Chapter 9

The next morning the elves marched north out of the Sarandanon. This time no one spoke, sang or whistled. A sense of anticipation for the battle to come thrummed throughout the ranks. Everyone knew it.

Through Baen Draw and up the hills they wound. Over barren and rugged slopes, littered with short grass and scrub. Like many times before nature refused to overshadow the coming war with clouds and rain that would normally befit such events. Instead the sky remained a true blue, the day sunny and hot, all around life continued on.

By noon the Elven king called a halt to the army. They had reached the Breakline and the point where the passes split in two. Here the army would separate. To the south lay Halys Cut and to the north lay Worl Run.

"We part company here," Eventine announced to his officers. "The army will divide. Half will march north with Prince Arion and Commander Pindanon to secure Worl Run. The other half will ride with me to Halys Cut. Commander Jans?" The Free Corps commander pushed forward. "I would like the Free Corps to march south. Ariel will be going south with me as well. Terrin and Dalhier will go north to assist the forces there. Pindanon, give the order."

As the group broke away Terrin noted Ander looking towards his brother Arion, only to receive a cold look in return and an even colder shoulder. A call from the king had the younger prince making his way to his horse.

Making note of the incident, Terrin turned to Dalhier and Ariel as they clasped hands and whispered words of encouragement. Stepping he over he grasped her arm as well.

"Don't do anything stupid. Especially without us there to bail you out," he teased.

"The same goes to you hothead." Giving them one last smile she turned leaving to follow the king.

"Let's go," Terrin motioned towards Dalhier before gathering his own horse to follow the soldiers north.

Ariel rode beside Ander as their group meandered their way along the edge of the Breakline toward the pass they would defend when the time came. Hills broadened into grassland, where the mouth of Halys Cut lay straddled by a series of jagged narrow peaks.

Eventine called them to a halt once more, rounding up his officers to hold a brief council. Below the eastern entrance of the pass lay several miles of open land that ran to the forest line. Should the demons break through further south of Halys Cut they could slip north around the elves and trap the army. A prospect none cared for. As such it was determined a rearguard would be necessary. This task fell to the Cavalry, as they would be little use in the tight confines of the pass itself. For a brief moment it appeared to Ariel the King considered using the Free Corps for such, however in the end he chose to use the Elven Cavalry.

With a signal form the king the Cavalry broke off from the main unit, stretching to fill the grasslands and provide ample cover for their army. The rest of the army turned to march up into the pass. The floor of the pass took on a steep incline, forcing the elves and men to trudge upwards. The air began to cool, and the rock floor hardened, allowing the metal of booted and hoofed feet to echo eerily off the cliff walls.

Abruptly it came to an end, widening into a chasm that dropped away into a massive fissure of darkness. The army swung to the left sticking to the broader path and keeping away from the edge of the ravine. The Elves crossed to the far end of the canyon. There the pass opened down a broad winding gorge into the vast emptiness of Hoare Flat.

Ariel let her eyes sweep the bleak and dangerous area, noting absently which points would prove the best for defensive units and which places would prove useless. Of the places they had to choose from, this would be the best position to settle the army.

Apparently the Elven king agreed as he wordlessly announced that here the army would make its stand.

It did not take long for the commanders to implement the king's strategy. Ariel merely stood to the side. Regardless of who went where, she would be at the forefront to begin the attack on the demons and hopefully afford these elves more time and a better chance against their enemies.

Allanon would stay with the Prince and the king overlooking the battle from a small that stood midway down the gorge. Currently Ander stood there, lost in thought. Ariel considered speaking to him, but decided against it. She had to concentrate on her duty. Sitting down cross-legged she closed her eyes and centered her being. Reaching out with her magic she called to the water that lay in the earth, the air and other living things around them. She was careful not to call on any water within the elves or men that stood near by, or any living animals in the area. Though she could easily pull water from them, she would not do so unless necessary, and even then she would only call on it from her enemies.

Many did not realize that water was a part of every living entity, from the air particles to the blood in one's veins. But Ariel knew. She could feel it in everything. And much to her horror, she could call it from any source if she dared. However, in calling water from a living being, that creature would die, for nothing could live without water. It was the one part of her power she detested with a passion and tried to use as little as possible. Sadly it had proved useful against some of the more deadly foes she had faced in the past. Still she sincerely hoped she would not have to use it here, though she did not delude herself into thinking she would not use it if the need arose.

Keeping her breathing steady she focused on the water all around them, silently asking nature for permission to use the water in the battle to come, even if it meant stealing some from the earth itself. Surprisingly active, nature returned her call, readily heeding her request as if it knew exactly what waited for them in the coming battle. Gently she felt a power wrap around her, infusing her own with extra strength.

She did not see it, but when she opened her eyes they glowed blue with pure power.

When dawn broke the next day the Elves stood ready, all of them wearily eying the grey mist covering the Hoare Flats with trepidation. Some let their eyes wander to the tall elleth that stood at the middle of the pass, close enough the archers would not hit her, yet none stood with her.

Ander had protested this, until Allanon explained she herself requested it, as she would need the room to work her magic.

Minutes passed by as Ariel also watched the mists. Already she had felt out the water in the foggy air, however this was tainted with evil, easily announcing that this was caused by the impending arrival of the demons. As such she did not bother trying to use it.

In the air around her she could practically feel the shifting bodies of the anxious warriors. Their restless unease was steadily turning to fear as more time passed.

