor charged the Orcs of the Naked Hill with the Task of crushing the Elf-kingdoms in Lothlorien and northern Mirkwood. Both assaults failed, forcing Khamul and Adûnaphel to retire back to Barad-dûr just before the Battle of Morannon, at the side of Mûrazor.
8. Minas Tirith
Their goal was Minas Tirith and the defeat of Gondor. The battle that followed took place before the walls of the city. As they smashed the Great Gates, the main army of 6000 riders of Rohan struck the attacking forces from the north, sending Mûrazor's army into retreat. The King of Angmar responded by personally intervening in the fray involving the King of Rohan. Flying on the back of his Fell Beast, he drove upon Theoden. The advancing Rohirrim´s horses panicked as Mûrazor slew the King of Rohan with his awful mace. This act, however, enraged Theoden´s niece Eowyn, who fought disguised as the youth Dernhelm. Fully armoured and unrecognisable as a woman, Eowyn challenged Mûrazor as he stood over the body of her uncle, but the King of Angmar scoffed at her words. Proclaiming that "no man was fated to slay him", the Black Prince savoured his kill and warned her of her folly, not knowing that he faced a maiden. It was then Eowyn shed her helm and announced: "But no living man am I! You look upon a woman. Eowyn I am, Eomund´s daughter. You stand between me and my Lord and King. Go away, if you be not deathless! For living or dark undead, I will smite you, if you touch him." Silent, Mûrazor rosed, his fear and ire aroused. Eowyn stood strong, though, as the evil beast descended to attack her with its hideous claws and beak. She parried the initial foray and then sliced the monsters head from its long neck. But the Black Prince rose again, and advanced with his mace held high. He struck her green shield, scattering it, and take his weapon for the slaying blow. Suddenly, the Hobbit Merry rushed behind him and plunged his enchanted sword in the back of Mûrazor´s knee, breaking the spell that hold the King of Angmar immortal form together, and giving Eowyn time to recover. The Princess of Rohan gathered herself and drove her blade through Mûrazor´s neck. As fated, no man slew Gorthaur´s lieutenant; instead, he perished at Pelennor by the hand of a woman, and an ancient sword wielded by a Halfing.
Princess Adûnaphel, the Dark Queen of Umbar, the Quiet Avenger - as the other Ringwraiths - was unbound when the One Ring was destroyed in the fire of the Mount Doom by Smeagol and Frodo Baggin. Now, her pure heart sleeps in peace.