I wanted to try my hand at Epic poetry and ended up as three cantos of iambic tetrametre, telling the story of how Haleth settled in Brethil. I tried not taking this too seriously, so there are some light touches of humour to come, though I am going to admit, that I wouldn't recommend this for anyone who doesn't like reading long poetry. ;) Otherwise, I hope you enjoy.


Canto 1 - Battle

When Men came into lands of Elves,
to Beleriand where Noldor dwells
and Sindar under Thingol's throne
and Morgoth under ironstone
in Angband breeds his Orcish thralls,
one man named Haldad, brave and wise,
his people led to the realm that lies
between the arms of Gelion
and Ered Luin, Thargelion,
and here this tale of kings befalls.

Now both the daughter and the son
more precious were than anyone
to Haldad, who had taught them both
in master arms and fiends loath
and during war protect their kin.
Thus after they some time had dwelt
by Gelion, yet had not knelt
to any king, they both rushed forth
when Orcs marched South and each there fought
to well defend and justly win.

A mighty man of that good clan,
wise Haldad had a battle plan:
that they would build a strong blockade
behind which they all might be saved
when fields and homesteads burned down.
So word was sent to each homestead,
but Haladin houses were wide out spread,
that although calls to arms were made,
some heard them late and were not saved
when Orcs their battle drums would sound.

The Orcs were many, men were not,
and bad seemed House of Haldad's lot;
a low stockade had there been made
to help the children of men to evade
the poison arrows of their foes,
but when defending that shallow wall,
a fatal blow made Haldad fall
with broken helm and shattered shield,
for not 'til death would his will yield,
and after that his son arose:

"I cannot stay inside no more,
if father's body lies in gore
and Orcs are feasting on his meat,
dishonouring his memory sweet,"
said Haldar, Haldad's son and heir.
"You, my sister, guard in my stead,
for to his final earthly bed
I will our father bury yet,
so take my place and let me let
out all my wrath and go out there."

Thus spoke brave Haldar who left the wall
only to by his lord's corpse fall,
for Orcs had still an awesome strength,
that maugre of his long-sword's length
did Haldar lose his final stand.
"My bravest brother lies now dead
and he wished me to guard in his stead,"
said Haleth last of Haldad's might.
"With meagering hope must I now fight
and save my people and our land."

And seven days they held the siege,
for seven days foul Morgoth's liege
with his foul soldiers cannot break
the wall and them to Angband take
or kill right there upon the spot;
and seven days of suffering,
despair and death and hungering,
with fearless brave defenders slain
and tossed back on the blood-red plain;
for seven days this was their lot.

At seventh sunset after dark
and Orcish fire spread its spark
and sixty torches were lit up
to lead the creatures foul, corrupt,
as they their war-drums drummed and marched
to hand their final killing blow
to Haleth's people, who with low
supplies of food and fighters few
well knew that hope was foolish too,
when thousand Orcs against them charged.

"If this will be our final night,
then let the fiends know our might
and hew them before they hew us,
and prove your strength and will, because
lord Haldad's death was not in vain!"
This Haleth tells her fighting troop
and takes her sword and Orcs do stoop
as theirs are swiftly blocked by hers;
she leads her men against the curs
that gather 'round them on the plain.

Yet Orcs outnumber mortals still
and darkness urges them and their will
while Haleth's people is subdued
by strangling shadows that protrude
and hides their fiends all too well.
There death would Haleth's end have been
had sudden luck all unforeseen
not come to them in form of hooves
of horses on the ground and those
who rode them into that Gelion dell.

The shadows broke and stars came forth,
as from his home far up in North
the haughty, noble lord thence came
with flying hair and eyes aflame
that put a terror in his foes.
The men could see the Orcs-troop's fear,
as battle-tides and turned frontier
made Morgoth's soldiers wounded die,
and all was done ere morning sky
for light will win where Eldar goes.