It was an unusually warm day in June when Gollum decided to be a nuisance. For many weeks, the weather had been fair and his guards had taken to allowing him to roam about the forest during the day, for Thranduil's people were very civil and kind even to their worst enemies. In particular, there was a tall tree that Gollum liked to climb. It had many branches; some as low as waist-length and others that stretched high above the ground. The tree was the tallest in Mirkwood, and was, in fact, one Ithildin had stood next to when she had first met Legolas.
Gollum climbed up the tree on this unusually warm June day and refused to climb down. For many hours, the elves tried to coax him down, but he would not and remained atop the highest branch. Now, the woodland elves have a deep love for nature; but his guards had no mind to climb up the tree after him. So, they remained stationed at its foot from afternoon until night, and yet, as the evening drew nigh, Gollum still refused to come down.
Ithildin met Legolas in Thranduil's hall and there was a look of distress in his fair face. "What is the matter?" she asked him.
"Gollum has climbed up his favorite tree, but refuses to come down. His guards have grown weary and we do not know what to do." With that, Legolas turned and continued down the hall. Ithildin watched him leave, troubled, and then suddenly, a thought flashed in her mind: Prepare for the dark. Such an urgent warning she had never felt; even in Orthanc under Saruman's control and she turned to stop Legolas, but already he was gone. Troubled by this strange premonition, she hastened out of the palace and towards the tree where Gollum waited. When she reached the tree, she bade the guards leave and rest for a bit. They were much obliged and accepted her offer kindly. Ithildin looked up into the tree, but already, the sky was ebony and the stars and moon were hidden. She would not have known that Gollum was up there had it not been for his strange, ragged breathing.
Legolas was conversing with his father when Iorkann and another guard, Meldir, rushed to their side. They looked very weary and were quite out of breath. When finally, they were able to speak, Meldir said, "We apologize for disrupting your conversation, King Thranduil, but some of the guards on the eastern border have seen a most horrific site: Goblins, or orcs as they are now called, and hundreds perhaps even thousands of them are massing in the east. They carry many torches, weapons and banners and wear armor such as we have never seen. I am not sure, but I suspect they come from the unnamable land in the East and their purpose has something to do with that wretched, troublesome creature Gollum."
Though Thranduil was stunned long had a shadow and a threat been growing in his mind. Quickly, he gave orders. "Send as many guards we can spare to the eastern front. They shall be clothed in our finest mail and we will spare no weapon. Station them on both sides of the Forest River at our guard posts. We will not be caught unawares. Legolas, you shall lead them, for I will need Iorkann."
Suddenly, another guard appeared and his news was even more distressing. "Sire, goblin troops are massing in the south as well and they are thirsty for blood. There is no doubt now, that this attack is being made for Gollum's escape." At this, Thranduil's face became grim and he gave out more orders for troops to be stationed in the south along the western shore of the Forest River. Just then, Legolas' eyes became bright with worry. "Ithildin!" he cried. "Where is she?" But at that moment, a great cry rose from the east. There was no time to hesitate. Thranduil gave his son a push. "You must hope that she is safe!" he cried to his son. And with that, Legolas had no choice but to head the elves in the east.
Ithildin was not unprepared either, for after the trick she had played on Legolas, he had given her a long, beautiful Mirkwood bow and a quiver of dark green arrows. So it was that her keen ears picked up the sounds of battle not long after Iorkann and Meldir arrived at the palace. She saw the soft lights of the torches and heard the battle cries. She also heard something the others did not: Gollum's shriek as he raced down the tree. But she had no time to capture him; the enemy would soon be up the hill. She turned and raced back towards the palace, but she had not gone far when she met a vast army of elves being led by Iorkann. "What is going on?" she asked.
"Enemies from the South, no doubt, here to recapture that wretch Gollum," said Iorkann. And with that, the elves aligned themselves across the Forest River and destroyed its only bridge as soon as Ithildin had crossed. Then, they drew their great bows and arrows and prepared for battle. Ithildin took up her position beside Iorkann and they waited. Soon, the enemy appeared and lo, they were orcs of many different races; but all hideous and horrible. Their faces were aglow with bloodlust and their hands carried weapons of all sorts. They were only temporarily foiled by the river, for they had expected it and many of them began to cross its shallow waters all the same. The defense was quick and many arrows found a mark. But the orcs outnumbered the elves and soon, they crossed the river and were on the other side. They attacked and slowly, the elves were driven back.
Ithildin slew an orc with her bow and when it fell, she grasped its sword and began to fight with it, though she had never used a sword before. She was a vision bathed in silver light and the orcs feared and loathed her power. They came upon her fiercely but always, she was quicker and dozens of orcs fell by her sword. Then, a great trumpet rang from the enemy and more orcs appeared. There seemed to be no end to them and each orc was deadlier than the last. They were skilled and learned in battle and carried weapons forged in the fortress of the Dark Lord himself. Yet, the elves were not without their skill and victory seemed to be ebbing their way despite the fact that they were outnumbered. The bodies began to pile up; the river was fouled with their dirty feet, but the elves fought with all the grace and surety that they were blessed.
Then, a tall orc appeared amidst the battle and he did not carry many weapons as the rest of the orcs did. He was a great chieftain and had been given one sword as his weapon. His eye was fixed on Iorkann, for he knew that if the elf lord fell, the others would fall as well. But Ithildin saw his mind and she ran after him. Iorkann was some hundred feet away and surrounded by more than a dozen orcs. Ithildin tried to warn him; but the sounds of battle defeated her and her voice was lost to the wind.
Just as the orc chieftain reached Iorkann, she drew out her sword and, with all her might, struck it into the orc. But she was knocked over by another orc, and her sword missed its target. It cut the orc's arm deeply and he turned to her with a cry of rage. With his other arm, he grasped his sword and brought it down on Ithildin. She did not have time to move out of the way completely; it pierced her side and the pain was like nothing she had ever experienced. For the orc carried with him a Morgul blade and its poison ran deep into the body of its enemy until it reached the heart and the victim succumbed to the evil of the Dark Lord. Ithildin lay on her back and her side was fire and ice. Iorkann saw her and, with a great cry, struck down the orc chieftain. He ran to her side, picked her up and carried her through the battle, dodging both elf and orc for he was very nimble on his feet.