Chapter Nine: Victory
It was a misty morning when Leenia headed out. There was no sun out in the sky, only clouds and smoke. There was a plain in front of the dark gates of Angband. It was barren and dry. Nothing could live there. Nothing would live there for fear of the shadow of Angband and the threat of Morgoth. Not even in the forest that was bordered by the Terror Mountains and the plain before Angband had animals in it, unless one counts the many beasts and trolls of Morgoth that dwell there.
Leenia rode out on Ardinia without any sign of fear in her eyes. Strong was her spirit and proud was her heart. She rode not for power or honor or even glory. She rode for her King, and this was enough to make her fight what seemed a hopeless fight. The powers of love still are not fully understandable, but it a force even more powerful than brute strength. In Elves, love, loyalty, and friendship is hard to come by, but, when it is there, it is the strongest love, loyalty, and friendship in the world.
The silence outside of Angband's gate was absolute. It was an unbelievable sight: a heavily armed Elf atop a white horse on a dead plain in front of the darkest of dark lord's gates, ready to fight Morgoth's most powerful and trusted lieutenant. Berelong looked on from the bordering forest in awe and admiration of Leenia's courage.
"Come out Sauron, you cowardly swine! Come out and fight if you have the courage to! Do you not want the honor of killing the last Arrow Tree Elf?" shouted Leenia, without a trace of alarm in her voice. "I am the same Elf that disgraced your lord and threw him into the mud!"
Silence that was deeper even than the silence from before responded to these words. Nothing moved. There was not even an echo in chasm that was Angband. Then, a low rumble sounded, and the gates opened slowly. Sauron had come out into the open with flames of fury in his eyes. He was not ugly. He was indeed fair, but he seemed as foul as if he were repulsive.
"You called me cowardly for not coming out did you not?" asked a sly voice issuing from Sauron. "Well, you wanted a fight and you will get a fight. I heard that you once killed a Balrog, a very impressive feat, but no matter. It will be my pleasure to kill you."
"I will give you one chance to forfeit," said Leenia, "but if you do not then you shouldn't expect much mercy."
"Enough with the conversation, do you want to fight or not?!" exclaimed Sauron.
"Fine then. Let the fight begin."
Leenia dismounted Ardinia. She and Sauron started the fight by circling each other. While Sauron had his long sword that was about one half and five feet long, Leenia had her twin blades, which were about three feet long each. Leenia knew that it was better to make the second move than the first; she wanted to attack Sauron cunningly. She knew Sauron was strong, but he was not as agile as she was. If she could keep moving quickly and sharply, she would have the advantage. Suddenly, Sauron lunged forth and struck at Leenia, who blocked his attack. The fight had begun.
The duel raged on for what seemed an eternity. The fight was eagerly watched by Berelong from afar and hundreds of Orcs and quite a few trolls from atop the gates of Angband. Sauron would try to swing his sword at Leenia, but she would block it then whip around and try to hit him with her twin blades, but he would counter that attack with another attack. This led to no hits being made by either one of the fighters. They were equally matched and neither one of them were making any progress. It was time for Leenia to change her strategy.
On the next blow Sauron stuck she used her twin blades again, but light rang through them time, and they sung as they hit and broke Sauron's sword. Sauron was shocked by Leenia's surprise attack as was Morgoth. She kicked Sauron and he toppled to the ground where he laid, pinned down by Leenia's foot and checked by one of her twin blades.
"If you want your sniveling servant back," she yelled at Morgoth, who stood as still as stone atop his gates, "then I demand the return of my King, Eréndëror!"
"Very sly, young she-Elf!" snarled Morgoth, who, having thawed from his stone status, appeared surprisingly pleased looking at his most trusted lieutenant lying on the ground at the mercy of an enemy. "You have gotten stronger since I last saw you. You would make a fine edition to my-"
"I have already said that I would have nothing to do with your so called army. I am here to take my King back!" she yelled in rage, pointing her free blade directly at Morgoth in a threatening manner.
"Fine then," said Morgoth, snapping his fingers.
A group of gnarled Orcs brought out a badly beaten Elf. He seemed diminished, misshapen, nothing like the Elven King Leenia knew. This Elf looked as if he had aged; an uncommon experience in Elves. It hurt Leenia to see Eréndëror in this condition and she was determined to get him out.
"Release him now or I shall kill Sauron!" Leenia shouted.
