Ithilien, Moon Over Gondor - Page 4
© Michael Martinez
But the question follows of why Sauron wasn't able to take Osgiliath. If he had such overwhelming strength when he attacked Minas Ithil, what happened? Most likely, Isildur escaped with more than just his family. And word probably reached Osgiliath that something was wrong before Isildur arrived. Anarion could have brought reinforcements from Minas Anor, and help would still have been available in Pelargir. Also, a lot of people in central Ithilien were probably evacuated to Emyn Arnen and Osgiliath. Forewarned, better manned, and resupplied from the rear and by the river, Osgiliath would have been a formidable barrier to Sauron's invasion.
But apparently, Isildur and Anarion lacked the manpower to take back what they had lost. Or else Isildur understood that Sauron posed a greater threat than the Dunedain had ever imagined. So he left Gondor and went north, leaving Anarion to keep the kingdom safe. More-than-likely, Sauron ran amok in Ithilien for a few years. It would not be until he learned of the marshalling of forces in the north that he would begin to shift resources to the Brown Lands.
There in the north, Sauron prepared for the coming assault. He may have realized that he had underestimated the power of the Dunedain, or else his own ability to wage war. After his initial assault on Gondor, he went on the defensive. Anarion was eventually able to retake Minas Ithil, perhaps when Gil-galad and Elendil first came out of the north. Then Sauron's attention would have been focused on the battle of the Dagorlad. Anarion probably also had a larger army by that time, as he should have spent several years building up his forces, just as Gil-galad and Elendil had. Sauron attacked Gondor in 3429, Gil-galad and Elendil formed the Last Alliance in 3430, they marched to Imladris in 3431, and the Battle of Dagorlad occurred in 3434. Anarion had five years to recruit, train, and equip new soldiers.
But in that five years, did he accomplish anything, or did he only just barely match the strength of Sauron's increasing forces? "Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age" says there were two Numenorean lords, Herumor and Fuinur, who were allied with Sauron and dwelt close to Gondor. These two could have brought new forces to Sauron's aid and kept Anarion distracted. Worse, they could have ravaged South Ithilien. Anarion might have been able to drive Sauron's army back to the mountains only to find that he had to deal with new foes attacking Emyn Arnen.
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