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| | Stories of Arda |
 | | Tolkien does not tell us what wars the Esgaroth warriors fought in, but I assume they were unhappy at the presence of the Balchoth to their south. |
 | | The patrols had found a spot where someone, probably a Man, had stood, but they had found no evidence of who he was or what he might want. Eilian had tentatively assumed that this Man was the same one who had been in the caves along the Forest River, but that was only an assumption. |
 | | "Welcome to Esgaroth, my lords," he greeted them, with a small bow that they returned in kind. "I am commissioned to bring you to my father, the town's Master. Will you come?" And he led them across the great wooden bridge, through the gates, and into the town. |
| www.storiesofarda.com /chapterview.asp?sid=14&cid=96 (2099 words) |
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