I do not own anything, I am writing for fun. Would anyone with more
information on the battle of Tumhalad please contact me with what they
know?
Realizations Part Five
Gwindor knew that the elves of Nargothrond were rapidly losing the battle of Tumhalad. The intelligence gathered had been biased and piecemeal with reports estimating the foe between only a few hundred and a thousand. He made a fist of silent rage. The sky overhead was dark with heavy rain clouds; rains swelled the nearby rivers of Ginglith and Narog and in the distance, thunder cracked. The enemy was advancing. We have no choice but to hold our ground and hope to be slain in battle, Gwindor thought. It was all the fault of Turin, but Gwindor shook his head as if to clear his thoughts. Turin did not know, he overestimated our strength. But I told him and he would not listen! No one would listen! Ahead, he saw some troops breaking rank to flee. He turned his mount Naréllo and rode towards them. "There is nowhere to flee! Stand and fight!" he shouted. He was surprised and pleased to see that some heard his command and stayed. Only eleven years ago, I would have led them into the teeth of the enemy…and they would have followed, and we would all die bravely as has happened so many time- A sudden flash of pain made him grip the reins hard. A black feathered arrow protruded from his chest. Fighting the pain, Gwindor snapped the shaft and managed to extract the arrowhead. He inspected the greened tip. "Poison…" he said softly. Life until now has been a living death, even here. Finduilas cares for me not- Findulias! For the first time since the beginning of the battle, Gwindor remembered her. We will be routed! If she does not escape…Gwindor knew what the orcs were capable of. No. He would not allow that to happen to her. He did not have much more time to act, but act he would have to and swiftly. He wheeled Naréllo about and galloped back.
Finduilas he found watching the battle, looking horrified, but determined to see all that came to be. "Findulias!" he shouted. The enemy had broken through the lines in many places and was advancing swiftly. Finduilas looked at him as if seeing him for the first time.
"Gwindor!" she cried. "Gwindor…this is horrible…"
Gwindor dismounted Naréllo. "I know. It is war," he said shortly, feeling a tightening sensation in his chest. "Findulias," he said, swinging the surprised elf-maid onto his horse. " Naréllo is swift and he will die for you at need. Ride now and do not look back or return!"
But Finduilas stayed as if frozen. "Where- where shall I go?" she asked, a look of fright in her eyes.
"Eru will guide you, go!"
Too late, Finduilas turned the horse and began to ride. Wrishtwaang! With a cry, Finduilas fell from the horse. Gwindor turned, drew his sword and attacked the enemy. Block, thrust, block, dodge- his timing was slowing, he felt it and could do nothing. There was a searing pain in his side and he fell backwards. One of the orcs he had been fighting stabbed him once more for good measure and the world faded to darkness- but not before he saw Finduilas being dragged away.
Hours later, all the pain in him caused Gwindor to wake. Someone was moving him. He struck out with the stiletto that he had hidden up his sleeve. Eyes closed, he hoped for swift death. A hand caught his, gently. He opened his eyes. Turin was lifting him from the damp ground. "Turin…" he whispered.
The dark haired mortal looked at him. "Don't try to move again, they've almost killed you," he said quietly.
"They have," Gwindor said. "The arrow was poisoned, I do not have long, but listen to me Turin."
Turin interrupted. "Gwindor I was wrong, you were right, we were far out- numbered-"
"No!" Gwindor put all the force he could manage into his voice. "Listen! Turin, I am dying, Finduilas is not dead, she has been taken. Leave me-" his breath grew short for a moment as the poison's action was showing now. "Find her. If you do not find her, your doom will remain and bring your death and much suffering. Turin, only she can save you! But you must find her, Turin, promise me that!" All effort spent in his last attempt to save both his friend and his only love, Finduilas, Gwindor lay dying in Turin's arms, trying very hard to focus his eyes and see the words his lips formed.
"I promise you Gwindor, Guilin's son, that I will find Finduilas and guard her with my life."
Gwindor sighed in relief. Turin would keep his word. If it was at all possible, if Finduilas still lived, Turin would save her. "Go…" he whispered. Turin stood and left him. Gwindor took a last look at the darkened sky of Arda overhead, and then his spirit fled his broken body, to the Halls of Mandos far over the seas.
