A/N: Hello everyone! As most of you may guess already, I'm doing NirCele's 100 drabble challenge along with a number of other writers! Special thanks to Mirkwood Warrior and NirCele for sending me the list and making the challenge! Go check them out, or join the challenge as well!
Drabbles need to have 100-500 words, but I'm going to break that at least once, maybe five times, but it's fine. Also, my OC, Erynel, amongst others, will be making may appearances. Hopefully you can digress her character soon. Though I'm doing the challenge in order, the drabbles will NOT be in chronological order, simply little moments in the ME timeline where it fits, :). Also, expect small bursts of drabbles, these are written when I have the time and/or inspiration to do so. Happy Reading!
Prompt: Fire
Title: The Fall of the Lonely Mountain
-Woodland Realm, TA 2270, 670 years before Thorin and Co. began their quest-
The host of Mirkwood was marching out of the gates, led by a massive woodland elk that towered over the golden-helmed elven soldiers. Astride the elk was an elf, clad in a dark silvery robe, not that it made him any less deadly. Upon his head was a crown of branches, leaves, and flowers.
When news of a dragon from the North in the territory of Erebor had reached the ears of Mirkwood's Elvenking Thranduil, he had almost instantly ordered such an army. Erynel did not know what her father wished to do against such a foe, but she trusted him, Thranduil would not let thousands of elves fall needlessly.
The prince and princess of the Woodland Realm followed their father closely, though not on foot. Erynel felt rather uncomfortable astride her own horse whilst the soldiers marched at their heels, while her brother, Legolas, looked a bit more comfortable, probably because he'd done this once before.
After a few hours of marching, the host of Mirkwood crested a hill to lay eyes upon the burning city of Dale. Once a prosperous city, flames had burned nearly every building to only a mere skeleton.
When Erynel turned her eyes to the Lonely Mountain that stood like a sentry behind Dale, a pang of pity struck her heart as she saw fire and rock spew out of Erebor's main gate. However, Thranduil raised his hand, gesturing for the march to halt. She glanced at her father, what would he do? The righteous thing to do here was to offer help to the fleeing dwarves, whom were streaming out of the mountain. But Thranduil merely stood there, unmoving.
From the tension that Erynel could feel behind her, she could tell that the elven warriors behind her anticipated the king's decision as well.
"Hey! Over here! Help us!" A call, deep in tone, rang out over the hillside.
Erynel found the source to be a dwarf. He had, of course, a stocky build and singed hair. He was trying desperately to get her father's attention, though Thranduil did little else but stare coldly at him.
After what seemed like centuries, Erynel's father turned his elk, ignoring the dwarves' cry for help. The host of woodland warriors turned as well and marched home at their king's silent order.
Erynel's heart ached in regret as she, too, followed after her brother and father, but she refused to look back. Those dwarves held little else in her heart than just being another race.
The host returned to Mirkwood unscathed, but the memory stuck out amongst Erynel's others like a red-leafed tree in the middle of spring.
Total Words: 440
A/N: Whew! That was cutting it close there! Probably going to happen again. Who cares? Longer drabbles, longer stories. Oh, and the word count does not include the A/Ns, just sayin'.
See you next drabble! Thanks for reading!
-Leafy