Chapter 26 - The Third Dawn
"Amarthel's War Ends"

Calenmir fought with renewed vigor through the night. Though he was no warrior, even he admitted he didn't do all that bad. It seemed to take him longer to fell an orc than it took for others, but at least he got the job done. When the sun was rising on the third day of Amarthel's war, he spun quickly to end an orc and thought he saw one of his daughters' dirty grimaced face through the crowd, fighting amongst the soldiers. But, he just shook his head, blaming it on lack of sleep, and continued fighting.

Thranduil was back on the battle field as well. His army needed as many friendly swords on their side as they could get. After personally seeing that his son was in good hands, and set his mind to the task at hand. Orc after orc were destroyed by his sword, but it just seemed to be replaced by another. It began to seem useless. Hopeless. He saw how the orcs, when cornered, became just as vicious as if Amarthel still backed them, making them feel invincible.

Though Thranduil had told his son that everything would be fine, he truthfully did not believe he would live another day through this chaos. His soldier's faces blurred before him, and he was kept standing only by the thought of seeing his wife and his son well again, and protecting his city, which was his life and blood, even if the cause was in vain.

In the dawn's light, Anna's eyes glinted determination. She was so concentrated on organizing the wounded, getting them places to lie comfortably. They just kept pouring in. One after another, the flow never ceased. But she would not give up. In the back of her mind, it was pointless, but she concentrated and shut that voice out. She comforted soldiers and updated the healers on who needed attention the most.

She still held her breath at every bloody face she saw come through the door, hoping it would not be Calenmir's. One fear already came true. Legolas was carried in by his father and another servant. Though she did not get to see him much. She just watched him carried in, and a while later, Thranduil went out again. She knew she didn't have to worry much, though. The Prince got treatment immediately, and the healers would do anything they had to do to save him.

Leyna and Jocelyn helped each other fight during the long night and that morning. They were a duo, a team. They worked with one another and leaned on each other when they needed to. Jocelyn didn't take the time out to look for Legolas anymore. For two reasons. She didn't want to take her mind off the task at hand: fighting. And she was terrified that she wouldn't be able to find him. Terrified that she would realize he was dead, and she would surely not be able to fight anymore. She would lie down in the field and either die of heartbreak or wait for some orc to kill her.

Leyna, however, glanced up at the roof after every orc she killed. And Tyron's figure was always there. His bow up and his face concentrated, firing arrows at the orcs below. Once, she was concerned to see an archer beside him shot with a black arrow and tumble over the wall onto the field below. The row of Elves on the roof was gradually thinning.

Everyone involved in the war, though, was thinking one same thought simultaneously on that third morning. That it was hopeless. The Elves were dying. Those alive were exhausted. The orcs were not stopping.

But their hope was to be restored.

Elrond heard it first. He pushed his blood matted hair behind his ear and listened closely. Hoofbeats? And were those war cries? Thranduil heard it next. He recognized it immediately. Men on horses poured around the palace into the backyard, swinging swords and hacking orcs to pieces. There must have been two hundred of them at least. They shouted and fought, and the Elves were renewed once again. This time they knew their victory was near.

Leyna pulled her sword from the orc's body on the field and looked up to see the last of the men pouring onto the field. And in the still green grass on the East end of the palace, Gandalf sat on his white horse. The rising sun shone on him, and it was like a vision. The mere sight of him warmed her cold, worn body with hope and pride.

"Gandalf." She whispered, then threw her head back and shouted, "Mithrandir! Mithrandir!" The Elves took up the cry, and fear was struck into the orcs' core. Gandalf held his staff aloft and charged into the battle.

Jocelyn was so happy. It may have seemed strange, in the midst of killing and war, for her to be happy. But she knew the end was near. She had made it through a war. She heard her sister's voice, in a very Mel Gibson, Braveheart sort of way, calling Mithrandir's name. Jocelyn gasped and saw Gandalf strike down several orcs at a time with a blast of white light from his staff. Jocelyn cried out a 'yahoo' and happily beheaded a frightened orc in front of her.

Inside the hour, all the orcs were either dead, or had managed to escape into the woods never to bother the Elves again. When the last live orc had vanished from the field, the remaining soldiers paused in silence. Elves and men, Kings and wizards, looked to each other and cried out for their victory. Thranduil met the captain of the men who'd rode to their rescue.

"With all my heart I thank you, Captain Eoland. You must stay with us a while, so we may show our gratitude." The Captain of Rohan dipped his head.

