Chapter Four: Dol Guldur Defeated
Aerandir sat astride his horse silently, staring straight ahead. He dared not look at Míriel in fear of causing her to weep (which he felt she was doing regardless), and because he knew if he did, then he would abandon the army. The attack on Dol Guldur they hoped to be unexpected, and Aerandir wanted to be present. There was unfinished business to be settled there.
"Why Falathar?" he asked his King.
"I do not know. You will not imagine my surprise when I found out." Gil-celeb said.
Aerandir was silent for awhile. When he spoke again, it was in a whisper, as if to himself.
"I remember Falathar very clearly when we lived with Círdan. We used to spend our time by the seaside, walking on the beaches, or we would sail in ships. When Eärendil built Vingilot and we heard of his desire to journey into the West and seek the Valar's pardon for the Two Kindred of Elves and Men, we both volunteered to go. And our dear friend Erellont joined us as well, being an excellent mariner like us. So we sailed with Eärendil and Elwing his wife until we came to the Bay of Eldamar. Though we came not to Valinor, what we saw enchanted us. Sad were we when Eönwë drove us back to Middle-earth in a boat. So sad was Erellont at leaving that after the War of Wrath he went to Valinor with the Noldor who returned thither. I desire one day, if my Míriel wishes, to sail there. For I am weary of the constant toil." Aerandir said.
"How I pity you, Aerandir, and marvel! For I am indeed surprised by Falathar's treason. Any who behold Valinor with their eyes should be clean." Gil-celeb said. "Soon you shall me wedded to Míriel, and your toils will end!"
"I pray to Eru for that constantly. Yet, not all who behold Valinor are clean. Dark Morgoth was a Vala, hîr nín, and he was impure."
"You are wise. In my folly I forgot him. That proves that pure beginnings may lead to impure endings." Gil-celeb said heavily.
They grew quiet. Thranduil came beside Aerandir shortly and began to converse with him.
"How far does Dol Guldur lie?" Thranduil asked. "I sent my army here once for the White Council, but I came not."
"It lies many leagues from the palace, about seventeen. There are secret paths we shall take which shall speed and conceal us, lest spies see us." Aerandir said.
"You speak knowledgeably and confidently."
"I have ridden there with the army you sent, and many times as well, most of my assaults are on Dol Guldur, so I know very well its location, as does our entire army. As for confidently, you are gravely
mistaken. Hopeful, bot not confident."
Thranduil was impressed.
"Indeed Míriel spoke the truth." he said.
"Míriel speaks naught but truth." Aerandir said quietly. "How my heart grieves for her."
There was the sound of horses approaching from behind. Lord Celeborn and Lady Galadriel came swiftly beside Gil-celeb.
"We reformed our army. They were spread out." Celeborn said.
"Who directs the attacks from Dol Guldur?" Thranduil asked.
Gil-celeb exchanged glances with Aerandir. The captain nodded, indicating for his King to answer the delicate question.
"We are not entirely sure. All we know is what you all know: Sauron's agent." Gil-celeb said.
"The Nazgûl we believe used to be there before going to Barad-dûr." Aerandir said.
"It must be someone intelligent. Perhaps an evil Man, an Easterling." Lord Celeborn said.
"We shall know when we arrive." Lady Galadriel said.
Aerandir felt that Lady Galadriel knew they were hiding the truth. So much he heard of her powers and her wisdom, the Lady of Light.
They had gone about seven leagues before the path suddenly forked. Gil-celeb raised his hand and the armies halted.
"Aerandir, since you are familiar with the path to Dol Guldur, lead." King Gil-celeb said. "We shall follow."
Aerandir smiled slightly. Instead of going right or left, he headed straight towards a thicket of dark, thorny bushes. Thranduil and Gil-celeb watched in fascination was he rode through them calmly, then disappeared from view.
"They are not real." he called back.
The armies followed. As Gil-celeb passed, he felt the bushes brush against him. They felt soft and tender, and he saw that they were in fact blades of tall, green grass.
"Míriel placed the enchantment. Elves only can pass through the thorny bushes. We use this secret path very often." Aerandir said.
There was a rumble, and the earth shook slightly.
"What was that?" Gil-celeb asked.
"The boulders behind the bushes to block the entrance. For do you not realize, hîr nín, that you are in a tunnel?" Aerandir replied.
King Gil-celeb gasped as he saw high rock walls all about him. Torches lighted the tunnel.
"Why are there boulders to guard the entrance if none save Elves can pass through the bushes? Is not the army of Dol Guldur Orcs, goblins, and fell creatures?" Thranduil asked.
"We are very wary, aran. In case something does attempt to pass through the bushes, they will not get through." Aerandir told him.
"Wise thinking."
