In An Age Before

by Phantom Bard

Part 298 posted, in which Helluin and the Riders of Norðr-vestandóttir Bý aid the Third Marshal Haleth in Rohan's defeat of the Easterling invaders. Brutal weather, disease, and failing morale play a part. Aldburg is no sooner freed of the eastern threat when tidings come of the Dunlending's invasion from the west. OCs galore as usual.

40. In An Age Before Chapter 40

In An Age Before – Part 40

Chapter Twenty-eight

The Defeat of Sauron in Eriador - The Second Age of the Sun

The armies clashed at noon, twenty miles north of Mithlond and only six miles from the encampment of the allied host. Helluin noted great companies of bowmen amongst the infantry of the Dúnedain. These warriors wore mail shirts and bore longbows of two rangar in height, firing arrows of a ranga in length with barbed heads of steel. As the battle opened they stood foremost in the deployment, in a loose wall formation six deep and half a league wide, a company of 'nigh 18,000 Men. The archers began shooting whilst the enemy was still o'er a furlong away, firing their arrows up in great arcs to rain down upon their foes like an endless sleet of bitter fangs. As their foes charged closer, the bowmen lowered their trajectory 'til they were shooting past their fellows in the rows ahead, with each rank dropping onto one knee after letting fly their arrows. The company displayed fine coordination 'twixt its ranks, obviously the result of long drilling, and their practice showed in the rapidity and consistency of their volleys. Though their kill ratio was lower than the Laiquendi, their numbers caused devastating results. In the short span ere the lines clashed, well 'nigh an eighth part of Sauron's Host fell. O'er 4,000 Yrch and Easterlings lay dead or wounded, yet still the enemy continued to advance, for the fear of their master was heavy upon them.

Now when the foe drew 'nigh, the bowmen closed their ranks in companies of 600, and 'twixt those companies aisles opened separating every hundred files of archers. Then through these aisles the cavalry galloped forward in shining lines, 12,000 strong, with bright plate and mail and helm. Each bore a demi-shield affixed to their left bracer, leaving their left hands free, and at first, each bore a lance three rangar in length. The bowmen ceased firing as the horsemen passed them, their blue banners marking their passage onto the field. Thither they slammed at full gallop into the charging Yrch and Easterlings, running down many 'neath the thundering hooves of their warhorses and planting their lances in the bodies of their foes. Thereafter they hewed their enemies from horseback with straight-bladed backswords, wielding them in mighty sweeping strokes and vicious downward thrusts.

Then the regular infantry, numbering 20,000, passed through the archers and followed the cavalry to the battle bearing arming swords and shields. Smoothly their columns spread out and formed ranks as they advanced, backing the horsemen's charge and forcing the battle line to be drawn some thirty yards ahead of the bowmen.

Helluin had joined the infantry and the frenzy of battle came upon her as her company engaged the Easterlings that they had matched themselves against. In her right hand Anguirél rejoiced in the bloodshed, hewing flesh and armor with ease as she strode forward, a feral glint in her flashing blue eyes. The Men beside her watched in amazement as she fought with a ferocity and grace they knew no mortal could match. She slew any who approached, and in the press of bodies those foemen closest to her had little chance of escape. With the Sarchram she laid low champions amongst the Easterlings who stood beyond the reach of her arm. E'er she advanced, sneering, taunting her enemies, and laughing as they fell. She hardly noticed that she outpaced the line of her allies, for her blood was heated with the vigor of combat and her wrath was unleashed as in the battles of old. Soon Helluin was screaming "Beltho Huiniath" at the top of her lungs, and leaving a trail of bodies in her wake. To her sides, the Dúnedain struggled to keep up, astonished by her tireless violence and inspired by her prowess, and they took up her battle cry with a great voice.

Now o'er the string of her slain, one of the Dúnedain indeed rashly followed, hacking with limited success at those enemies to the sides, yet oft times stumbling o'er a hewn corpse, or even his own boots. This was the very same infantryman who had mistaken Helluin for the Lady Arindil at the Captain Admiral's board the night before. Chwesdrýn had vowed to make up for his gaff by guarding the dark Noldo's back in the coming battle, and so he followed her as closely as avoidance of her blade would allow. More than once Helluin slipped Anguirél into the guts of some Easterling behind her ere he could skewer the Man, for whilst Chwesdrýn was great of heart, as a swordsman he was well 'nigh inept. She saved his life many times in spite of herself, and indeed without conscious thought, for in her wisdom, an enemy dead behind her rather than before was still an enemy dead. This continued for some time 'til the other Dúnedain caught up and their ranks swallowed him and he was separated from Helluin. Perhaps only thus did he survive the vicious opening moments of the battle to tell the tale long afterwards to any ear that would listen.

