Chapter Ten: Trapped
"Release him? Why would I do something like that? You are not in the position to ask for your King. You should be asking for your life to be spared," said Morgoth, pointing to the western end of the gates of Angband towards a party of seven Balrogs. "I know you fared satisfactory against a Balrog one-on-one, but how about seven at one time?"
"You coward! Using your Balrogs as a shield! Tis' shameful to not fight yourself in such a position as this."
"I will give you your King under one condition: bring me the Arrow Tree Elf Princess, and your King will be released."
"She is dead!" shouted Leenia, but without much convincement in her voice. "But," she continued, "even if she was alive, I would never hand her over. My King is important, but to betray one of my own is treason. But-"
Before Leenia could finish her sentence, a flash of pure light came from atop the gate where her King was. Most of the Orcs were taken unawares a fell to the ground where they lay stunned and motionless. Even Morgoth seemed alarmed. He looked as if he knew the King's power, but in Eréndëror's condition, he most likely assumed that the Elven King could not do all that much damage. Eréndëror even surprised Leenia with his strength after being held captive and tortured for well over a month.
But, just as the light issuing from his body reached its climax, Eréndëror seemed to diminish. He was being restrained by more than a dozen Orcs. Leenia was so busy shooting her arrows at the Orcs holding Eréndëror down that she did not realize Sauron, who was slowly getting up and moving away, but Berelong did. He had already sped towards Leenia after Eréndëror first started producing light. He jumped off Helegol and kept Sauron at bay while Leenia shot down Orcs one after another after another.
But it was not enough. The Orcs were too many and Leenia was out of arrows. The King was struggling and was soon overpowered by Orcs. He was dragged away again by the enemy while Leenia watched, unable to help him. Berelong shouted to her to move away from the gate because the Balrogs were coming, but Leenia did not care. At least not until Ardinia nudged her, whinnying for her to come. Everything seemed muted and slowed, almost as if it was some sort of horrific and unreal nightmare, but it was real. Time seemed to slow down as everything happened.
"We have to go now, Leenia. The Orcs are coming," Berelong repeated as both of their horses grew nervous, time seemed to speed up and normality was restored, but the nightmare still was not over.
"Leenia, we have to go now, the Balrogs are drawing nigh," Berelong told her, pushing and urging her move. "Please, we must go."
"Fine. Then let us make haste," Leenia sighed heavily, sadness filling the hollows in her voice, making her tone seem like huge void of emptiness as she rode off from the Gates of Angband and away from her King, Eréndëror.
She knew in her heart that that would be the last time for a long while that she would have the chance to see Eréndëror again, if she would ever have the chance to see him again. She had to hope that she and Berelong would find a way to rescue him, ere Morgoth broke his spirit. She would find a way, she had to. Leenia and Eréndëror were the only two Arrow Tree Elves known to be alive, unless others were in hiding to keep safe from enemy spies and beasts.