THE HALADIN

by Archaic Scribe

Chapter IX

MINDLESS FURY

The wind picked up and the rain seemed to grow more powerful as the enemy lumbered into the clearing with callus movements and guttural, sibilate whispers as beady black eyes searched the darkness of night for man-flesh. Orc heads with straight ebony locks retaining so much filth the rain had no hope of cleansing them free of their foul substances, swung from left to right, wondering where their objectives had disappeared.

Many men of the Haladin, both seasoned and novice warrior alike, gasped for a moment as the Orcs neared their mark, the putrid smell and their large, thick forms almost underneath them. The limited visibility in the rain that now poured down upon them was a challenge, at best, but against a group of Orcs, it was not well-nigh perilous. All men among the Haladin saw this point with clarity, but many of their kin, be it parents, children or spouses needed what time they could grant them even if it meant the ultimate sacrifice.

Alas, to depart this life on Middle-earth with honor born in the glory of battle, was to be assured a trip to Valhalla should the Valkyries grant it.

Haldad's band of men stood at the ready behind a cluster of quacking aspen and oak, young elms and pine with slender trunks reaching skyward as the Orcs marched along the path that lead out at the edge of the clearing. Lord Tunni held his ground near the rear of this small Orc raiding party, awaiting Haldad's assault upon the front of the forces.

Haldad breathed deeply and exhaled in a long, slow burst of air as he quickly offered a quick petition for victory and protection to his shield-god, Frey, and the Allfather, Odin. It was time to declare their position and assert themselves into what would become a furious and unforgiving fray of combat.

A primal yell issued from the depths of Haldad's being as he lead the charge of his men against the foe, the Orcs growled in answer and began violent swings of both battle-ax and sword. Weapons clashed and rung in the air like a dark, deadly song, haunting the minds and hearts of those among the Haladin who had little experience with combat.

The faces of the peasant farmers were drawn taut, strained with fear and tension, as everything seemed to turn to fanatic chaos before their very eyes. The Orcs, wider and taller than the men of the Haladin, made large, sweeping thrusts with their swords at the helpless farmers who raised swords of crude iron in defense of the fatal blows.

Blood flowed ceaselessly as if it were a dense river of condemning ruin as Tunni's forces ran at full throttle behind the Orc party and began to hack their way through their ranks. Alas, even the immaculately trained and bloodthirsty forces of Lord Tunni were shown no adequate match for this impregnable enemy.

The broken and bleeding bodies of men lay trampled by careless Orc feet, as Haldad, meeting Tunni's eyes in a brief glance, agreed to pull back what men remained among the living of Midgard and fell back to the northern edge of the fortification. This, Haldad did with brave abandon while Tunni took a small group of his men and disappeared into the thick forest edges and back tracked their way to the camp where innocent and mostly defenseless women and children dwelled.

Almost all the women and children inside, Haleth began to gather what food she could as Tunni and his men came swiftly upon her and a small group of her warriors.

"Make haste to the stockade - this is no place for women," Tunni commanded with an expert air of authority as the rain beat down on them harder as long seconds continued to pass.

"This here is no time to challenge one another, my lord Tunni. Help us gather what little provisions we might before the enemy is upon us," she replied without pause as she hefted a large sack of food upon her shoulder and grabbed another with her hand and began to carry it quickly to the haven.

Turning fleetly to Lord Tunni, Haleth added, "We have only two wagons that are not even full of food - not near enough for our people to survive even a short siege."

Tunni's eyebrows became a furrowed line as he motioned for his men to help and he forcefully grabbed the sack Haleth had been dragging, "You are stubborn and needlessly put yourself in harm's way, my lady."

With that, Lord Tunni scowled and began to march ahead of her as Jorhild caught up to Haleth, walking beside her and swaying with the weight of a small container in her arms.

"The ignorant beast," Jorhild said with a twisted face distorting her fine features as they hastened to the Southwest end of the stockade as she continued, "As if we could not manage this ourselves."

Haleth nodded almost with dismissal and preparing to voice her own insult at Lord Tunni's comments before she suddenly startled with surprise at a loud noise that disrupted their conversation, coming around the bend from the North.

