A/N: Please note that a lot of time has passed from the previous chapter, there is a lot I need to cover that spans way too many years to possibly do!

Chapter 3

War of Wrath

F.A. 587

Screams filled the air around her as smoke filled her mouth and nose, choking her. Her feet carried her swiftly from her chambers towards the stables.

"Get to the gates!" She screeched at an elven family, cowering in their home.

"You must leave!" She tried again as they crouched, still frozen in fear. Elarinya snatched the child and mother by the hand, jerking them with her, giving the father no choice but to follow, "To stay here is to die!" They came upon a group of others fleeing the city and she left them to their care, continuing her way.

She stopped and gazed over the crumbling balcony. Aelion stretched out before her, stone towers billowing black smoke. Orcs, goblins, Easterlings, they swarmed her home—pillaging and killing all those who were in their path. The Sea of Helcar ran red.

How had it come to this? Darkness had come on swift wings and brought with it hoards of the enemy. For hundreds of years they had defended their home from the forces of Morgoth, defended and beaten. One hundred years they had had some peace, rebuilt their farms and villages in Cuiviénen, elflings had been born again. Then five nights hence, they came suddenly, black clouds blocking the moon and stars. For days, they laid siege and for days they had held the upper hand. By some new devilry, their stone walls were breached.

Elarinya had spent the past hours working to gather the elves that remained, forcing them to flee. She bit back a grimace as she recalled her last meeting with her father.

"We must evacuate the city!" She pleaded with her father. They stood around the strategy table in his study, all eyes on the kind, feet shifting two and fro.

"I will not surrender my city!" He snarled, slamming a gloved fist onto the table, scrolls and quills flying and falling to the floor.

"The city is lost," Elarinya snapped, "A host of ten thousand at least, lay siege at our doors. We have no provision to withstand such a barricade, our people will starve. If they breach the walls, our people will have no hope of survival!"

She heard the clout of his hand on her cheek before she felt the pain and the snap of her neck. Stumbling sideways, her hand instinctively moved to cup her face, her eyes flashed at her father. No one spoke.

Stalking to stand in front of her, Morwë stared down at her over his nose, "I am the king here, not you. I know what is best for my people. Aelion shall not fall. Now get out of my sight, I do not wish to see you again."

"As you command, my king," She sneered through barred teeth, bowing in mockery. The woman turn and walked out the door, not looking back. The fool, she thought, he will get us all killed.

Shuddering, she forced herself away from the thoughts, she turned her attention back to the present. She had not seen her father since that day, and though she was still angry, she feared for him and her friends. Out of nowhere, a dazzling light lit up the sky over the Sea of Helcar, and Elarinya had to lift her hand to shield her eyes.

The light expanded from the ground where it struck, speeding towards the city. It came upon them so fast, there was no time to prepare or run. The force hit her, flinging her to the ground, the resounding boom, only hit her ears seconds later, but she found herself gasping in pain. Slowly she crawled towards the balcony, realizing, almost too late, that it was gone and she faced a ten-story drop.

A rumbling resonated deep in the ground as the earth began quivering under her feet. Dust and stone began falling from the ceiling and pillars around her, pictures and tapestries fell from the walls. Looking back over the edge, she watched as towers began crumbling, ash rising in their midst. The strange light on the horizon drew ever closer.

A hand gripped her shoulder, "Elarinya!" It was Veryan. "We must leave, the War of Wrath has reached our doors, the host of the Valar come."

She nodded dumbly, looking out over the land one last time, watching she the Sea she once loved to observe, to swim in, to boat, thrash against its shores, rising ever higher, beating the remaining walls of Aelion, sinking them into its depths. Mutely, she followed her friend.

They had not made it far when they ran head long into a group of orcs fleeing for their lives. Both groups were stunned for a moment, though it did not take long for Elarinya's instincts to kick in as she swiftly cut down the one closest to her, their shrieks filling the air. Once they were felled, the two continued on.

Beneath her feet the ground split, she screamed, falling into the darkness, her fingers barely catching onto a crevasse. "Veryan!" her voice broke as she dangled above the abyss, the walls of her childhood home falling behind her.

His hand seemed to reach out from nowhere, wrenching her up by the wrist. She fell into his chest, panting as she looked at the destruction wrought, her eyes wide as saucers. No words were spoken, what words could even begin to explain the anguish?

Running again, it was Elarinya's turn to save her friend as a pillar fell above them, inches from landing on her tutor. With a surge of speed, she hit him hard in the back, sending him sprawling ahead on the floor as the column fell. She barely stopped in time as she skidded to a halt into it the stone cold under her hands. Climbing her way over, she sighed in relief seeing Veryan pushing to stand.

The floor became more and more treacherous under their feet, they hopped over cracks and jumped from one section to another as the capital fell around them. Debris rose into the air around them, clouding their vision as the coughed and fought their way through the haze.

Another crash before them, fanning away the dust, they saw their way was blocked. Multiple columns lay upon one another, blocking their way out. Veryan ran to the edge, looking down, and then back at his charge.

"We must jump!" He called over the cacophony.

Not hesitating for a moment, she rushed to his side, taking his hand as he pulled them over the side. The air whistled around her, whipping her hair into her face, burning her eyes until she had no choice but the squeeze them shut. Her feet hit stone, buckling her knees, instinctively she tucked into a ball and rolled, stopping when she hit water, spluttering and choking. Helcar was washing away their home.