Realizations Part Five
Gwindor knew that the elves of Nargothrond were rapidly losing the battle of Tumhalad. The intelligence gathered had been biased and piecemeal with reports estimating the foe between only a few hundred and a thousand. He made a fist of silent rage. The sky overhead was dark with heavy rain clouds; rains swelled the nearby rivers of Ginglith and Narog and in the distance, thunder cracked. The enemy was advancing. We have no choice but to hold our ground and hope to be slain in battle, Gwindor thought. It was all the fault of Turin, but Gwindor shook his head as if to clear his thoughts. Turin did not know, he overestimated our strength. But I told him and he would not listen! No one would listen! Ahead, he saw some troops breaking rank to flee. He turned his mount Naréllo and rode towards them. "There is nowhere to flee! Stand and fight!" he shouted. He was surprised and pleased to see that some heard his command and stayed. Only eleven years ago, I would have led them into the teeth of the enemy…and they would have followed, and we would all die bravely as has happened so many time- A sudden flash of pain made him grip the reins hard. A black feathered arrow protruded from his chest. Fighting the pain, Gwindor snapped the shaft and managed to extract the arrowhead. He inspected the greened tip. "Poison…" he said softly. Life until now has been a living death, even here. Finduilas cares for me not- Findulias! For the first time since the beginning of the battle, Gwindor remembered her. We will be routed! If she does not escape…Gwindor knew what the orcs were capable of. No. He would not allow that to happen to her. He did not have much more time to act, but act he would have to and swiftly. He wheeled Naréllo about and galloped back.
Finduilas he found watching the battle, looking horrified, but determined to see all that came to be. "Findulias!" he shouted. The enemy had broken through the lines in many places and was advancing swiftly. Finduilas looked at him as if seeing him for the first time.
"Gwindor!" she cried. "Gwindor…this is horrible…"
Gwindor dismounted Naréllo. "I know. It is war," he said shortly, feeling a tightening sensation in his chest. "Findulias," he said, swinging the surprised elf-maid onto his horse. " Naréllo is swift and he will die for you at need. Ride now and do not look back or return!"
But Finduilas stayed as if frozen. "Where- where shall I go?" she asked, a look of fright in her eyes.
"Eru will guide you, go!"
Too late, Finduilas turned the horse and began to ride. Wrishtwaang! With a cry, Finduilas fell from the horse. Gwindor turned, drew his sword and attacked the enemy. Block, thrust, block, dodge- his timing was slowing, he felt it and could do nothing. There was a searing pain in his side and he fell backwards. One of the orcs he had been fighting stabbed him once more for good measure and the world faded to darkness- but not before he saw Finduilas being dragged away.
Hours later, all the pain in him caused Gwindor to wake. Someone was moving him. He struck out with the stiletto that he had hidden up his sleeve. Eyes closed, he hoped for swift death. A hand caught his, gently. He opened his eyes. Turin was lifting him from the damp ground. "Turin…" he whispered.
The dark haired mortal looked at him. "Don't try to move again, they've almost killed you," he said quietly.
"They have," Gwindor said. "The arrow was poisoned, I do not have long, but listen to me Turin."
Turin interrupted. "Gwindor I was wrong, you were right, we were far out- numbered-"
"No!" Gwindor put all the force he could manage into his voice. "Listen! Turin, I am dying, Finduilas is not dead, she has been taken. Leave me-" his breath grew short for a moment as the poison's action was showing now. "Find her. If you do not find her, your doom will remain and bring your death and much suffering. Turin, only she can save you! But you must find her, Turin, promise me that!" All effort spent in his last attempt to save both his friend and his only love, Finduilas, Gwindor lay dying in Turin's arms, trying very hard to focus his eyes and see the words his lips formed.
"I promise you Gwindor, Guilin's son, that I will find Finduilas and guard her with my life."
Gwindor sighed in relief. Turin would keep his word. If it was at all possible, if Finduilas still lived, Turin would save her. "Go…" he whispered. Turin stood and left him. Gwindor took a last look at the darkened sky of Arda overhead, and then his spirit fled his broken body, to the Halls of Mandos far over the seas.