"Gandalf rode to us in great urgency many days ago. Such was his fervor that Theoden King sent his best and fastest troop to your aid. We did not rest on the journey here for fear we would be too late, and after fighting, my men will be weary. I accept your offer, King Thranduil, with a happy heart." Eoland answered politely, and Thranduil called over the field the end of the war, and for his soldiers to go home and rest, for in three days' time a feast would be held for the brave Mirkwood soldiers, the Riders of the Mark and celebrating the end of the war.

Jocelyn nearly fainted when Thranduil told her Legolas was in the healing house. Leyna was by her side, and held her up. Thranduil summarized the tale of his wounding, with many tears, since Jocelyn felt it was her fault Amarthel was alive to hurt him. Thranduil accompanied her to see him, and Leyna parted ways with them. She needed to find her husband. Since she was in the palace, she went to her parent's room first, to see if her father had made it out alright. But he was not there. Leyna's heart pounded, and she tried her hardest not to assume the worst. So, she went home to seek comfort.

Surprising, how just hours ago, the city streets had been so deserted. Now, the elleths and elflings had come out of their homes and were being reunited with their husbands and fathers on the path. Leyna smiled as she weaved through them, and said a silent prayer as she witnessed the families left standing alone and broken. Slowly, she pushed open the door to her home, and stood for a moment on the porch. She took a step inside and looked around the dismal home. The shades were closed, and cast a gray light on all. Slowly, she crept through the house, her heart pounding, praying to find her husband there. The silence of the house was deafening, and she feared to break it. As she entered the bedroom, she found her sleeping husband curled up on their bed. She leant her head against the doorframe and smiled.

When he had staggered home, he fell asleep in midair as he flopped himself onto the bed. Leyna crawled up beside him and kissed under his jaw line. Wrapping her arm around him, she quickly fell asleep as well. She hadn't let herself be weary until she knew her husband was safe. Only now did she realize how exhausted she was.

Calenmir had immediately gone to the infirmary to see Anna. It took her a moment to realize who he was. She was fatigued, and his dirty hair hung over his face. But, she knew his eyes that still glinted so green, and threw herself into his arms. Through the many Elves who were allowed to come in to see their wounded loved ones, Calenmir and Anna made their way over to Legolas's bed, where Jocelyn and Thranduil knelt on either side. Jocelyn hugged her father fiercely, and kissed her mother, but spoke no words.

"The wound was dire, but he is strong, and is doing well." The nearby healer informed them.

The remaining soldiers slept most of that day. But there was no rest for the healers. They mended and bandaged until there was nothing more they could do for their many patients. Anna and Calenmir stopped by Leyna's home, to find their daughter and her husband sleeping soundly, and returned to their palace room. Thranduil insisted Jocelyn go back to get some sleep, but she just smiled and shook her head.

"I don't think I'd be able to sleep anyway. I'd rather stay here." Thranduil embraced her and kissed her forehead.

"Loyal one, you love him so much it concerns me. You do not think enough of yourself." Were his parting words. Jocelyn just smiled. Servants brought food to the families of the patients, but Jocelyn ate little. When the chaos of morning and afternoon subsided, Jocelyn looked across the room and saw Elrond's sleek black hair and clean clothed form bending over a cot. It must be Arwen. So, Jocelyn weaved through the few families of the wounded still in the house. She placed a hand on Elrond's shoulder, and he turned to see her.

Though there were no tears on his face, his eyes were wet and shiny. He breathed her name and they embraced. Jocelyn leaned over Arwen and stroked her face. She had good color again, and her skin was warm. That was a good sign. Jocelyn's saw her world slowly coming back together again.

Maybe everything would be alright after all.

A/N…I love the man that can smile in trouble, that can gather strength from distress, and grow brave from reflection. -Thomas Paine

Happy New Year to you all!

Dee69, Ms. Unknown, TPfan333 - Thanks to all you's!

Artria - Our snow is melting finally. Thank Dear Sweet Jesus. The Elf army defeated the orcs with the strength you sent them. They thank you for that. And for the perfume. Made it much more pleasant.
And yeah, deep down, Thranduil's a softie. When it comes to his son.
I alsolove it when people make a big deal out of my birthday. Its fun.

Orlando's Hot Chick - Jocelyn resents the fact that you called Legolas your husband.

KT - lol Sam sure showed that Merry and Pip. In the Elf soldiers' defense, these orcs are backed by Amarthel's spells, which strengthened them.

Nessa - yep, so that's the update. Yeah.

-Austin B.