Dismal silhouettes could be seen against a black outline set before a horizon blurred by the relentless rain that would allow no more than barely minimal visibility. Haleth's breath caught as she stared in amazement at the large Orcs who fell upon them. Tunni, yards ahead, turned and dropped the sack he carried, swiftly drawing his sword as he ran to intercept them before they reached the caravan of women who were trying now to get food to the women and children who remained safe in the structure ahead of them.

The expertly crafted steel of Lord Tunni's magnificent ax crashed with dazzling force upon the round shield of an Orc whose teeth were bared, fangs glimmering in a brief flash of lightening.

Unleashing their shock and embracing the life or death situation close at hand, Haleth and Jorhild simultaneously dropped their cargo and drew forth their weapons. Jorhild steadily unsheathed a long steel sword, forged years ago that had belonged to her mother, the sturdy, unadorned hilt held fast in her both hands and pointed forward as she rushed ahead without hesitation.

Haleth held a dagger in one hand, hoping to rely upon her speed in hand-to-hand combat though she wondered at her decision as she neared the Orcs. Did she really desire to be close enough to the enemy where she could effectively use such a small weapon against their enormous battle-axes?

This is what the women of Haldad's settlement had trained for in the spare hours of peaceful days when their chores had been attended to and complete, she reminded herself with purposeful cause, but still their strength faltered for a moment, her cunning had not at any time been tested like this. Mother, Haleth prayed, help me, guild me, strengthen my sudden weak heart!

With a diminutive toss, she seized her dagger in her left hand and unsheathed her sword with the other hand, raising it so that it was in front of her and parallel with her shoulders. Her shield was not nearby, the same circumstances all the female warriors had been put into by their task of collecting food and coordinating its arrival along the trail that lead to the southwest end of the citadel. The practicality of keeping a shield at hand during such an assignment was futile, although now, they wished with earnest for any foresight that would have allowed them the wisdom to retain such a useful boon.

The masculine warriors beneath Lord Tunni's military command still held their own round shields, which looked to the women like a jealous gift to be coveted in the defense against the heavy Orc blows that were now reigning down upon the men. No, the women must rely on their own artifice and speed when they finally joined the battle with the men against the enemy, as they were most often told during training. There were few women who possessed the brute strength that could equal any man among the ranks.

Jorhild was already thrusting her sword into the side of a bumbling Orc she had caught unawares as Tunni grunted and yelled battle cries every time he swung his ax and parried an enemy blow with his shield.

Haleth was frozen, almost numb as she neared the group and the Orcs sniffed her fear and reluctance as if she had had a bleeding wound as two broke from the group and stalked towards her, leering and baring fangs which saliva seeped out over, hungering for her flesh.

Freya, goddess mother, I implore you with all that I am: Help me, Haleth meant to whisper, though no sound of entreat issued aloud from her mouth. Intaking a deep gulp of oxygen and exhaling slowly through her nose, her eyes widened and welcomed the rain beating upon her exposed face as she readied her sword and knife.

"Come to me with what might you possess, then," she taunted with hesitant bravado to the creatures who ceaselessly neared her, slowly stalking towards her.

The two Orcs snarled with vicious abandon, a sound that made Haleth's blood run cold, as the creature's mouths moved in what could only be deemed as an insane, lustful smile, of one sort or another.

"A quick bite to eat before returning to the feast of flesh," one of the Orcs said, elbowing the other harshly in the side as they walked deliberately nearer and nearer while Haleth held firm to where she stood with shock and determination intermingling across her face.

"You have no one to help you now, human," the other spat malevolently with depraved glee, inhaling her scent as he began to lick his lips in anticipation.

"Has she not, you filth of the bogs," Tunni said, suddenly coming up behind them and decapitating one of the Orcs as a fountain of blood erupted from his neck before either could completely turn around.

Haleth stood, in more shock than ever as he parried with the other who turned to give Lord Tunni his full attention. Haleth moved quickly, sheathing her dagger and holding the hilt of her sword and with all her might, swung level behind the remaining Orc, sending his head lobbing through the air as his body suddenly dropped towards Lord Tunni, who quickly stepped to the side.

"Your death will be sure, should you hesitate again, my lady," Lord Tunni said, nodding to her as he returned to the fight, Haleth's footsteps slipping on the wet grass behind him to join the battle.

