Malbeth the Seer

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In J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth legendarium, Malbeth the Seer was a wise man of Arthedain who was remembered for two prophecies.

[edit] Regarding the Fall of the Arthedain

At the birth of the son of Araphant he said

"Arvedui you shall call him, for he will be the last in Arthedain. Though a choice will come to the Dúnedain, and if they take the one that seems less hopeful, then your son will change his name and become king of a great realm. If not, then much sorrow and many lives of men shall pass, until the Dúnedain arise and are united again."

This prophecy was to be fulfilled in the year 1975 of the Third Age. After a terrible defeat when the armies of Angmar, led by the Witch-king of Angmar assailed Fornost, Arvedui fled Arnor, going far into the snowy North in order to evade death at the hands of the Witch-King's army. When a ship was sent by Círdan of the Grey Havens to rescue him, he was cautioned by the Lossoth to await the thaw to set off. Not heeding their words, Arvedui set sail straight away and he was shipwrecked and died at in the ice-bay of Forochel. Thus the prophecy came to pass, the rule of his people was passed onto lesser men who could not truly control the realm. The chieftains of the Dúnedain ruled for many generations, until they were united by Aragorn, son of Arathorn, when he ascended to the throne of Gondor and Arnor, in time returning the kingdom of Arnor to its former glory.

[edit] Regarding the summoning of the Dead

Regarding the summoning of the Dead by the heir of Isildur, Malbeth prophesied;

Over the land there lies a long shadow,

westward reaching wings of darkness.

The Tower trembles; to the tombs of kings

doom approaches. 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.

Whose shall the horn be? Who shall call them

from the grey twilight, the forgotten people?

The heir of him to whom the oath they swore.

From the North shall he come, need shall drive him:

he shall pass the Door to the Paths of the Dead.

This second prophecy again was fulfilled in time. In the year 3019 of the Third Age, Elrond of Rivendell sent word to Aragorn, son of Arathorn, to remember the words of the seer at his time of need. After learning of the impending assault of the Corsairs of Umbar on Minas Tirith by using the palantír of Orthanc, Aragorn discovered that only by walking the Paths of the Dead could he reach Minas Tirith in time to offer aid. Acknowledging this, he choose that route and accompanied by the Grey Company he passed through and out to the Stone of Erech. As the heir of Isildur, Aragorn summoned the Dead Men of Dunharrow to him and with their aid defeated the Corsair threat to Gondor, fulfilling the prophecy of Malbeth.