Middle-Earth: Kaen, Lord of Light

Some time passed, and the population of Azure Spring had grown to over eight thousand.

Messengers arrived from the Abandoned Village, bringing news that Old Jack had led more than six hundred villagers to resettle there.

To Kaen's surprise, Hubert had also taken his two hundred villagers and made the move as well.

It seemed this scholar had made up his mind—he was ready to make his mark under Kaen's leadership.

In the days that followed, the slave trader Balord departed from Azure Springs to scour the land for slaves to sell to Kaen.

Lady Tifa, the weapons merchant, stopped by for a cup of afternoon tea with Kaen before returning to her family.

Unlike the bold and lively Cathril or the gentle and graceful Ameliah, Tifa was a woman of a different sort—mature and composed. Her gaze, smoldering like a forge's flame, seemed as though it could melt anything it landed upon.

But in the end, the two merely shared a meal.

Tifa soon left—feelings were one thing, but business could not be delayed.

Merchants dealing in building materials, food, and daily supplies began pouring into the Abandoned Village, bringing with them a steady stream of cargo.

Sensing that the time was right, Kaen selected over three thousand settlers from among those willing to follow him.

Adding the slaves he'd previously bought from Balord and the remaining soldiers, the party now totaled over four thousand people.

He entrusted the full management of Azure Springs to Brie and made preparations to set out.

Just then, Brie's older sister, Joanna, came to find him.

Her expression was mournful as she spoke:

"Milord, please allow me to leave with you."

Kaen asked, "Does Brie know?"

"He will understand."

Joanna's voice trembled slightly. "My father is dead. One of my younger brothers is gone too. This place holds nothing but sorrow for me."

"I heard you plan to build a village beyond the Troll-woods. I'm an architect—I can help. So please… take me with you."

Kaen fell silent, deep in thought.

After a moment, he gave a slow nod, agreeing to this poor woman's request.

The next day, Brie and the people of Azure Springs gathered to see Kaen off.

As Joanna's figure faded into the distance, tears shimmered in Bray's eyes. He whispered under his breath:

"Power, treasure, wealth, land… these are all but worldly things. My dearest sister, I hope you find a new life."

….

The caravan, stretching seven to eight hundred meters long, moved slowly across the wilderness.

After several arduous days of travel, they finally reached their destination.

Unlike before, the place was no longer desolate—it brimmed with vitality.

The Dúnedain were working alongside the villagers to repair houses and roads.

Outside the village, a temporary enclosure had been set up to hold a large number of cattle, sheep, and poultry—all brought by the villagers and the Dúnedain.

Thanks to the scouts' early reports, Ameliah, Mundar, Old Jack, and Hubert had been awaiting Kaen's arrival.

Standing with them was a tall, silver-bearded elder whose eyes held the weight of ages.

When the crowd saw the immense host Kaen had brought, they were stunned. But quickly, they came forward to greet him with proper formality.

Kaen's gaze swept from the elderly Dúnedain to Jack and Hubert.

He smiled and nodded. "Welcome. There's much I wish to say—but first, we must settle the four thousand people who've come with me."

"You're absolutely right, Lord Kaen. We've already prepared for this," the others said, nodding.

They immediately set to work, organizing labor and erecting tent after tent to accommodate the new arrivals.

….

That night, everyone gathered around the fire, eating roasted meat and sharing stories.

It was then that Kaen learned the name of the Dúnedain leader—Araphor.

He had once been an elder among all the Northern Dúnedain.

After their chieftain Arathorn perished and his bloodline vanished, the Dúnedain fractured into a dozen splintered clans.

Araphor rose to lead one of them.

Without land to call their own, he had guided his people across the plains of Eriador, endlessly wandering.

Proud descendants of the North, they could not bring themselves to bow to Gondor, nor seek refuge in other realms.

Their roaming path was marked by tragedy—many died to Orc blades, others to starvation or disease.

Eventually, they grew weary of such a life.

It was then they encountered the siblings Lairon and Cathril.

After learning of Kaen's deeds and ambitions, they made their choice—to come and pledge themselves to him.

By the firelight, Araphor spoke:

"Lord Kaen, though I lead this group of Dúnedain, know this—our royal bloodline has long since been extinguished."

"Since the fall of the Kingdom of Arnor centuries ago, we have been without land, destined to wander."

"We have grown tired of this fate."

"We have no king of royal descent to lead us. If you can offer us a lasting home, we will name you our king—and swear our fealty."

Hubert added solemnly, "Your words once moved me deeply. Knowledge and compassion alone cannot protect the people. That's why I now choose to follow you—to help you protect more lives."

…..

And so it was.

Beneath the glow of moon and stars, beside the burning flames, and witnessed by thousands—

Five hundred Dúnedain, led by Araphor, men and women, young and old alike, knelt on one knee before Kaen.

With solemn expressions, they spoke their oath in unison:

"We pledge ourselves to Kaen Eowenríel. In this life and the next, and through the generations of our descendants, we shall uphold this vow. As long as the royal bloodline remains true, our loyalty shall never waver."

Kaen drew his longsword and tapped it lightly on Araphor's left and right shoulders.

In a clear, resounding voice, he declared:

"I, Kaen Eowenríel, swear to you all—myself and my descendants shall treat you as kin, as cherished companions. We shall never abandon you. Should I break this vow, let my bloodline be severed and my soul find no peace."

Following that solemn ceremony, both Hubert and Joanna formally swore allegiance to Kaen as well.

From the shadows, Gandalf watched in silence.

The ancient wizard who had witnessed countless legends unfold across Middle-earth...

Now bore witness to the first moment in history—when the Dúnedain pledged their loyalty not to a descendant of kings, but to a man born beyond the royal bloodline.