The small group of warriors put little dent in the ranks of the enemy and shortly following their brave fight, Tunni commanded them to all fall back as he and his men held the enemy for them to make a reasonable escape.

Huffing and puffing from exertion, Haleth and the women caught their breath as Lord Tunni and his men entered the structure and replaced the doors of stone and wood before the Orcs could come inside, having sent half of their party to draw most of the Orc raid away so that they had time to do this. The remained Orcs found themselves impaled on the spikes buried in holes around the entryway to the fortress.

The sacrifice of men Lord Tunni made with little regret, knowing they would never be able to enter the structure again, though he had wished it had been Mulco's or Haldad's men that he could send on that particular mission, rather than his own skilled warriors. Better to lose a plowman or herder rather than a warrior at this time, a thought he could not comprehend anyone disagreeing with given their current situation.

Haleth crossed the area quickly to find her father and Haldar before doing anything else. She found the two, smiling grimly at her, as Jorhild had already arrived and was tending a wound Haldar received to his arm, as her own leg bled, unnoticed until the material on her trouser leg became soaked through with a dark, almost black, red that shown in the few torchlights that had been established in the hurried escape from their temporary camp.

Haldar began to snarl at Jorhild for attending to his wounds before her own while Haleth stood motionless as a practiced hunter, watching with interest.

"It is nothing as bad as yours, husband, whose blood soaked through his sleeve long before I even drew such a wound," Jorhild scolded in retort to Haldar as he continued to grumble under her ministrations.

"Aye, woman, but will you never let another give you care," Haldar admonished loudly, jerking free from her gentle hands before he continued more quietly, regretting his temper, "You are in as much need of care as I am, but look here, I am well enough - let me care for your wound, my brave and savage lady-wife."

Haleth had almost went to snatch the herbs and bandages from a nearby shelter that had been stockpiled with healing supplies to tend to the wounded who had escaped the Orcs, but thought better of it. Neither wound looked grevious enough to warrant her intrusion, nor did she dare to put herself in the middle of a domestic battle, brother or not.

Haldad snorted in laughter, breaking the few moments of heated tension between the two and turned to go amongst the people and lend help where he could. Saying nothing, Haleth followed suit, walking in the opposite direction of her father, towards the two wagons of the few supplies that they had been able to save.

Soon the yells and threats of the Orcs died away as the rain began to cease into a soft patter of falling drops and slivers of murky light could be seen emerging from a sheet of think, flat gray clouds. Many of the women prepared boiling water taken from the river before the Orcs had come upon them and began to prepare food while others wailed in heart wrenching sobs, mourned the loss of husbands, brothers and sons.

"So much life forfeited," Haleth whispered to herself as she went to sit apart from the group and gather her thoughts and sort her feelings from the wee hours of the morning when they had been set upon by the ruthless slaughter of the Orc.

"Aye," Lord Tunni said, coming to stand behind her from what seemed like the mists that now rose form the earth, bringing with them a sudden coldness that contrasted the unseasonably warm weather that had graced them over the last few days.

Haleth looked upon him and met his eyes with sorrow, "I regret the loss of so many of your men, my lord, and the loss of the innocent who have only desired to live in simple peace."

For a brief moment, Tunni was about to unleash his rage at the loss of some of his most elite fighting men, but instead lost himself in her eyes, thinking of the hue the clouds shown behind her that matched the color of her eyes. If he had stayed the course of a priest, she would have more easily succumbed to his rule, but as warrior to warrior, she was no match to him even though he recognized her bravery after being initiated to her first battle. Her eyes were sad pools of depression and no warrior could afford such reflection. No, she was a woman for home and hearth, not for the unconscionable acts found on a battlefield. Yes, she had proved her worthiness as a warrior, as such as a mere woman could, he supposed with a puzzled frown, his thoughts moving deeper to a clear connection in his own realization.

Something foreign stirred powerfully in his midsection as he surpressed the urge to reach out to Haleth and enfold her in his embrace, to protect her from all manner of evil as he thought to himself with regretful amusement, but, who can protect her from me?

Haleth would fare well enough in battle now, her virgin initiation complete, for a women, but Lord Tunni had expected her to come upon it naturally, without help. How could he keep his thoughts turned to any of the battles, even with as much experience as he had, and worry about her security at the very same instant. No, the focus he would have to retain in the fervor of combat was something he dared not afford himself to part with, no matter how courageous this women was in battle.