Now the companies of cavalry and infantry were fully engaged. Men, Yrch, and horses screamed in fright and pain, or bellowed threats and yelled in anger. But within the mass of the battle a bulge in the Númenórean line pressed forward, and those warriors were screaming, "Kill 'Em All" right along with Helluin. They pushed ahead step by step and they forced Sauron's Host back.

Behind them the archers had set aside their bows and quivers, and now they reinforced the lines of the infantry, pressing forward and wielding short swords and either long daggers or bucklers. They came to the battle line quickly and slew any foe they could find, adding their momentum to the press. Then o'er the din of the battle silver trumpets blew a fanfare, and at that signal the ranks of archers split, marching double-time to the flanks in a strategy that capitalized on the allies' numerical superiority.

The bowmen moved to enclose the battle and hem in their enemy's flanks. They pressed upon their foes from the sides and the front, and soon retreat was the only option left to Sauron's forces. And retreat they did, yard by yard, back to the north and towards the river, back to their flotilla of barges and rafts, and back toward an escape 'cross the Lune. With every stride the Men of Westernesse hewed at them, whittling down their soldiery and trampling the bodies of the fallen 'neath their lines as they advanced.

Through the afternoon and into the evening the battle raged. The Host of Sauron seemed great beyond count, but the Host of the Dúnedain was even more numerous. When the evening's light fell to a deepening gloom, Yrch and Easterling fought amongst themselves upon the shores of the Lune to be the first aboard their rafts and the first to escape the scene of their blood loss and their terror and their defeat. Then upon the western shore, the Dúnedain raised a great cry of triumph that carried 'cross the water to haunt their worsted foes as they paddled to the far bank. Only then, when the land west of the Lune was clear of enemies, did Helluin's battle fire abate and the flaring blue light of her eyes diminish, and she gave then attention to the cleaning of her weapons.

Now as she wiped the blood off her blades, Anguirél spoke, saying, "long it hath been since last I enjoyed the fruits of thy wrath, O Helluin, and greatly do I thank thee for sharing with me thy anointment of blood."

And the Sarchram too praised her saying, "great is thy prowess, O Helluin, and honored am I to spill the blood of the enemy again in thy company."

But 'round her the Men of Westernesse stood in awe, for not in many generations had their kindred seen the wrath of the Calaquendi at war. Some, knowing no better, thought that the prowess they had witnessed was common to all the Noldor, and then some amongst them gave thought to the tales of the great battles of their forefathers and the wars in Beleriand ere the Valar had delivered their people from the trials of Hither Shores. All the stronger did they reverence the heroic Edain in the First Age, Haleth and Bregor, Barahir and Beren, Húrin and Huor, Túrin and Tuor, and Eärendil the Mariner.

At dawn the next morning the Elven Host of Gil-galad made known its presence in the distance, ten miles to the south off the enemy's right flank, as they marched from Harlindon. A fanfare they blew upon their trumpets, recalling that of Fingolfin at the coming of his host to Mithrim with the first rising of the sun. Many were the flares of light glinting from their armor, and their banners were unfurled by a breeze from the sea. Then, seeing the advance of this fresh host and being still unready to offer battle following their defeat the day before, Sauron's Host continued its retreat from the shores of the Lune.

During the second day after their defeat, the Host of Sauron continued to withdraw away from the Elven Host, marching further to the east, and they retreated beyond the highlands that would one day be called the Tower Hills. Then the High King ceased his pursuit for a time and his forces made a camp, and there he awaited the Númenóreans.

On the day following the battle, whilst the wounded Dúnedain were tended and the dead gathered, the Lune was bespeckled with the myriad craft of Sindarin mariners out of Mithlond. These were freshly come from the ferrying of Gil-galad's host 'cross the water to Harlindon. Now the people of Círdan brought transport for the Númenórean army, and through the night conveyed them 'cross the Lune to the eastern shore. The Men of Westernesse marched the next day to meet the Elven Host that had encamped twenty miles inland, and there they added their numbers and pitched their tents. Then they took a pause from fighting and marching for another week whilst supplies were moved forward to the encampment, weapons and armor were repaired, and horses rested.

The siege of the Lune was broken, the enemy driven back, and Lindon had a respite. Half a week ago, it had been expected to fall. 'Twas the turning of the tide and the harbinger of the scourging of Eriador, for with the coming of the Dúnedain, 'twas only a matter of time ere the land was freed. For the first time in years the Noldor and Sindar felt that peace would be restored and victory lay within their grasp. In but half a week everything had changed.

