MAIUS, ADELAISA, ELBORON AND SEVERAL RANGERS ENTERED ANGBAND ON A RECONAISSANCE OPERATION. The two Blades had arrived in Middle-earth a few days ago and joined the young captain of Gondor patrolling the perimeter of the ancient stronghold of Morgoth. Elboron was glad to have the Akaviri Knights with him, especially one trained in the use of magic. Maius and Adelaisa were both stationed in Alinor, helping the Thalmor regain their memories. Maius was the first Altmer to regain his identity as a descendant of the Noldor and spent many years assisting other elves remember their lost distinctiveness. As a reward, the Aldmeri Dominion rescinded the White Gold Concordant, apologized for the massacre of the Blades and Hammerfell was allowed to rejoin the Empire. To everyone's dismay, the king even ordered the Justiciars to march with the Blades against Mordor and Nilfgaard. The elven king believed that anyone capable of wielding destruction magic should be used against the Dark Lords and their allies.
As the two Blades, Elboron and Rangers descended deeper into the Iron Prison, they were wary for any sign of movement or trap. Many grave robbers, thieves and adventurers had met their demise in the old citadel seeking gold, magical weapons and other priceless forbidden artifacts. Elboron and Eldarion themselves had nearly met their end in the castle had it not been for the timely intervention of Brianna Dovahkiir. However, the deeper they penetrated the bastion, the group did not meet any enemy resistance. Maius was surprised to find that Angband was empty. Looking at Elboron, the Noldorian elf threw up his hands in frustration.
"Elboron, this is a problem" Maius said. "Where are the orcs, Balrogs and more importantly where is the bloody dragon" he finished screaming. "There's nobody here!"
"How am I supposed to know" Elboron snapped. "My sentries did not report any movement."
"Perhaps, your sentries are blind" Maius growled, angry that the Enemy army had escaped undetected. Before Elboron could respond, a Ranger mentioned he had found something in the dungeons. They followed the Ranger and observed a massive lighted chasm that seemed endless. It was strange because it did not appear to be dug, but rather chewed. Maius could not fathom what kind of animal could do this.
"Wereworm" Elboron said with disgust in his voice. "The Enemy could be anywhere with one of those blasted creatures."
"We know Morgoth desires to attack Skyrim. Can one of these Wereworms go underneath the great ocean" Maius asked. "And how many leagues can one of them travel a day?"
"It's possible that they can cross under water, but unlikely. As to answer how far they can move, thousands of miles a day. The Iron Mountains end roughly two hundred miles from here near the coast. I fear Nilfgaard will have sent troop transports to ferry the orcs to Skyrim" Elboron answered as Adelaisa joined them.
"The armory is empty. Swords, bows, axes, armor, all of it is gone. Surely the Dark Lords would have the wisdom to leave a garrison to protect against prying eyes" Adelaisa reported, her eyes focusing on the massive hole. "By the Nine, that's a big cave!"
"Elboron, we must assume that the Enemy has advanced on Skyrim and we need to inform the Dragonborn. The first battle to determine the fate of the world will be fought somewhere in the north" Maius told the Ranger captain.
Elboron extended his hand and Maius shook it. 'I wish you all the luck in battle. A pity we cannot be of assistance. May the Valar bless you with victory."
"We're going to need it" Maius agreed as he opened a portal to Sky Haven Temple. He and Adelaisa found themselves before the Dragonborn, Daenerys, Kellian, Geralt, Ciri, Brianna and Jon Snow. They bowed in respect to the Dovahkiin.
"Maius, Adelaisa. Your return is unexpected. We did not expect you back for several days if not weeks" Brianna said concerned. "What prompted your sudden arrival?"
"Master, the Enemy has departed from Angband" Maius answered his voice quaking. "I apologize for the failure, but the Enemy used a Wereworm to conceal their movement."
"Blast" Brianna replied, slamming her fist on the table. "We expected Morgoth to fight like he did in the First Age. Sauron's pet from the Battle of Five Armies should not have been allowed to live" the Istari snarled.
"Brianna, we'll just have to adapt to the situation. Any information on the location of the Enemy army" Jon asked.
"We believe that the Enemy sailed from the coast using Nilfgaard troop transports" Adelaisa added. "All of Angband is empty including the Balrogs and Ancalagon."