Her weakness, as he determined it, made him love her even more and thus, her weakness is something he abhorred in himself, half resenting her for it and half endeared to her for it. Ah, love, he was musing to himself and then at that moment, seeing the sadness in her eyes, somewhere inside himself, he knew he loved her more than he wanted to possess her for the sake of challenge. He yearned to set her free, to forget her pale gray-blue eyes, to send from his memory the sincerity she had just shown him after so many harsh and unforgivable words of hatred and so many years of jealousy and loneliness.

Haleth watched his normally unfeeling blue eyes that were frequently unyielding or blazing with hatred and rage, warm to cobalt kindling, reminding her of the start of so many strong fires around the camp. There was some mysterious secret that lay hidden beneath his surface, something she yearned to glimpse, and there was something that was now pleasing and undeniably emotional about the way he looked upon her at his profoundly odd moment. There was no hard, steely determination in his eyes, but genuine sentiment that she found herself unable to comprehend. Perhaps, the only softness about him was in the way he must be mourning the men he had lost in this scrimmage. Haleth found herself amazed and almost comfortable with him.

Haleth leaned forward and lightly rested her hands on his forearms, leaning near to him in order to whisper in his ear, her lips brushing his earlobe as she said, "Thank you."

The kiss she left on his cheek sent Lord Tunni into speechless shock as he made no intelligible utterance in return, but instead grabbed both of her hands with his as she started to pull away.

"Thanks be to you," he uttered, gently cupping her face in his hands and looking with grave confusion and confusion into her eyes as he struggled for reason.

Alas, his experience with real women near his own class was little as he floundered at what to do next. Haleth's natural instinct told her to prepare for a kiss: a kiss, in fact, that never came as he abruptly turned and strode away from her, the sounds of soft rain pattering on various surfaces both man-made and natural.

Dawn came, but only continued to reveal itself through a translucent gray light of cloud cover as the many of the wounded slept and the Haladin who fought paced restlessly, unable and unseeking of any such slumber. Their blood still raced from the heat of battle and their minds were a jumble of thought, turning from their lack of food stores to the loss of so many people in such a short time.

"We must find a way to get more food for what we have now will be exhausted before the night comes upon us," Haleth said with exasperation as she sat down next to Haldad.

He ran his hands through his grizzled looking salt-and-pepper hair, suddenly looking worn and haggard, older than Haleth had ever recalled seeing him.

"Aye," he moaned grudgingly, "That we must, but how?"

Haleth replied with silence and they sat for a moment as Haldar neared them.

"It is good to see you full of life and spirit, Haleth," Haldar said kindly, though the weariness could be heard clearly in his voice.

"We must send a scout to see what has been done to our camp and to search for the best way to attain food," Haleth stated.

Haldad sighed, "If it were but that easy, my daughter. The Orcs would have pillaged our camp by now and either consumed or destroyed any living thing near that would be worth eating, I fear, from fruit to beast."

"What, then?" Haldar spoke quietly, unsure of what would become of his own family.

"We send a few scouts to be sure, but they will need help in the form of a distraction. And I tell you this now, after thinking more on Mulco's words, it may be wise to send out a call for help to the elven lord of the north," Haldad stated matter-of-factly.

"The elven lord, father?" Haleth said in surprise, "Already?"

"Aye, daughter. The sooner word is sent the sooner assistance shall be received," Haldad replied, nodding. "I will speak to Lord Tunni on the matter."

Haleth felt strange shivers forcing her skin to tingle with bumps. What was this strange magic that compelled such a reaction from her at the mention of his name?

"I will come with you, father," Haldar said determinedly. "Jorhild and Haldan sleep and I have no desire to do such at this time."

"We should get news of what the Orc scouts intend. Already, there have been reports of them sniffing around the wall," Haldar cautioned. "We will need to discuss this with Mulco and Tunni and decide on the best course of action and how it should be timed to perfection."

"The Orcs know of our spiked pits now, so we will have to think on a new defense to add to both entrances," Haleth added as she bid them farewell and made her way to were Jorhild and Haldan slept, the desire for sleep finally overtaking her.