When at last they marched forth again, the allies found that Sauron's Host had continued their retreat to the River Baranduin. The Elves and Men came after them, seeking battle. After losing a number of small probing skirmishes, Sauron Gorthaur finally withdrew his forces beyond the Baranduin, ceding western Eriador. Following them thither, it took o'er three weeks to move the entire combined host up to the river's western bank. Gil-galad and Ciryatur then debated how best to assail their foes, for the bridge at Sarn Athrad had been broken in Gil-galad's retreat aforetime. Any attack would force them to ford the river and win a bank held and entrenched against them, leaving them vulnerable during the transit, and then obligated to attack a position of strength from one much weaker. 'Twixt the two hosts lay barely four score yards of water, and this neither deep nor o'erly swift, yet it might as well have been a mile of ocean. 'Twas then 22 Gwirith, (April 22nd).

"My archers can drive them back from the eastern shore, giving the infantry perhaps 50 yards grace upon the further bank for their attack," Ciryatur told the council of war that had assembled in Gil-galad's tent.

"Yet when thy troops come thither, then must thy bowmen cease their firing," Glorfindel said, "and then shalt those few upon the banks be swept away by the charge of their enemies."

"And what of the Yrch archers?" Gil-galad asked. "Many have they amongst them, and though poor in skill, still their numbers may serve to repel our forces."

"Then we shalt send the archers with the infantry advance, and they shalt continue firing whilst crossing Baranduin," Ciryatur proposed.

"Then they shalt be firing up from the water to the land beyond the bank, and their targets shalt, by a slight withdrawal backwards, come out of their sights, yet still await them nearby," Glorfindel replied. "The bank is not high, but neither is it flat."

"Then we shalt send some forward and reserve some upon the hither shore," Ciryatur said, "and in this way drive back the Glamhoth and keep them back once the infantry makes the far bank. When those upon the western side must cease firing, those upon the eastern side shalt commence, and if the cavalry can cross quickly in their wake, then perhaps any enemies charging forward shalt be caught amidst arrows and horsemen."

"Yet though our host outnumbers theirs, still we must attack with o'erwhelming force to take and hold the thither shore and then drive them back," Glorfindel said. "In a direct frontal assault the battle line shalt be very wide, and many must come ashore simultaneously for the landing to succeed. Perhaps we should assail their left flank only with our whole strength, pitting our numbers against but a part of theirs. We should then compose a host they shalt be unable to withstand, the easier to secure a foothold ashore amongst them. Then, using that front as a base, we can move both upstream and inland in a sweeping movement and force them east."

'Round the table, heads nodded in agreement. They could visualize the action. 60,000 would fall upon the 15,000 or less upon the downstream flank of Sauron's Host, driving into it with arrows, swords, and cavalry. And once their forces had crossed Baranduin, t'would be a contest of numbers and grit. The Easterlings and Yrch would be sure to give way. The allies could chase them all the way to the Glanduin.

"We shalt marshal our forces by the river along our entire front," Ciryatur said, "but concentrate the bowmen to the south and the cavalry to the north with the infantry 'twixt them. As soon as they step into the river they shalt advance downstream against the enemy's left flank. Into that position shalt we pour our arrows and a landing space shalt be cleared. Some bowmen shalt advance with the infantry, and the horsemen shalt charge south as well. All shalt reach the thither shore together, and 'neath the cover of those of our archers then upon the thither bank, take and hold the front and fight their way inland and upstream. Our remaining archers can still assail those of the enemy upstream beyond our troops, driving them yet further north ere our host charges to attack."

They continued to refine the plan, judging their strength and the speed with which they could cross Baranduin. They made contingency plans in case the enemy troops attempted compensating movements. They timed their own troop movements and then decided on trumpet signals for them. They sent forth scouts to survey the banks and the position of their enemies. And finally they informed their officers of the plan, and the officers their sergeants, and the sergeants their troops. In the hours of darkness they moved the bowmen south to the place they'd chosen, whilst the cavalrymen, both Dúnedain and Eldar, quietly shifted their mounts north. An added benefit of the plan was that the infantry remained in their camp, their campfires seen and ignored by the enemy, whilst the movements of the others went unmarked in the darkness.

A single trumpet note greeted the dawn. In the growing light, 18,000 bowmen prepared for war upon the western bank. Upon the eastern bank, the Yrch and Easterlings scrambled to their battle lines and readied themselves for the onslaught. Word had come to their commanders that the Lord Sauron would accept no further defeats. They could either die in battle against the Eldar and the Dúnedain, or they could die at his own hands. For most, a death in battle was preferable, for t'would be quicker and come with less pain. In less than half an hour their companies were formed up and stood awaiting their foes with the light of Anor brightening behind them.

