But the evil that lived in the tower of Dol Guldur began to gain strength as well and with unease did we watch that power increase. Then came word to Frumgar, our chief, of the defeat of the Witch King at Fornost. In the time of Earnil II of Gondor, Year 1977 of the Third Age, Frumgar lead the Eotheod north to the lands east of the Langflood and we drove forth those who had sworn to Angmar and claimed the lands between the Langwell and Greylin as ours. One fortress town did we build: Framsburg-named for Fram, son of Frumgar who it was that slew the great dragon, Scatha thus taking possession of the Dragon's horde. Dwarves came then and tried to claim the treasure as theirs but Fram rebuked them by having a necklace made of Scatha's teeth. And he said to them that they had nothing to match as they were exceeding hard to come by. It is said that the Dwarves took such insult from this that they slew Fram to avenge it. But of the treasure of Scatha they received naught. And from that time until the days of Éomer Éadig there was little friendship between the Éotheod and Dwarves.

There was still friendship and respect between the Éothéod and Gondor but almost a thousand miles now lay between us. While we prospered and grew in numbers of both people and horses in our land far to the north, things went not so well for the people of the White City. In 2509, Cirion-Steward of Gondor, perceived that a great force was being gathered around the southern borders of Mirkwood with the intent to fall upon and destroy his land. The Balchoth warriors were not as well armed or equipped as the Wainriders had been but they made up for that lack by the sheer size of the force coming to assail Cirion's realm. It was then, when it seemed little likely that he and his would survive, that Cirion sent messengers to the Éothéod asking our aid.

Our chieftain in that time was Eorl, son of Léod. He had become chieftain at the young age of sixteen when Léod had tried to tame and ride a wonderously beautiful white horse--one of those brought to Middle Earth by Béma it is said. For all his skill as a tamer of horses, Léod was thrown and died of the fall. The horse escaped but Eorl pursued him. When he came upon him, Eorl cried out: "Come hither, Mansbane, and get a new name!" And the horse understood Eorl and came to him. And Eorl looked upon the great white stallion and spoke thus: "Felaróf I name you. you loved your freedom, and I do not blame you for that. But now you owe me a great weregild, and you shall surrender your freedom to me until your life's end." And Felaróf was from that day forward Eorl's and Eorl needed neither bit or bridle to ride him. From Felaróf came the mearas who would allow only the kings or their sons to ride them. This then was the man to whom Cirion sent word.

The Steward sent forth six men: three pairs with the first departing on the tenth day of Súlimë. They faced 450 miles through Calenardhon to the Undeeps-already under the watch of the Balchoth--and then another 500 more north to Framsburg. And once they crossed the Undeeps, they would have to ride by night and had first to pass the evil of Dol Guldur. In truth, Cirion had little hope that any of his men would win through.