Finding Jorhild, Haleth lay down on the wet grass, wishing desperately for the warmth of her cloak as she eyed Jorhild and Haldan, snuggled together, their body heat radiating enough warmth for both as a wool cloak lay draped over them.

Haleth hugged herself tightly and curled herself into a ball as she lay on her side, closing her eyes against the cold rain that seemed to penetrate and drench her very bones. Dreams would not reveal themselves as they normally would as she tossed and turned on uncomfortable ground and severe conditions. There would be limited food to look forward to when reality overtook the mist of ungrasped reveries that had no voice of warning against the danger and death that would come upon them. The confusion that now lived in her brain from the previous events of the early morning hours clouded her reception to any netherworld spirits that were trying desperately to reach her.

Desperation, hunger and cold did not make themselves plain in Haleth's mind when she awoke, somewhat refreshed and focused on the tasks that would need to be completed for the remainder of the day. The first, of which, would require having a word with the majority of the Haladin who were left: Women and children.

After condolences and reassuring words of hope, along with small bites of food scrapes at most every family area, Haleth searched for her father and any word of what was to be done.

"The Orcs are vile enough to deal with, my lord," a male voice hissed in an undertone, "But now we have the trouble of nothing to eat to add to our already exhausted heap of misery!"

"Ah, my friend, but is what will happen when a women is set in charge of any task of importance, so don't act so surprised as all that. Besides, you of all people couldn't manage your business in a roomful of whores," Another voice growled crudely from the small cluster of mercenaries who surrounded a lofty, central figure.

Haleth's neck became a blotchy red as her face flared like a sunburned newborn as she reeled around to face a small group of Tunni's men, who stood glowering at her as Lord Tunni stood, frowning at her before turning to them.

She watched with embarrassment as the men continued to talk of the workings of such situations and walked up to them, her face inches from theirs as she stood, unflinching, waiting for any further insult. The men did little but pause and look at her with impromptu distress, perplexed and gapping with astonishment, unable to speak a single word of retraction or even further insult.

"Peace," Lord Tunni finally said at length, leading her timidly away from the group and putting his hand under her elbow to escort her away from the men.

"The idle talk of soldiers, my lady," Tunni finally said uncomfortably.

Haleth grunted and pulled her arm away from him, pivoting on her foot to walk the opposite direction as he stood watching her make her way towards her father. Something Lord Tunni did not recognize broke inside him, knowing that this was an action he could have no recourse of in her unforgiving eyes.

"What news, father," Haleth said, compelling a smile to him.

Haldad frowned a little and wondered what had made his daughter so sullen, but had not the energy to pursue it even is she did tell him and then only assumed it was because of the confusing emotions of her first battle.

"We have no choice in the matter now - we will have to send a messenger to the elven lord tomorrow morning if we can not manage it before this night falls upon us. There is dangerous peril in engaging our opponent in the unlit hours of night where they have the better advantage, as you can fully understand. Meanwhile, our scouts and men in the tower have reported that all that we had thought would happen has, telling us the enemy wasted not a moment and devoured the food in the camp and bringing all to ruin. They lingered overlong this day during their scouting ventures of our stronghold near our north entrance and we believe that is where they will forge their attack - and we shall await them!"

Haleth nodded languidly in accord, agreeing, but then posed the query that had been lingering on her tongue during her father's account, "Aye, but what will we do to again fortify that entrance since they have already felt the sharpness of our pits that will no longer gauge their surprise?"

Haldad looked at her with weary question showing dully in his eyes, fatigued and overburdened, returning her question with a simple gesture, and the shrug of his shoulders.

"Indeed," Haldad said slowly, with mournful despair as he stood and disappeared into the crowds of wounded regiments and already famished babes and children.

Author's Note:

As always, my gratitude to the "anonymous ones" who are reviewing and leaving such kind and encouraging words. My only wish is that I could e-mail you and thank you with more personal words, but I clearly understand any reluctance to share e-mail addresses in this day and age. :-D

Disclaimer:

Characters and situations of The Silmarillion (Second Edition) by J.R.R. Tolkien, edited by Christopher Tolkien are the property of The J.R.R. Tolkien Copyright Trust and Christopher Reuel Tolkien.

Produced solely for the enjoyment of other fans and not for any monetary profit. Please do not sue me, as I have little money.