"Odahviing is patrolling the coastal region of Skyrim" the Dragonborn said to himself. "If he encounters Ancalagon, he'll surely be slain. He is no match for a dragon of the First Age" he angrily said as Sky Haven trembled from something heavy landing. The Dovahkiin breathed easier knowing that his dragon would not suffer the same fate as Drogon did at Black Rock. Finding the last surviving drake of Skyrim outside, he rubbed its snout.
"Dovahkiin, the Dark Lords have landed on Tamriel's sacred shore" Odahviing growled.
"Where do they advance Odahviing" Daenerys asked.
"Solitude" the fire drake answered. "Balrogs, orcs, Easterlings and Nilfgaard's troops march on the hold. They will reach the city tomorrow night."
"How strong is their number" the Dragonborn asked.
"The orcs are countless, Nilfgaard fields nine legions and the Easterlings a few thousand" the dragon answered.
"Where is the dragon" Jon wanted to know.
"Ancalagon is not in Tamriel. I last saw the dovah flying south west over the Velothi Mountains" the dragon replied.
"Westeros" Daenerys cried knowing the devastation the dragon was about to bring and that she was powerless to stop it. The former queen's head fell understanding the scale of death that her former home was about to experience. Not even Drogon could kill on the scale of Ancalagon. For Ancalagon's fire breath was hotter than any dragon past or present. Not to mention that the beast was over two hundred miles long.
"Nay, mate of the Dovahkiin. The dovah heads for the Red Mountain in Morrowind. The peak calls to him" Odahviing replied much to Daenerys and Jon's relief. "But the Enemy advances with unusual speed. I will continue to shadow their movement" the dragon said while taking off.
"How many legions does General Tullius have under his command in Skyrim" Geralt asked.
"Only five" Brianna answered angry that they were caught flatfooted.
"No offense, but twenty-five thousand troops even backed by ten thousand Blades cannot hope to hold against the Enemy" Geralt exclaimed. "How many days march is Westeros's troops from Skyrim."
"Stark's troops landed in Cryodill. They have to cross the mountains and that is a three-day journey. Even at double time, they still won't make it" Daenerys said frustrated.
"Solitude's walls have never been breached. They are tall and thick and the Blue Palace has never fallen in four ages of Tamriel's history" the Dragonborn offered. "Morgoth will have to settle in for a siege."
"Tell that to the defenders of Helm's Deep. The armies of Saruman nearly took a fortress that never once had a foe that set foot in the Hornburg" Brianna countered. "But you are right, Morgoth will have to settle in for a siege and that will buy us time to rally our forces" she finished saying. The Akaviri Master then picked up a quill and quickly wrote a letter to Tullius who was camped near Dragon Bridge. Brianna handed the letter to an initiate who tied it to a carrier pigeon. Looking at the Dragonborn she continued.
"Papa, I will lead the defense at Solitude until reinforcements arrive. Jon will position the Blades to the north of the city and counterattack on my signal" Brianna told her father. "Tullius will engage the Enemy from the east and hopefully we'll inflict enough casualties on Nilfgaard's troops to make them lose heart."
"It's a shame that we do not know who leads Nilfgaard's force" Jon said.
"I know the answer to that question[R1] " Ciri finally spoke. "And for that reason, I am going with you cousin."
CAHIR RODE AT THE HEAD OF NILFGAARD'S CAVALRY ADMIRING THE BEAUTY OF SKYRIM'S LANDSCAPE. The Nilfgaard knight had long pursued Cirilla and intelligence had believed her to be somewhere in Tamriel along with Geralt and the fugitive sorceress Yennefer. Cahir hated the fact that Nilfgaard had allied themselves with Mordor. Although technically he was in command of all of Nilfgaard's troops, he knew better than to question the 'suggestions' of Morgoth and Sauron. Cahir believed that Nilfgaard didn't need the assistance of Mordor to defeat their enemies, but his superiors believed otherwise. And making an enemy of the Dragonborn of Skyrim in his mind was a mistake they could ill afford to make. Now here he was in Skyrim marching on its capital Solitude, a hold never said to have been taken by force. But neither had Cintra and Cahir led the conquest of that city. His thoughts were interrupted by the Witch-King who rode alongside him on a powerful black steed with eyes redder than any ruby. If Angmar was once human, there was nothing left to resemble it now. Whatever ring of power he wore, had fully corrupted him. Cahir's soldiers were terrified of the Nazgul and feared that the Ringwraith would poison their minds.
