[Nogrod]

Last year the AFA authorities offered the Arthedain to host group C of the Arda Cup. Many an eyebrow was raised back then as everyone knew the ambitious rebuilding-project of Norbury was a huge venture demanding both time and capital – so why drain both of those precious assets with adding one more major project to it? There was no way they could manage it, said many. There were strong suspicions on the issue. But lo and behold! They built a beautiful stadion at Amon Sûl – rebuilding the tower itself for it as well, in time, in a luxurious manner though not in the grandest of scales.

Here’s how The AKM’s correspondent described the new venue last year:

“[the Arthedain] asked to host the games at Amon Sûl instead [of Norbury]. The fully rebuilt tower laid a majestic backdrop to the stadium they built on its feet.

The Weathertop-Arena was not the most grand or lavish venue there was, but it was dashingly modern while it’s architecture honoured the surroundings and the great tower of Amon Sûl. From far away it looked like the stadium was embedded into the hillside, being a part of it.

The most expensive suites at the tower offered some real glamour for the spectators able to finance such lodgings – and a great view to the game from individual balconies. As a bonus the spectators would be shown live-coverage from all the matches going on at other locations via the restored palantir of Amon Sûl.”

The games went peacefully, the crowd turn-out was impressive (full house for every match) and what is really important: the mood in and around the group-play was amiable and good-spirited; and the organization was greased and polished, working effortlessly top-level. So it was kind of natural the new venue would get a promotion and letting them to host two quarterfinals as the neutral ground was just a fitting way to appreciate the Arthedain. But after the initial nod and even cheers from them, it didn’t take long from the journalists attending the AFA “quarterfinal revealing dinner” to start thinking about it again. It was a neat stadium combining old and new; tradition and cutting-edge architecture shook hands there, the newest design and materials blended seamlessly into the ages old structures and formed a unity not only together but with the surrounding hills, plains and forests. And it was clean, working, efficient, comfortable to suit all tastes from a beggar to a king…

But it was so small! It housed only some 45000 spectators – and these were the quarterfinals of the Arda Cup, two games of the four to be played! There was no way the games could be played in front of such thin crowds. It was a yellow paper from Lothlórien who got the question in first.

Galadriel’s Daily Mirror: Half of Arda is crazed for tickets to see Galadriel and Fëanor play! And Elrond, and Legolas! And the Valar! Millions would die to catch an eye of Varda and Nienna in their evening gowns in the after-game party! And you give the games to this children’s playground in the middle of nowhere? This can’t be!

The AKM: If I may sir, it does sound peculiar you give the games to such a small arena with limited services. Even if we do not agree with all The Galadriel’s Daily Mirror says, we must join them in asking the sanity of the decision. There would be real big venues nearer some civilization to be used…

The AFA Chairman: Please, there is no reason to worry, everything’s thought about. The Arthedain have promised us there will be a stadium double the size from last year in place at the first kick off. I’ll give the chairman of the organizing committee a word here to give you some additional information…

Arveleg: Thank you Mr. Chairman. Oh, this place brings forth memories… *looks moved and sighs* And I’m proud and happy – if also very tired right now – to have been able to give my contribution to the quarterfinal-games of the AC11 to succeed on this hallowed ground. But as the Chairman just said, we will be seating double the amount of spectators this year, but that’s not the big thing. The big thing is, that with the enhanced Palantir Network Technologies ™, we can also share a new Palantir Projection View™ to all those venues that have Palantirs – and as we speak we are co-operating with the stadiums around the Arda to receive full stadiums to watch the games live on air – like they would be looking at the games taking place in front of their very eyes. This is cutting edge stuff, mind you. We deliver the “being there” feeling to full stadiums around Arda: Tol Eressëa stadium will be packed with the broadcast of Avallónë’s stone, and there will be nice crowds in Osgiliath, Minas Morgul, Minas Tirith and who knows were the lines can be connected before the games.

Arveleg and the AFA chairman looked pleased seeing the amazement of the media. Now the media really got a story to make headlines!


All these avant-garde-technologies apart, was the venue spoiled with the new enlargement of the stadium?

Not at all. Now it bound Weathertop and The Fortress Hill together, sitting on a saddle between them; and the ancient Banked Bridge was renovated to edge the western side of the stand. And as the stadium now reached both hills, there were new buildings on top of the Fortress Hill as well, nicely trailing the general shapes of the hills around and providing double the luxury box seats. And to top it all, they had built a kind of modernistic mirror-image of the tower of Amon Sûl itself on top of the Fortress Hill, rising from the ruins of the old Fortress’ walls. The walls of the new tower were built on steel-railings criss-crossing the structure and then covered with dampened ash-grey glass that reflected the surrounding scenery to a viewer outside the tower, but inside they had a bright view on the pitch and all the modern conveniences any spoilt celebrity could dream of.

But the commoners had not been forgotten either. Housing now 95000 spectators there was room enough – and with the Northern efficiency – the logistics worked marvelously and there were for once enough toilets and beer-stands so one didn’t need to use hours queuing to them.

It was an engineering and financing miracle and there were many who asked themselves the question: “how can this be?” Something was at works there but it was hard to say what – but questioning the Northern kings and their capability of ending great tasks was just an invitation to face a sword, every reporter knew that much...