Aerandir bowed his head.
"Hîr nîn, you wish to continue?" he asked.
"How far?" Gil-celeb said.
"Only seven leagues. If we hurry, we will reach by nightfall." Aerandir replied.
"We should rest for several minutes." Lord Celeborn said. "And perhaps we should have a plan for battle ready."
Orders were given for a short rest. Meanwhile, Aerandir was advising the Kings and Lord and Lady.
"Dol Guldur has three gates. We should form a circle around the gates so when the army attacks, they are surrounded. Like so." he said, holding up a map.
"Agreed." Gil-celeb said. "Let us go!"
Horns sounded throughout the tunnel as the armies mounted their steeds. The three armies charged through the tunnel widespread, for such was its width. Before they reached the end, Aerandir sent several Elves to move the large boulders.
A horrid stench greeted them on the night air. They emerged into a small cluster of trees that soon disappeared. Stumps were all around them, and the earth was fissured. Elves mourned for their raped forest.
"There is a wide paved road." Aerandir said.
The captain led the armies to the road. They began to form according to Aerandir's plan. Gil-celeb's army rode on the road, while on either side of them rode Thranduil's army and Lothlórien's army. Their armies rode through the treeless forest, grim and silent, mourning.
At last, Dol Guldur was in sight. Its high walls were formidable, its towers glaring down upon them. The few guards found along on the way were slain silently. As planned, all three armies halted, hiding in the darkness of the night, beyond Dol Guldur's lights and fires. King Gil-celeb, flanked by Aerandir, approached the doors swiftly.
"I am Kin Gil-celeb, and I come to take revenge!" Gil-celeb called.
There was no answer. Again, Gil-celeb called out his name and purpose. Still no reply.
"Does Sauron's agent fear to face me? Is he afraid?" he taunted.
"Let justice be made!" Aerandir shouted. "Let those who wronged pay their due! Let the evil one come!"
Silence…then, slowly, the gates opened. Gil-celeb and Aerandir turned their horses around and made for the road. Behind them came Dol Guldur's army: Orcs, goblins, wargs, and many other fell creatures. They filled the air with their hideous screaming and laughter.
"What? Just two Elves? And their King? Where has the army gone?" they called.
Reaching at last his army, Gil-celeb and Aerandir faced their opponents. They gave signals, and the land on either side of them was filled with the sound of elven-horns.
"Here is the army!" Elvenking Gil-celeb cried.
"Meet your doom!" Aerandir shouted.
The army of Dol Guldur stared in amazement as the Elves rushed towards them from the road and on its sides. The Elves looked great and terrible in their wrath. Majestically rode Lady Galadriel and Lord Celeborn, clad in white, shining in the moonlight. A fey look was in the Noldo Princess' eyes.
The opposing forces met before Dol Guldur's gates. The Elves' horses trampled the Dark Lord's army. Elven bows twanged as their arrows sang through the air, swords hewed off heads, and spears pierced bodies. There were cries of, "Elbereth!" and, "Eru!" from the Elves. Orcs and goblins screamed horridly. The army of Dol Guldur fell numerously.
Yet many a fair Elf were slain as well. Aerandir watched in horror as a huge Orc decapitated his two best fellow captains before he ended its miserable life. Thranduil sadly saw some of his people fall. Even Lord Celeborn and Lady Galadriel's army was not spared.
Slowly, the lines of Orcs and goblins dwindled. After several hours of hard fighting, the army of Dol Guldur retreated. The Elves gave a great cry and pursued them mercilessly into the trees. Only Aerandir, Lord Celeborn, Lady Galadriel, and the two kings of Mirkwood remained with a small number of guards.
They passed through the main gate, still astride their horses. Dol Guldur was built entirely of rock, pale and cold. Armories full of weapons, chambers for torment, chambers where Orcs were bred, and many other rooms they passed. In some places they found remains of captured Elves who, it seemed, were fed to wolves and other creatures.
"It seems Sauron's servant fled. No one is here." Thranduil said.
Lady Galadriel dismounted as they reached the doors of the dungeons. Fearlessly she climbed down the long staircase, the others following her closely. Here, underground, was where the prisoners were held. So pitying they were when they were released, some not being able to walk or even speak. Aerandir and Gil-celeb wept.
"Who is behind this?" Thranduil asked.
As they left the dungeons, after releasing all of the prisoners, Aerandir felt somewhat disappointed. The reason he had come was to avenge Míriel's pain, yet he had not done so. Falathar was not found.
"You did what you could." Gil-celeb told him.
At that moment, cold laughter rang out. Aerandir ran to the top of a nearby tower. There was Falathar, mid-air, sitting on a great black winged creature, his face cold. Then he rose into the air and disappeared.