AN: Ok, this is definitely a fighting chapter. Full on! I am not cutting anymore. So, here goes. Enjoy…

As usual Italics is used to denoted thoughts and things that goes across the mind of the characters.

Chapter 19: Battle In Dol Guldur

The two elves continued their journey for quite a long while, trying to reach Dol Guldur as fast as possible. They travelled ever towards the west. Er-Galadh felt the hope seeped through his every fibre of being. With the absence of their leader, surely the attacks from the orcs could easily be obliterated. Firiel though, lost the motivation to a certain degree. Now that they knew the owner of the place has left, the journey had somehow become pedantic. She hesitated in their journey for her heart was torn once again between her master and her love.

They had decided that since they would arrive earlier than the elves, they should go straight to Radagast to foretell the coming of the forces from Mirkwood and the absence of the enemy they sought. This decision was made after a much thoughts from both sides. Firiel wished to delay their journey, wanting no more than spending all the times they had left together. But Er-Galadh decided against it for the battle and its outcome must come first in their mind, action and heart. Something that Firiel was unable to do.

Er-Galadh often found her lost in her thought. Sometimes he felt the urge to call her but he decided against it. She did not lag behind after all. She was lost in one of her thought when the first sight of the tower loomed in the horizon. She snapped back to the reality and her eyes wandered around uneasily. They were nearing or perhaps even entered the perilous vicinity of Dol Guldur.

Er-Galadh walked forward faster now that the end of their journey is near. He did not hear the warning that Firiel whispered him and walked forward unguarded. Suddenly a cry rang through the wood and a stench of burned flesh marred the air as a figure fell in front of the unwary elf. Er-Galadh unsheathed his sword immediately but it seemed that he was too late. Four orcs came from all sides, trapping him in the middle of their dark circle.

"Who are you?" an orc asked in Common. It seemed from the way he walked forward that he was the leader of this group. "No one can kill our member using such a way."

"Have I gone so long that you do not recognised my presence anymore?" another voice asked softly in the Black Speech. The orcs turned around, for the voice did not came from inside their protective circle. A figure walked towards the light as it lowered its black hood, revealing its scarred face. "Have you forgotten your Lady now?" the voice asked mockingly.

Er-Galadh also turned although he knew the source of the voice even if he was in the middle of a raging storm. Firiel was there, smiling contently as she walks near the orcs. Now! She screamed in his mind, jolting him back into reality. Now, while they are caught unaware.

Er-Galadh took her hint and turned around to face the orc behind him, his sword swung sideway to met the vulnerable skin between the helm and the armour it wore. The blow came unprovoked and it almost severed the head entirely from the body. The two orcs from its side realised the mistake its comrade made and sought to attacked the offending elf. They charged forward, their sword straight in the air. Er-Galadh ran towards one of the attacking orc and, missing the tip of its blade, went behind it before he heard the yell it gave as it received the merciless thrust from its own comrade.

Firiel saw Er-Galadh turned around but gave no indication of anything amiss. The orcs did not notice that anything was wrong until they heard a scream coming behind them. They turned around to see that one of their members had its sword half way trough the other's body. While their dim-witted brain mulled over the scene in front of them, a blow came on top of their head and from the side, breaking their neck and killing them instantly.

The only remaining orc took out its sword from the lifeless body in front of it and shield its head just in time from a blow. The elf that once stood vulnerable in front of it now became a powerful adversary. But it also did not forget the robed figure on its side. The orc knew it could not run away from them. It was ready for another blow by the elf when a hand stopped him unexpectedly. The orc took the chance and thrust its sword but the elf was ready. He shifted his position making the orc missed its target. Anger rose inside the orc and it swore vehemently. A word that died half way, just like the sword it thrust, as a blow came towards its head and broke the skull it contain, taking with it the corrupted soul within.

Er-Galadh turned to look at the sender of the final blow. Firiel was standing there, no mercy in her eyes. Had these orcs known her? Er-Galadh pondered. Did her father's death left a scar, impossible to mend? These questions he had no courage to ask. Not in the condition that they were in. The questions were too personal, so instead, he asked, "Why did you stop me only to kill it yourself?"

Firiel looked at Er-Galadh as though she was expecting the question. "Because I prefer a silent kill," she responded icily. Er-Galadh looked at her in disbelief. He could not believe what he heard from her. What did she meant by that? he wondered. But soon enough his doubt was answered.

Orcs were coming from either side of them. Firiel swore inwardly. They must have heard the one that you kill, Firiel said exasperatedly.

It was not I who killed the orc, Er-Galadh replied as he prepared his bow.

Go back, she signalled as she ran towards the shadow once more. Er-Galadh followed her. Behind, he could hear the footsteps nearing. Once they were in the shadow they could see the number of orcs approaching. Six from one side and five from the other. Not bad. Firiel turned to look at Er-Galadh and he nodded in agreement. They watched as the orcs searched around the vicinity.

Firiel smiled as the orcs spread around the area. She walked forward slowly towards the nearest orc. Slowly, she crept towards the orc, her staff high in her hand when suddenly an orc noticed her presence. She sent the blow, killing the intended victim but the others were informed of her presence. She turned around to face the orcs around her, arrows flying everywhere, presumably from Er-Galadh as no one else has bow or arrow with them. She moved towards them, avoiding the tips of their blades.

