The Last Days
The second day: I, Laurenar, am writing these events from the safety of a cave, in what may well be the last days of the Soldiers of Lauredor, and indeed Lauredor itself. Yesterday we were ambushed by the enemy, even as we left to return back home to the City. In the morning before our return we were welcomed, falsely, by the sight of him (the enemy) turning away back to its recesses. They falsely made us believe there was to be no battle and we could return back to our homes. Yet as we later learned, the enemy had sent a large part of its host behind us in the night, to attack us as we retreated. The forces of the Lady Yalanwe were hit first, and hardest, and much of the enemy was killed fighting the Lady's soldiers, who still perished utterly along with the Lady herself. What we had to face was a small force compared to that which had attacked us, yet it was enough to destroy all of our front cavalry, partly because of our inability to mobilize quickly, partly because of the ferocity of the enemy attack. Before we could even begin to organize our ranks, the enemy hit us hard, its horses and camels charging into us like a wild fire, breaking down the front ranks mercilessly, decimating ten thousand of our cavalry and infantry in the first attack. Most of the infantry was now destroyed, leaving only our cavalry to repel the attack, as the remaining infantry was behind us and unable to move in quickly in the hilly rock strewn terrain.
The enemy had arrows of fire and in the middle of its host were large machines of war, much larger than our own, capable, as we saw, of spraying fire over tens of feet. They killed the bulk of our knights, and the horse archers were left to defend the remaining knights and infantry as they sought to retreat. We tried to get around them; turning south and heading towards the Valley of Gorges, hoping to make a stand there, yet as we soon found out, the remaining host of the enemy had come back behind us, seeking to press into our backs while the smaller party crushed us from the front. We just escaped their arrows, forming up into the old fortifications in the Valley of Gorges. As we were below ground level, the enemy formed up on the edges of the various gorges where the remaining force had sought refuge and is raining arrows and rocks down at us even as I speak. There have been no heavy losses since we came into these forgotten halls, yet every now and then some brave soldier falls to a misguided or well shot projectile. The Generals now sit in the most inner of caves, and some are discussing tactics, while others, like me, have given over their lives to the hands of the Vala, to do with as they please.
Evening: There is talk of beasts that are on their way from the strongholds of DaëDor; beasts that stand taller than the tallest men, and can turn rocks into grain with a mere slap. Our scouts go by night to the edges of the gorge and pick up any information they can, not that it does us much good. All we have left are a few hundred carrier birds, which we had kept for during travel. We have to let dozens go at a time with the same message for the enemy shoots them before they can get away. Although I myself did see one or two escape last time or at least from the foremost ranks of the enemy. There is no way of knowing whether any of our messages reached the City, for there is nothing they can do now. I leave this diary behind for no reason that I can see, save to record the events as they lead up to the death of the soldiers of Lauredor. No sooner do I pen these words that a soldier falls. They are bringing his body inside now, and he passes us by on the shoulders of his bearers, with a fatigued expression etched into his dead face. I shall leave now. I must take my place with the Generals again.
The fifth day: There is thunder in the distance. Not of rain, but as if a thousand mounts were galloping across the lands. The soldiers fear that the beasts have at last arrived. The pride of Lauredor is waning in this moment of trial. The soldiers sit with their heads down, the younger ones whimper with dread, the defenders occasionally strike off an arrow to the enemy, who does not seem to be taking advantage of our indirect submission. The Generals themselves have given up trying to get the soldiers to not lose hope. I shall rest now. The day has been long.
Late afternoon: A parley was called for by the enemy. A herald came to the mouth of the cave bearing the flag of peace to tell us to give up. He told us that their quarrel was with the Soldiers of Lauredor, not its people, and that they wanted only to take us prisoner and leave Lauredor and its people free.
We have consulted with each other, and all the captains of all the ranks. The pride of Lauredor has taken its last breath as the commanding hierarchy decided to surrender. The herald has given us some time to decide, and he shall be back by nightfall.
Evening: High General Jordaias has refused surrender! The Herald has been slain! The High General is rallying the troops and plans to ride out to battle! This is my last entry! It is somehow rewarding to see him like this again! If this is ever found, and sent to my wife, tell her I was thinking of her everyday! Tell her to go to the west! Sail away! I must fight now! For the pride of Lauredor!Farewell! And may the Valar be with us!