A/N This is the original story of the Last Stand. I had deleted it a while ago, but found it in the trash and decided I wanted to repost the original. It is very similar to the revised version.
The Lord of the Fountain, the mighty Ecthelion was trying desperately to keep his mind on the battle at hand. He had no idea how long he and his troops had been fighting, trying in vain to keep the forces of Morgoth at bay. All around him chaos, mayhem, death, and destruction were around. Elves were fleeing the once hidden city of Gondolin as the forces of Morgoth relentlessly attacked. Homes, trees, and buildings burned and all around him bodies of both Elves, Orcs and other fell creatures alike lay dead.
Ecthelion's mind drifted back to right before the siege happened. The residents were gathering to watch the sunset over the mountains as they were celebrating the festival of Tarnin Austa when the enemy came pouring in from all over. His house, The House of the Fountain and the House of the White Wing, which belonged to the king's son in law Tuor fought to keep the enemy from advancing. However, they were swiftly cut down and falling like flies. Ecthelion knew if Tuor stayed, he too would fall so he had told Tuor to leave and get his family out and he would do his best to keep the enemy from breaking through.
As Ecthelion was brought back to the present, he knew he had to get his troops out; this was a battle he could not hope to win, at least not here. "Fall back! We must retreat and regroup ourselves, or we will all die!" His men upon hearing their Captain giving the order to retreat began to flee cutting down orcs, wolves and other fell creatures along the way. Ecthelion himself had already cut down two balrogs, mighty fire demons who had once been fair Maiar but were seduced by Morgoth.
Ecthelion was now almost home free. As he continued slashing his way through, every so often finding a lone elf hiding in terror and helping them to escape he could feel himself losing stamina. He didn't know how much longer he could continue at this grueling pace. He had to get to the Fountain of the King, for the water that ran in there could replenish the strength of anyone who drank from it, but before he was able to reach the passageway that would lead him to it, another balrog reared its ugly head and began to assault Ecthelion. Both fought, steel upon steel, fury against fury. Eventually, he was able to defeat the mighty Balrog with a quick blow with his sword but not before he had received a great wound to his left arm by its fiery whip.
Wrapping his arm Ecthelion continued to fight, knowing full well he would probably not live to see another day, but that no longer mattered anymore. The only thing that mattered was to make sure that as many Elves escaped as possible, even if it cost him his life. On he kept fighting trying frantically to reach the Square of the King, but the creatures just kept coming. Just as it looked as if he was going to meet his end he heard a war cry heading his way: it was Tuor!
With fire in his eyes, Tuor began to single-handedly strike down the creatures of Morgoth sending most of them fleeing in a hasty retreat. When he got to Ecthelion, he found his friend was severely weakened and seriously injured. "Mellon-nín, are you able to stand? We must retreat now, Gondolin is lost. The vast majority are dead; the rest are fleeing with Idril to the secret tunnel." Tuor bent down and helped Ecthelion up supporting him.
"Ai, I can stand, but I cannot fight anymore, I am too weak. Perhaps if I can get to the Square of the King and drink from the fountain, I can regain most of my strength." Tuor nodded and helped Ecthelion make his way to the Fountain of the King, for there the remaining leaders were waiting.
When they arrived, they were greeted by the surviving leaders and Tuor, and Glorfindel helped him to the Fountain. Ecthelion proceeded to drink from the Fountain feeling the cold, refreshing water slide down his parched throat and flow through his veins. As it did so, he could instantly feel his vigor return, and he was able to fight once again. As Tuor, Ecthelion, Glorfindel, and the remaining leaders were discussing what they should now do; they were interrupted by the sound of approaching footsteps and the thunderous flapping of dragons. They knew they had run out of time. They now had only two choices: they either stayed and fought, which more than likely would lead them to their deaths, or they fled with the rest of the survivors and made their way towards Idril's secret tunnel and then make their way out of Gondolin.
As the encroaching enemies made their way closer, Ecthelion turned and gave the order for them to retreat, as they made their withdrawal, they noticed that Ecthelion was not following. Tuor confused as to why Ecthelion was not following motioned for him to follow. Ecthelion waved his hands and told him to flee. It was pointless for all of them to die, but before Tuor and the others could respond they heard a terrible roar and the thrashing of a whip, as Ecthelion turned around, he was met with the terrifying presence of the most feared balrog of all: Gothmog.