Chapter 8
The diplomatic envoy to the Dwarves had reached the edges of Mirkwood. However, something had happened and the formerly green and lush forest had been greatly decimated.
"We're too late," Eomer said when he saw the destruction.
"Do not be too hasty to judge," Gandalf warned. "Thranduil is a very resourceful leader. The elves of Mirkwood may still have a chance."
But Eomer was correct. They were too late. The sudden attack had caught the elves of Mirkwood off-guard. Galadriel's forces were able to under cover of dark and set the forest ablaze. They were also able to use the large spiders that dwelled in Mirkwood against the native elves. Thranduil had managed to fortify his own realm but it was only a matter of time before Galadriel's forces managed to penetrate.
A great many of the elves of Mirkwood in light of the massive army that was marching upon them as well as the influence of the ring's power had changed allegiances to fight with Galadriel rather than against her.
"We must hurry," Legolas said. "We may still be able to help my father."
Anaranë Míriel and Dínendal agreed.
"Very well," Gandalf said. "We shall see what assistance we can lend to Mirkwood."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Galadriel stood and gazed upon the carnage that her armies had brought upon Mirkwood. The blood of many elves was spilled upon the ground. Trees were either burned or uprooted. The ring on her finger seemed to gather power from all this destruction.
"Milady, we have word that Dwarves have left Lonely Mountain to assist Thranduil." Arwen reported.
"Excellent," Galadriel said with an evil smile. "This takes them out of their natural habitat in the mountain caves and puts them on unfamiliar soil."
Galadriel then had a sudden idea.
"Tell the forces to stop," she said.
"But my Queen we have the advantage," Arwen argued. "if we stop now…"
"Do as I say," Galadriel snapped. "I wish to show them that nothing can with stand my power."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The envoy to the Dwarves was able to reach Thranduil's realm without encountering Galadriel's army. Upon their arrival the spirits of the Dwarf and Elven alliance were greatly raised. The Dwarven army had been led from Lonely Mountain by King Dain II Ironfoot. After a heart warming reunion between Legolas and his father, they were led to Thranduil's command post at the front line.
"What is the current situation?" Gandalf asked.
"We are not entirely sure," Thranduil replied. "Galadriel's forces had us in complete disarray, but then they called off their attack to regroup."
"I suspect their up to some trickery," Dain said.
"It doesn't seem to be a tactically sound idea," Gandalf agreed. "It allows the Dwarves to dig in and our forces to be reinforced."
"Whatever the case may be there will likely be a great deal of blood shed on both side when they do attack now." Thranduil said.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The following day the forces of Galadriel marched upon the allied armies' position, with Dark Lady Galadriel leading them. Her evil Huorons cleared a path by decimating every tree in their path. A seemingly endless number of corrupted elves followed behind in neat and orderly rows.
Galadriel's forces came to a stop about three hundred meter's away from Thranduil's. Galadriel stepped forward into the gap between the two armies with great confidence about her. Thranduil went out to meet her face to face.
"Lay down your weapons and accept your fate or prepare to face utter annihilation." Galadriel threatened.
"You're out of control Galadriel," Thranduil said. "You need to be stopped."
"On the contrary," Galadriel retorted. "I'm more in control than ever. I'm in control of everything!"
"You're not in control of any of us," Thranduil said bitingly as he indicated his army behind him. "And we will not conform to your twisted desires."
"Then you shall perish at the hands of the Queen of Middle Earth!" Galadriel declared.
At once the sky began to grow dark as black clouds came swirling into existence overhead. The allied armies grew very nervous as they saw flashes of orange lightning within the cracks of the clouds.
"Water and lightning will not stop our resolve," Thranduil told Galadriel firmly.
"But what about fire?" Galadriel asked.
With that great balls of fire began to rain down upon the allied armies. Hundreds of dwarves and elves were burned to death as the scattered to find shelter that just did not exist. Gandalf raised his staff and uttered a spell. The rain of fire came to a stop and clouds slowly dissipated. But the damage was done, the allied forces were in complete disarray. Galadriel's army too advantage of the chaos and surged forward in a massive wave of overwhelming force.
Thranduil drew his own sword and attacked Galadriel but she was faster and was able to easily defend. She quickly turned the battle against Thranduil who found himself barely able to withstand her powerful blows. One final blow shattered Thranduil's sword into two pieces. Her opponent now defenceless Galadriel finished him off by splitting him in half from head to tailbone.
Upon seeing his father cut down Legolas ran forth to attack Galadriel, however he was intercepted by a giant bird bearing an elven rider. The bird looked as though it used to be an eagle, but its feathers had grown black and now hung off it loosely as though it were a freshly dead corpse. The eyes were but black pits that stared blankly at Legolas. Legolas drew his twin blades and quickly put the foul creature out of its misery by removing its head. The rider was an elf dressed in thick black plate mail with a large horned helmet over their head. The rider bore a massive flail with a spiked head the size of a hobbit skull and another slightly smaller flail.
Legolas moved to attack the rider but the rider was able to trip Legolas up using the light flail. Both of them got to their feet at the same time. Legolas was surprised at how quick the rider was able to move given how heavy the armour was. Legolas moved to attack but had to back off to avoid the long reach of the heavy flail. The rider charged at Legolas swinging both flails alternately. Legolas was able to duck under a slow swing of the heavy flail and hit the rider in the helmet with the hilt of one of his sword.
The rider's helmet was knocked off and fell to the ground revealing a very angry Arwen underneath. Her fair skin had become a dull grey and her eyes seemed sunken. She knocked Legolas back with the end of her heavy flail and then swung her light flail at him. Legolas jumped back but was not able to avoid being hit in the mid section. The force of the blow sent him tumbling sideways as he nearly landed on his neck.
As he lay on the ground Legolas struggled to breathe. The force of the blow had likely caused one of his lungs to collapse as well as crushing several other internal organs. Legolas tried to get to his feet but found that he could not move his legs. In a moment Arwen was standing over top of him looking down at him. Her long black hair hung down from her head forming a tunnel around her face that helped Legolas focused on her as she spoke to him.
"It was very foolish of you to not side with Galadriel when you had the chance," Arwen said.
"She killed my father," Legolas said. "She also had Aragorn killed."
Arwen glared at him a look of pure hatred on her face. Legolas was scared and confused, he was not entirely sure what Arwen was so furious about.
"Aragorn was a bad mistake," Arwen told him though clenched teeth. "And I don't wish to ever be reminded of it again."
Legolas realized what was about to happen and tried to pull himself out of the way. Arwen flail came down catching Legolas squarely on the leg. He didn't feel anything since he was paralyzed from the waist down but he could tell his leg had been completely shattered. Arwen didn't miss the second time.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mirkwood forest was ruined. In the middle of the battlefield Galadriel stood beside Arwen over the corpse of the elf Legolas. The allied army had been completely routed. The elves of Mirkwood had realized the hopelessness of their situation after seeing their King and their Prince fall in battle. Their minds had given into the power of the ring and they turned on their allies. A few dwarves and some humans had escaped as had the Istari known as Gandalf, but that was no matter; soon enough they would be found and killed. Gondor would be over run and Mordor. With that the lands of Middle Earth would soon be hers.