A great orange cloud bloomed across the horizon, embers and ash rising up hot into the night sky. The light from the burning fields miles away illuminated Andreth's closed eyelids til they opened of a sudden. She rose sharply to stare at the land beyond Ladros which was all aflame.

'Aegnor,' she whispered to the darkness, and leapt up immediately to dress.

Many in the homestead had awoken from the light of the fire. The men were called to arms, tidings were spoken of the break of the Siege of Angband and the doom of all. Bregor called to Andreth but she did not heed his counsel to flee.

A heat ere unbeknownst enclosed her as she stepped under the clouded sky; a reek of foul ash hung stagnant over the beloved plateau. All was come to ruin. The pine trees sighed in lament for their impending doom.

'Thalion!' Andreth cried, and a whinny answered her as the nervous stallion emerged from his woodland keep. 'Come, we must ride thither to Dorthonion.'

The woman felt no fear nor sorrow, only desperation to aid the man dearest to her heart. Thalion rode hard through the pine forests over which a shadow and a threat hung like a mantle.

Upon finding the Elvish company, many eyes followed her as she rode through their midst to the helm where Aegnor and Angrod stood.

'Hail, my lord!' spoke Andreth, raising a hand of greeting.

'My lady!' Aegnor lifted his silver helm as the woman dismounted and stood before him. 'Thou must flee, Dorthonion is under great threat!'

'I refuse it. I beseech thee, my love, let me stand by thy side to arms as a final act of deliverance, for if thy death is upon thee I fear no freedom shall ever bless my heart hence should I flee now to a safe hold unaccompanied.'

'Nor shall my heart be unburthened with the knowledge of thy sacrifice.'

Aegnor's sapphire eyes shone in the light of the burning clouds, pleading his love to leave him by life or death. Flecks of ash had settled upon his fair crown as the like of snow and Andreth raised her hand to brush them away. Her touch lingered at the Elf-prince's cheek, soft as a down-feather yet unwavering.

'The Halls of Mandos beckon,' he told her, and such sadness clouded his face that it was as though the world would never again know joy, or peace, for the evils of Morgoth's parting the two lovers. 'It saddens me to leave my love but leave her I must.'

'Let me follow thee,' Andreth begged.

'Thou art too fair to meet such untimely passing,' he protested. 'Be gone as far south as thou art able and give our son life and love on my part.'

At these words his gentle hands pressed to her belly, which had grown swollen in the weeks ere the Siege was broken.

'I do not fear death and nor would thy son.' Andreth's eyes flashed with defiance, yet Aegnor's remained shaded by grief.

'Let this be our parting, my love,' he said, despite her shaking head. 'I must go to defend our realm at the hand of my kin, yet I may survive to be blessed by another day. Do not lose hope, dear Andreth Saelind; hope may be thy only light in dark hours to come.'

And his light fingers brought her face to his in farewell. Together they stood for a moment, lost in memories of a sweeter day, until the bitter night brought them to and wrenched them apart.

Andreth remained silent as she watched Aegnor and Angrod lead their men north, their horses stirring a wind to life that swirled around her as they passed. When the company were lost in the darkness, Andreth whistled and Thalion came to her.

Together they rode in pursuit of the Elven battalion for Andreth knew, as Aegnor's eyes had spoke it, that there was no hope in riding south. If death were to be, then so be it; she would ride out to meet it rather than be overtaken in cowardly flight.

The Orc-force appeared as a black sea choking the land and it soon became clear that the Noldorin brothers' battalion would not overcome such reckless hate. His shining face illuminated by valour in battle renown, Andreth's eyes found Aegnor where he stood at the head of his battalion. Fearless and bold was his stroke of sword, swift was his hand and strong was every spear repelled. Orcs quailed at the prince's flashing eyes yet none could escape his wrath. Black bodies fell before him and Andreth's heart swelled with hope that all was not yet lost; however, this hope was broken upon the arrow that found its mark in Aegnor's side. Horror struck Andreth's heart yet no longer could she watch her lover's fight for Orcs had spied the maiden's hiding place. Her Elvish blade glittered as though with fire as she resisted their onslaught til all were slain, their foul blood blackening the grass at her feet. Not for a moment did she linger before searching desperately again for Aegnor upon the field; he persisted in battle in spite of his wound, the fire of his face seeming to burn brighter even than before. There Andreth's eyes found a sight to make her heart turn to stone: an Orc with raised bow aimed upon Aegnor's unwary back. Andreth leapt from the trees to call to him yet the shout never left her lips. The arrow was fired as a heavy blow found her skull and darkness clouded the maiden's eyes.

When Andreth's eyes were opened again, the battle-field was quiet. She was wont to believe to have but dreamed the attack until the smell of ash stung her nose and struck horror in her glance. The ache that burdened her crown was cast aside as she rose among a field of all who lay still, a pillar of life in a sea of death, all black and bleeding and broken. What a terrible grief weighed upon the poor woman during the hour in which she searched for her love, for the flame of her heart could not go out or it should prove to be her doom. Whether night or day could not be told as the sky was still clouded by toxic amber clouds that bore low upon her sweet and sorrowful soul.

There he lay amid a pile of black corpses, seeming the only fair thing akin to a precious jewel in the most treacherous mine, or a single star in the darkest night. Andreth fell to his side and pushed him onto his back. Many arrows pierced his chest but she knew him with irrevocable surety to be alive.

Her strength of mind willed her body to lift him, and Andreth bore the prince beneath the shadow of the pine trees yonder whereupon he was lain hidden. Her hands removed his helm to reveal a face so pale her heart was stricken by terrible grief.

'My love,' she whispered, so softly only his Elf ears might hear her. 'My love, dost thou hearken to my call?'

'I hearken,' Aegnor replied, his sweet voice frightfully weak.

His eyes were opened once more to glitter upon her human face. A trembling hand was lifted to wipe blood from her brow.

'I have come to save thee,' she told him, with a sad smile. 'Do not be troubled by cares, my love.' Her speech was cut by the sound of Orc-growling coming from the dark depths of the woods. 'Thou art safe under these trees at my side.'

'Thank you, dearest Andreth,' murmured Aegnor, 'though I fear my strength is waning as thou speaks. Many arrows pierce my body and no longer can I perceive any future ahead. Do not grieve, my love, for I go to bide alongside my forefathers, and my dear brother, in the Halls of Mandos. Thy fairest bearing I shall lament, along with thy sweetest smile and eyes that always knew the truth of me.'

'Nay, Aegnor.' Andreth shook her head in refusal of his farewell. 'Thou shall abide here with me until the end of days. Dost thou give me thy word?'

'Forgive me.' Aegnor's alighted eyes were closed upon her as blood trickled from the corner of his lips. 'To that my word cannot be given.'

'Prithee, my love, do not leave me!' Andreth begged, but her plea was to no avail.

There beneath the pines of Dorthonion lay Andreth Saelind upon the still breast of her lover, until her grieving was silenced by the bite of Orc-blades and her spirit was sundered from the waking earth to bide whither no one could surely tell.