"Nilfgaard will lead the attack against Solitude" the Witch-King told Cahir, his disembodied voice sending shivers up his spine.
"Who will support us" Cahir asked wanted to plan his logistical support.
"Easterlings will join in the assault" the Lord of the Nazgul hissed.
"Easterlings? My Lord, why aren't orcs joining the attack. Surely a few thousand can be spared" Cahir said surprised that only humans were leading the venture.
"Do you question the wisdom of Melkor? Do you doubt the strength of the Easterlings? They who aided you in Cintra's defeat" the Witch-King snarled.
"No" Cahir answered quickly knowing he had to chose his next words wisely. "I assumed that Melkor would want to destroy the enemy with overwhelming force."
"The city will fall easily to Nilfgaard and the Easterlings. It's the Akaviri Knights that my Master is most concerned with" Angmar replied.
"The Blades cannot be that good. If the Night King had defeated them at Imladris, then certainly their legend is more myth than reality" Cahir countered arrogantly.
"At Imladris, the Night King virtually lost all of his men and he himself was nearly slain, gravely wounded. The Blades of today may lack the ruthlessness and brutality of the original Akaviri Crusaders that invaded Tamriel, but their training and skills remain unchanged." a different voice answered. This was Sauron, Morgoth's most trusted and deadly lieutenant. "And their leader is in a different class entirely."
"The Dragonborn's daughter" Cahir said looking at the fallen Maiar, his silver white hair flowing in the wind.
"Aye. Brianna Dovahkiir. Master of the Blades, the last Istari and wife of Jon Snow" Sauron answered his voice betraying a hint of grudging respect.
"Like so many others, she too will fall to my blade" Cahir responded confidently.
Sauron looked at the Nilfgaardian knight "Do not underestimate her Cahir. It was Ulfric's undoing."
"Ulfric was a fool and a drunk that was defeated by an inexperienced girl. I will not make the same mistake. When we face each other in battle, I will use her own blade to strike her down" the knight proclaimed.
"Ulfric Stormcloak was a Dark Lord that gave up the drink. He was a very skilled swordsman who was defeated in Oblivion by her. And at the time, she was not Master of the Akaviri. Your overconfidence may lead to your downfall" Sauron warned.
Cahir still dismissed Brianna's skill as mere propaganda. Until he saw first hand what the Master of the Blades was capable of, the knight believed that she was nowhere in the same league as Aragorn, her husband Jon Snow, Cahir himself or Geralt of Rivia. But one thing Cahir was certain of, tomorrow's battle would not be easy. The enemy has a say in war too and the knight dreaded the number who would die.
BRIANNA, KELLIAN, EDDARD, MAIUS, ADELAISA AND CIRI RODE INTO SOLITUDE EARLY IN THE MORNING. Brianna looked at the gathering storm clouds and knew the rain would delay the Enemy advance and she silently thanked the Nine for the incoming front. As the five Blades and Witcher walked into the Blue Palace, Queen Elisif looked at the Akaviri Knights and smiled. Shortly after Ulfric's defeat, she was elected Queen by the jarls of Skyrim. Under her rule, Skyrim prospered and grew wealthy, but powerful enemies like Sauron repeatedly threatened Elisif's reign. The queen was close with Brianna and her father and counted her as a friend and confidant.
"Brianna! It's good to see you my friend. What's brings you to Solitude" the queen said embracing her friend.
"I wish I was here under better circumstances my Queen, but the situation is grave. A joint Nilfgaard/Mordor army marches on Solitude. I am here to take command and lead the defense" Brianna replied.
"Solitude will stand strong and with you leading us, we will have victory" Elisif said with confidence.
"Begging your pardon, my Lady, I would advise you ride for General Tullius's encampment. The Enemy is led by the first Dark Lord Morgoth who seeks to kill my father. History records that Morgoth was far more brutal than Sauron, and his atrocities eclipse that of his servant. You would not be safe while the city is under siege" Brianna advised.
"I will not flee the city like a coward while others die to protect it. If the time comes that I need to escape, then I will make haste toward the good general. But I have faith that you my friend will vanquish our foe" Elisf said. Looking at Falk Firebeard, Elisif drew the dagger on her belt.
"Sound the alarm. Move the provisions inside and secure the well. Archers to the walls. Prepare for a siege. Bring me my armor, war is upon us!"
[R1]