"Stand Fast! Do not be frightened!" Allanon's deep baritone echoed throughout the pass causing the other warriors to turn to him, though Ariel remained looking ahead, already anticipating the first attack. "It is but mist, though demon wrought. Courage now! The Forbidding gives way, the demons are about to cross over!"

Like the changing of winds the silence turned to howls and cries, distant, yet no less terrifying. Within the mist streaks of red fire lanced up towards the sky. The cries grew louder until they were naught but screams of rage and anger, promising violence and death to all. Ariel shuddered at the feeling of evil slinking through the air all around them, much like a vile sludge coating the skin.

Sharp Elven ears picked up the sounds of bows being notched, lances being positioned and bodies moving to make ready. No sooner had they done so than the mist erupted into red fire, lighting the sky in a ghastly glow. By now the screams had become so loud it sounded like one long wail. With a thunderous clap the Breakline shook with the force of a shockwave. The Forbidding had fallen.

"It is finished-The Forbidding is broken," Allanon whispered. "They come."

Ariel moved forward lifting her chin in determination. "Let them."

Terrin and Dalhier road in silence as Prince Arion and Pindanon lead their half of the army north toward Worl Run. Neither cared for the looks many gave them, distrustful though slightly awed at the sight of them. They wound up the paths leading through the Breakline to the mouth of the pass where it opened onto the Hoare Flats.

The terrain became rocky and hard to maneuver, often causing many to slip and travel to slow. Dalhier used some of his power to make it easier for the elves and assist them in their upward march. Some were thankful, yet many held the shadow of fear that most gained after observing the power either elf from Arda held. It happened often enough in the past.

The rock face rose high, to devastating heights. A few ravines littered their trail, falling away into nothingness, so deep those cliff faces ran. Little shrubbery remained in these parts, far too rocky for anything substantial to grow. By mid-day the road began to level out and even dip, until they reached the portion of the pass that opened out towards Hoare Flats. The land laid out in bare relief against the sky, little to nothing marking it otherwise.

Terrin instantly searched the area, checking for the best defendable positions and most advantageous use of the pass. Dalhier waited for his friend's assessment, knowing his keen tactical mind. From the look he received he knew that he would need to employ some of his talents to help reinforce the area, should the prince choose this as their battleground.

Prince Arion soon called a halt to the army; both he and Pindanon agreeing this sight would work best. Neither elf from Arda said a word, knowing it would not sway either of the prideful elves. Instead they listened calmly to the strategy, and then went about making changes to the area to suit the purposes of the elves.

Many watched from their assigned positions as Dalhier called on the earth to rise and form solid barricades, and Terrin used his fire to melt and mold rocks together. Some portions of the earth lifted higher into the air by Dalhier would have steps burned into it by Terrin.

Once completed the elves had a much more viable base of operations than they did previously. From the looks in the eyes of the warriors around them, they knew it too. Arion and Pindanon said nothing to the changes, not even acknowledging the two for their foresight. Instead the elves of the Four Lands chose to convene with the commanders in their units, going over the battle plans once more.

Ignoring their hosts Terrin and Dalhier found the place they would make their stand. It sat at the forefront of the army, just close enough to keep the archers from hitting them, yet far enough to allow them to use their abilities.

Both sat, eyes closed in meditation as they called on their powers and stretched their senses across the land, calling on the nature of this world. The quick response nearly left them breathless.

Dalhier felt the earth move around him, slow and subtle, much like a sleeping giant. However he knew the rock would come to him at the slightest call. He would have to be sure to keep control and focus when he did use his power. Sometimes, given the vast amount of power he held and the earth itself, if he did not take care his power would backlash into areas he did not want it to. What few knew as well was that earth itself was a living entity wrought with strength. Deep within its bowels churned purse molten rock, hotter than anything imaginable. He had only called upon it once as it resulted in a lot of damage, and it could easy break free from his control. No, he would not use that part of his power ever again the consequences were too much to pay. Luckily he never really needed to call forth that card, as he had plenty of strength from the outer layers of earth alone.

Terrin also felt the call of his power from this world, though in a different form. Fire was life, the spark that existed in everything. It could destroy and create. However few knew that there was another form of fire that existed naturally, though in a slightly altered state. Lightening. A current of pure energy that burned hot and volatile. The same energy that ran through the body, though on much smaller levels. If he wanted he could affect the fire within one's very body, however he disliked doing so as it required immense concentration and the results were gruesome to say the least. Still he would not hesitate if necessary, he had learned too much in the past to do such. Nature answered his call, willing to aid him in this fight, knowing that what they faced could destroy everything.

Dawn broke bringing with it a solid mist that left even the sharpest of Elven eyesight unable to pierce the darkness. All of the elves took their positions, with Arion and Pindanon situated on a small knoll that overlooked the entire area allowing them to oversee the entire battle.

The cries started abruptly, loud and angry. Both Terrin and Dalhier flinched at the evil that permeated the air. They had never felt such malice, even from the Orcs of Mordor.

"Keep steady!" Ander cried out, trying to ease the unrest that ran through the ranks. "Hold it together!"

Red fire lanced out from the mist, bringing with it further cries that soon turned to screams of rage and hate. Suddenly the air appeared to explode sending out a force that nearly knocked the elves to their knees. The mist turned to red fire, lighting the sky itself in haunting colors. By this time the screams had become so loud they were near deafening.

"Get ready Dalhier," Terrin let a feral smirk twist his lips. "It's about to get wild."

"Bring it on."