Er-Galadh watched in desperation as she walked forward to fought the orcs. He could not come closer in fear of hurting her for her movement was quick. Too quick, he feared that he might shoot her in mistake. He opted for shooting the furthest orc while watching her in the corner of his eyes.

Her move was always defensive; as she did not possessed a weapon to matched the blades of the orcs. She moved away from the entire blow that was sent to her and attacked only when the danger passed. Her move was graceful as one by one the orcs started to fall. The staff in her hand was more than a mere weapon. She was so adept at it that the staff has became the extension of her limb.

Soon enough her move became offensive. This was merely the beginning for her. The orcs has lost their morale and she took the advantage from it, sending her move before the orcs could reply. The result could soon be seen as the lifeless bodies of the orcs lie around her in heaps. She motioned Er-Galadh to come closer as she inspected the orcs.

Er-Galadh looked closer. The attack unfortunately has created a lot of noise. It was impossible to kill all of them otherwise. He walked towards her, his asked doubted their safety but she merely smiled. Nothing to worry about, Er-Galadh. There are no other orcs nearby. She ran forward and he followed her. She obviously knew what she was doing more so than him. She knew the place better than him in any case and it also seemed that she knew where the orcs were positioned.

He nearly bumped into her as she abruptly stopped again, hiding behind a tree. Orcs in front. I think there should be four of them. We are in luck.

Er-Galadh took out his sword this time. Let me, he said as he walked forward silently but Firiel held him back. He turned around to see her eyes squarely.

There was fear there. Fear for his safety but she suppressed them and whispered, "I will also come. Remember. Kill silently. There are three other groups of orcs nearby. We cannot risk it now." Er-Galadh nodded and they separated, taking the orcs from their back.

Firiel was an assassin. Her move was so quick, the orcs did not even noticed they died as their lifeless body reached the ground while Er-Galadh worked on the other two orcs. He killed the first one with a blow to the back of its neck. He examined the dead orc and, being pleased with his work, crept up to the next one. He grabbed the orc's head with one of this hand, muffling its mouth while his other hand reached for his sword and finished the task. He let the body dropped and looked up to see Firiel smiling in approval at him.

They walked again in silence, following the sound created by the battle nearby. The sounds were getting stronger and in the midst of their excitement, Firiel forgot the way around and encountered a band of orcs that were fighting against a group of elves. Some of the orcs spotted their uninvited guest and made it their business to eradicate these intruders.

An orc came charging at Firiel with its blade. The blade was double pointed and it was attached to either side of the middle blade. She grimaced as an image flashed through her mind and jumped aside in time before the top of the weapon collided with her body. Fixing the orcs in her gaze, she tried to find the weakness of this orc when she heard a footstep behind her. Turning her head slightly, she could see an orc came towards her. She did not have enough time to make out its weapon but whatever it was, she could see that the orc were aiming at her neck. She turned her head back towards the other orc in front of her, seeing it charging also towards her. She counted the possibility of having the two orcs attacking themselves but scowled as one orc was positioned closer than the other.

She stood facing the orc in front of her but her mind was reeling, listening to the footsteps behind her. If she was correct, the orc behind her should attack before the orc in front of her. She waited patiently and held her breath. One wrong move and she would be gone. The orcs were coming closer and closer, her ears strained to hear the movement. The orcs breathing were getting on her nerve. Why can't they breathe silently, she mulled to herself when suddenly the time was right.

She ducked unexpectedly, missing the orc's attack and sending it off balance. The orc could not stop its movement and crashed into her. The movement nearly send her sprawling to the ground but she rolled away just before her body reached the hard ground. The orc though, found its face on the ground nonetheless. She looked up and saw that the orc that was charging in front of her had stopped its move before crashing headlong to its comrade.

Damn, she swore inwardly. Why can't they all be dumb and follow each other precisely? The orc turned around, ignoring its fallen comrade and charged once more. This time, Firiel was ready to attack. Her staff in her hand, she felt more confident than ever. She ducked as the orc swung its blade at her neck level and jumped as the angry orc tried to detach her legs.

The orcs charged forward and she ran back, its blade ever pointed towards her. Firiel could not look at the direction that she was heading until she founded herself crashing into a tree behind. Steadying her ringing head, she did not realise the attack that the orc made. It threw its shield at her, it bent end locking her head to the trunk of the tree. Seeing that its prey could not escaped, it charged one last time.

Firiel tried to move the shield desperately as the orc came closer and closer towards her. She could not even budge the darn thing. It has lodged itself nice and firmly against the tree trunk. She shifted her gaze from the shield to the orc before her, trying to find a way to steal more time than what was presented to her. She counted the moment again, hating every second of it. The orc came running. One step, two steps, and then it came.

