Stone of Erech
This page should be merged with Erech.
The Stone of Erech was a great black stone, spherical in shape and roughly six feet in diameter. It was half-buried at the top of the Hill of Erech. The Stone was a mysterious and eerie place, shunned by the people of the valley, who claimed it had fallen from the sky, and was haunted by restless spirits. In fact, the Stone had its origins in Númenor, and was brought to Erech after the Downfall by Isildur himself.
It was at the Stone of Erech that the King of the Mountain swore allegiance to Isildur's cause in the time of the Last Alliance. Because he failed to fulfil his oath, the Oathbreakers haunted the hills until they made good their promise.
In the time of King Arvedui of Arthedain a prophecy was made regarding the arising of the dead during the War of the Ring. In this prophesy the Stone of Erech was mentioned:
- "The Dead awaken; for the hour is come for the oathbreakers: at the Stone of Erech they shall stand again and hear there a horn in the hills ringing."
- ― Malbeth the Seer
When the Grey Company came to Rohan the sons of Elrond brought with them a reminder of these words from their father to Aragorn, who acted upon these words to brave the Paths of the Dead.[1]
After waiting through the long years of the Third Age, their chance came at last when Aragorn Elessar led them out from beneath the Dwimorberg to the Stone of Erech. There at last they fulfilled their ancient bond, and marched to the aid of Gondor.[2]