The gates, she could see them now, looming in the distance, her heart leaped in her throat. She could see people rushing to them, there was yet hope. Climbing again to her feet, she felt her body protest the movement, the fall jarring her badly. Quickly, she hastened towards the gates, knowing Veryan would do the same, she scanned the area for him, as he magically appeared by her side and she grinned at him, which he returned. They ran as hard as they could, not stopping until the shadow of the gates passed over them. Bending over, supporting herself on her knees, Elarinya took many deep breaths, her breath short and rasping.

Another groan sounded from the earth, and the ground under them shuddered more forcefully, the Sea was rising to meet them. A scream tore through the air, and she jerked to look back into the city. Not everyone had made it, a group of fifty or so were still struggling to the gates, as orcs descended upon them. The archway groaned above them. Time seemed to slow. She watched as the stone began to break, working its way to the top. The gate would fall. When it fell, those inside would perish. If not from the goblins, but from the Sea. Her eyes looked back to her people, watching as they realized their fate, she looked to Veryan, and she looked back at the arch.

"Elarinya!"

She heard him scream her name, saw from her periphery as he tried to grab her, then the crashing of the archway was all that filled her ears. She would not let her people be picked off by the forces of Morgoth. They may not make it out of the city, but she would be damned if they died by the hands of their enemy. Yelling a battle cry, she ran through the dust towards where they gathered, surrounded by orcs and goblins. Her sword sliced through them, cutting them down with ease. She moved without cognizant thought, until no other blades met her own. Spinning and looking around her she saw her people, alive—for now. Her heart broke knowing they would die here, but at least the water would make it quick. They force of it should be enough to kill them instantly.

Then her heart plummeted as orcs began appearing before them again in greater numbers, numbers she knew she had no hope of defeating. Still, she brandished her sword and stood before her people. Then from over the rising Sea, the Valar marched, the earth trembling under their steps. The armies of orcs perished like leaves in a fire before them in the light of the Valar. They watched in awe as their enemy was struck down. They waited for the waves to crash into them, but they never came.

Elarinya turned starring into a wall of water held back behind the queerest man she had ever seen. Instantly she knew she stood before Ulmo, Lord of the Seas. His skin shone and rippled like it was made of the sea itself, his armor like seaweed, and a crown of shells and corals rested on his head. Where his feet should have been, were the waters of Helcar he commanded. His eyes shown white like the angry sea foam, and she found it hard to look away. Finally, she could drop her gaze and fall to her knees before him.

"Rise child," A voice spoke above her. It was spoken in a language she did not recognize, yet she somehow understood. The voice was masculine and velvety smooth, it was not angry, yet neither was it happy. It was strange and melodious to hear. Slowly, she did as she was told. She saw feet armored in gold before her. Rising, she gawked at yet another of the Valar. He was covered head to toe in golden armor, etched with beautiful filigree designs, his helm covered his face, but his golden eyes shone brightly from within, the golden horns glittered from the sun beginning to gleam through the darkness. Beside him stood the largest steed she had laid eyes upon. The beast was shimmering, turning from white to silver depending on where the light and shadow hit his coat, his feet shod in gold to match his rider.

"I am Oromë, huntsman of the Valar, and my steed Nahar." He spoke in the same even voice, gesturing to the horse beside him.

"I am Elarinya, daughter of Morwë." She replied in Avarin, not sure if they would understand, it was the only language she knew, but she could understand their strange language.

"Maiden of the Sea," He reached out an armored hand, the armor rolling back and disappearing as his fingers traced the line of her face, "Much bravery and courage you have shown." He dropped his hand and walked towards the ruins, "Come, we shall lead you and your people out."

They all did as he bade, their princess at the lead.

"The lands of Beleriand and Cuiviénen have been stained black with the evil of Melkor. No longer can they remain, tarnishing the world. You shall find refuge at the shores of the Rhûnic Sea in the land of Dorwinion."

Elarinya watched her people climb the broken pillars of Aelion, looking out over what had once been her home, the sea washing away the filth of their enemies, the land sinking before her eyes.

"Go little one, you no longer belong to this place. Much yet you must do." Oromë spoke cryptically, pushing her over the columns. She stood atop the buttresses as Ulmo let forth the sea, watching as the last remains of her home was engulfed by the angry waves, the sea foam striking her in the face and the wind whipped around her. The Valar disappeared in the light that brought them. Bodies of orcs, men, and elves floated away on the calming waters.

Another piece of her broke in that moment as the cries of despair reached her ears. Tearing her gaze away, she turned to face what was left of her people. Families huddled together, holding tightly to one another rejoicing to be together. Others ran through the population searching frantically for loved ones they would never find, and others still—her father among them—looked to the empty land before them, lost.

Walking numbly, she stood before her friends, they greeted each other with hugs and nods, but no words passed between them. They did not need to speak, their joined strength enough to renew them, and turning they look to the land of Rhûn, where they would start anew. Stepping forward, Elarinya walked with her friends, her voice rising in a soft song to meet the world ahead.

"Home is behind, the world ahead

And there are many paths to tread

Through shadow, to the edge of night

Until the stars are all alight

Mist and shadow

Cloud and shade

All shall fade

All shall fade."

…

Hope you guys enjoyed this chapter, it is really my first time writing an action scene like this, so I hope I did it justice. Please let me know what you think and what you would like to see happen!