At the report that the enemy had formed up, the trumpets blew two blasts and now the archers of Númenor took their places upon the western bank. 'Cross the water they could see the black host of Sauron, and it seemed to many that a shadow stood o'er their enemies and confused their sight. Then the Yrch gave a great cry of challenge and the Easterlings yelled some profane oath or curse in their unintelligible tongue, the Númenóreans knew not which. Instead, of answering, they drew arrows from their quivers and set them to their bowstrings.

All along the banks to their north, 26,000 infantry and 18,000 cavalry, all the host of the Eldar and the Dúnedain, stood forth upon the shore, gazing in a menacing silence towards the eyes of their foes. 'Cross the water from the hooting and stamping Host of Sauron they stood motionless. Their enemies brandished their weapons, shouted threats and insults, but the allies of the west seemed to flash and sparkle with the rays of bright Anor reflecting off their shining armor.

The trumpets of the west blew three notes, and ere their ringing call had passed away 'twas drowned by the twang of bowstrings in their thousands, the hissing flight of arrows, and the screams of the dying on the thither bank. The shower of arrows from the Númenórean bows ceased not, but continued on and on, the air filled with the falling hail of deadly shafts. Volley after volley the Dúnedain sent against their foes, and they marked the fall of bodies 'cross Baranduin, and the recoiling of the lines of troops. They gave back a few strides and then a few more. The arrows shifted back with them as the bowmen adjusted their aim, driving their foes from the bank. Space opened along the water where 'naught but the fallen lay, stilled, or crawling aimlessly and crying out in pain. Back the arrowfall drove them, 10 yards and then 20, then 30, and then 40. None upon their flank dared advance to take their place. Instead, they too shied back, knowing themselves to also be within range of the deadly longbows of Westernesse.

50 yards from the shore stood now the closest foes. The trumpets played a fanfare of four notes that rent the air. And now the infantry plunged down the western banks and into the Baranduin, the water reaching mid-thigh as they swiftly strode, weapons drawn in a flashing of light. Further north, a great cry went up and the cavalry leapt into the river, horses neighing and then surging forward in a churning mass. The enemies 'cross the river taunted them, challenged and reviled them, but the allies heeded them not. Instead they moved 'cross the river, but always equally to the south.

Now half the bowmen waded into the churning flow as well, yet these aimed their arrows north, into the enemies who stood upstream, unassailed aforetime, and now these too backpedaled, driven by fear to seek safety through retreat. The other half of the archers continued to hold the opposing flank at bay as their footmen and cavalry drew 'cross Baranduin and converged on the cleared bank.

Just a short time later, the first of them clambered ashore and immediately advanced inland. They were followed by an unending stream of horsemen and infantry, in wave upon wave, who could hardly wait to engage their bright steel against their enemies. In the van of the press of footmen came Helluin, and by now those who surrounded her were screaming her battle cry, "Kill 'Em All!" Time and again the Sarchram flew, careening amongst the Yrch and returning again to her hand. Then the fighting closed in and she wielded Anguirél without mercy, smiting any of the Host of Sauron she could lay steel too. And the black blade rejoiced in the slaughter.

"More, more," its cold voice rang o'er the din of battle; the blade's bloodlust raged unchecked in its every word and stroke, "yea, more blood shalt I drink; for this was I created and e'er do I thirst for more."

And Helluin granted the sword's request a hundred times in the opening hour alone. In the Battle of Baranduin her wrath peaked, o'ertopping even her slaughter upon the banks of the Lune. Indeed not since the Nirnaeth Arnoediad had she entered such a pure state of mayhem.

It took well 'nigh a half hour ere all the Host of the Allies stood upon the eastern bank of the Baranduin. By then the front of battle had passed a furlong to the east. The Dúnedain and the Eldar drove their foes before them without pause. Though no few fell to the blades and arrows of the enemy, still they came on, unstoppable as a tide rushing upon the shores of Belegaer. Even as they moved inland, the Númenórean archers continued firing o'er their heads into the ranks of the enemy beyond the battle lines. For the Yrch and Easterlings there was no respite. No place in their line was spared the threat of assault, but all shied away from Helluin who strode against them on foot. They couldn't flee her presence fast enough.

By the second hour of the battle none of the enemy would face her, instead recoiling away from the terror of the blue fire in her eyes and the Light that surrounded her. Not since she had manifested the Light of the Blessed Realm upon Tórferedir at their first meeting had she become so incandescent. Friend and foe alike could not abide the glare she projected. If the Men of Westernesse had been impressed in the Battle of the Lune, now they stood in awe of her rampage. For a time it appeared, even to their mortal eyes, as if a whirling figure of brilliance clove through their foes, leaving in its wake the dead and the dying, and those who had been driven hence into the Void. Ere long the terror of her caused the enemy to flee before her in abject panic, and thus the rout began.

To Be Continued