Her hands grabbed the shield and hoisted herself up. She swung both her legs forward and kicked the orc right in the chest just a millimetre before the tip of the blade crushed her head. The orc fell; back first to the ground, revealing another orc, the one that tried to kill her from the back before, aiming its arrow at her. She tried to yank the shield frantically. Fear gave her strength that she thought she did not had and the shield budged. She desperately pulled the shield free but it was too late. She could see the arrow heading towards her. Even if she could free herself, she was one step behind. The arrow would hit her before she could avoid it. She knew there was no hope but she struggled nevertheless. The shield was off the trunk but the arrow was too close. She closed her eyes in anticipation.

A stabbing noise came as the arrow tore through a target, a flesh. Yet with it came not a pain. Firiel opened her eyes to be met with a grotesque, mutilated face of an orc. Its eyes were opened wide in shock and Firiel recognised it as the orc whom the shield belonged to. It did not realise the coming arrow and stood up just in time to break the arrow's path. Pushing it aside, she was greeted by yet another arrow. She moved aside but not fast enough as the arrow cut passed the skin on her face though it did not leave a deep wound. Taking her staff from the ground, she ran from side to side, trying to confuse the orc while trying to get closer to it.

The orc knew her purpose and started to run back. Firiel cried in desperation and threw the shield at it in attempt to distract it but it was no use. She threw the shield straight at the orc's head. The shield created such a strong force that the impact killed the orc instantly.

She sighed as gladness took over her. She needed a better weapon, quick. She inspected the orc, trying to find a sword. Or a blade. Anything. Turning the orc around, she found nothing of a kind. She screamed in anguish, not caring whether there was any orc nearby. And there was. She could hear the harsh breathing and the footsteps it created. But she did not care. She groped the dead orc still; taking away the footwear it wore. Yanking it free furiously, she founded a small knife, hidden within. How lucky, she thought bitterly. This orc was one of mine. It was, but no more.

Taking the stolen knife she turned around to face another orc, breathing straight at her face. But she was ready and before the orc blinked, a knife was embedded deep in its face, through one of the yellow orb it contained within. The orc staggered back, tears dropping from it uninjured eye. Holding the hilt of the knife, it sought to pull it free but its movement stopped half way as a blow came on top of its head, cracking its skull, ending its misery forever.

She looked sadly at the knife. She would never use the weapon again and so she started to look for anything that this orc had. She was luckier this time, though for she found a sword. Not the one that she would preferably use but it was better than any type of blade that she could possibly find in such condition. Grabbing the sword, she ran back to the fighting scene where she last left Er-Galadh.

As she walked back, she found that they had defeated all the orcs that were nearby. Panting, she started to find Er-Galadh. It was not too hard of a task for the elves mainly wore a different garb to those that Er-Galadh wore for he was the only elf that came from Mirkwood then.

She found Er-Galadh walking around, inspecting the dead bodies around him. His body was covered in blood and a miserable look was on his face. She called out to him softly, trying not to surprised him. He looked up immediately, his eyes searching amongst the crowds of elves around him. It locked it gaze to hers soon enough and gladness crept in his face as he ran towards her. Taking her face in his hand he examine the small wound she received before kissing her lightly. "I was so worried," he said as he pulled away from her. "But it seemed that I have worried for nothing."

Firiel grimaced as she remembered her near death experience but decided not to further worry him. He was stricken enough as he was. Instead she opted at looking for the leader of this group. She must report the fact that Sauron has left the place.

Er-Galadh followed her, knowing what they must do. He was sure that she could find him easily enough. And easily enough she found him. "Lord Elrond," she exclaimed. "I would never guess." Elrond must have heard her for he turned around. Their eyes met for a second and he walked towards her, a confused look on his face.

"Who are you?" He was not informed that there was a woman amongst his groups.

"I am the apprentice of Radagast. Have you forgotten me so easily?" she asked in amusement as she remembered that she had not been formally introduced.

He examined her and the elf next to her closely. He remembered the black robe she wore though it was torn and raged now. He nodded in approval. "Then you have done your task," he spoke, mentioning the elf next to her.

"Aye, my Lord. But I am also here to bring another news." she hesitated for a while, not knowing how she should deliver the message but Elrond did not interrupt her and she continued. "The master of Dol Guldur, Sauron, has left the battle."

Shock was written all over his face as he heard the message but he still stayed calm. "What makes you created such assumption?" he asked, not believing her.

"I saw him leave with my own eyes, my Lord. He left with his servants, the Ulairi."

"Is this true?" he asked himself. "Then all of this is for nothing. What of the forces from Mirkwood?" he asked, addressing the two elves again.

"They are yet to arrive, my Lord," Er-Galadh answered. Elrond looked at him bewildered.

"It is my task to deliver the message first. I am, after all a messenger in this battle."

Elrond looked at her fully for the first time. "Then you have done your task exceptionally well. It is unfortunate that what you have achieved is for nothing. Come, we must inform the other of this state we are in." And with that he ordered the rest of the surviving elves and left.

Firiel followed him. She looked around and saw Er-Galadh beside her. No, she thought and smiled. Not for nothing, my Lord.

AN: Ok, that's basically less than what I hoped to achieved but if I continue, it's gonna be too long so I have to cut it short again. Next chapter will have another battle scene in it so stay tuned. I hope you like that one. Plz tell me if there's anything I can improve on…