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Battle of Nan-Tathen

A week had passed since my conversation with Mirwen the night of the festival. The next day I had successful avoided Laiqualassё, always turning and leaving the area if I saw him. I missed him horribly, as he had been such an integral part of my life for the last eight months, however I thought I knew what I was doing, what was best for both of us. That night I was sitting at the fire when he came over to sit next to me. He tried to start a conversation but I made an excuse about needing to use the privy and left the fire. He looked at me with a bemused almost hurt expression on his face as I moved away towards where the privy trenches had been dug. I knew that he didn't believe me but I knew if I didn't keep my resolve now I would never be able to.

The next morning I awoke and went to the cooking area as I always did; Mirwen was already there stirring a large pot of gruel. Through that day I did not see Laiqualassё once, it was not a large camp and the cooking area was not far from the center of it. That night I asked Mirwen where he was and she told me he had gone out on guard duty for the next week. It hit me in the stomach, he was out there possibly in danger and I had not said good-bye to him.

It had been six days since he had left the vale. Six days had past since I had abandoned him at the fire, ignoring him when he spoke to me. I couldn't shake the look he had had on his face that night from my mind. Whenever I closed my eyes it was there haunting me, haunting both my dreams as my waking hours allowing me no peace even in sleep.

It was that night that I was speaking to Curoneth in front of the dinning hall that our short time of peace and rest in Nan-Tathen came to a crashing end. All the scouts and guards who had been stationed around the camp came pouring back in, with fear etched into their features. It was not long before almost everyone was gathered outside the dinning hall to hear what had transpired. Tuor stood where he had when he had made his inspiring speech two weeks before. His announcement now shocked everyone, orcs not an hour from the camp.

About a half hour after Laiqualassё and the scoots came running into the camp we began to leave. All those who were not battle trained to any degree, had collected all the supplies they could quickly gather and begun the march to the Haven's of Sirion at Arvernien. Those who had some battle training were split into two groups. Those who were not so skilled and had little experience were made into a smaller vanguard who were to precede the refugees incase of any attack from the front and the rest would be a rear guard, who would take on the attack coming from behind. If all went well the refugees would never come under the swords.

Laiqualassё met Mirwen and I at the shelter we shared. Curoneth and Ionvain were already there, gathering things and getting ready to leave. Ionvain would be staying with the rear guard while Curoneth was getting herself and Lailitha to travel with the rest of the refugees.

"Both of you are in the vanguard, with those heading south. Neither of you has much training compared to most but at this time everyone who has had a day's lessons in knife work is needed," said Laiqualassё.

Mirwen nodded, "Where will you be brother?" she asked, expressing my own question. I said nothing not wanting to show my true feelings to show through my words.

"I will be staying with the rear guard. I love you Mirwen, my twin, I hope you find happiness in this world." Laiqualassё kissed his sister's cheek.

"May the Valar protect you Laiqualassё," said Mirwen. As Mirwen and I moved past him into the shelter he caught my arm.

"I know not why you wish to avoid me Eruanna, however, I will speak to you none the less. I am proud of you, these are not your people nor is this your time. You do not belong here yet you work to help and protect these people. That is true valor Eruanna, go with the good grace of the Valar. I pray we meet again," he said letting my arm go. I fled not trusting myself to speak.

It was amazing how quickly we began to move away from the camp, however we had not gone far, when the rearguard came under attack. We continued on separating ourselves from our rearguard leaving them behind. Woman comforted each other and children clutched their parents' hands.

A quarter an hour from when we were separated from our rear guard, a distraught Curoneth ran up to Mirwen and I. "Eruanna, Mirwen, I can not find Lailitha. I have not seen her since we left camp. I left her with Ionvain right before we left camp because I had to return to the shelter to find one of Lailitha's tunics that I had forgotten. I assumed that she was with the group but I cannot find her. I have to go back," she said in a voice filled with fear as well as courage drawn the fierce need of a mother to protect her children.

"No, Curoneth," I said firmly. "You have no training in weapons. I will go, stay here with Mirwen." I said.

Mirwen grabbed my arm as I made to move away from the group. "Eruanna, no. Let one of the others go. Someone who has more experience then you," said Mirwen desperately. "You haven't been trained a year yet, there are many here who have been fighting for centuries." Mirwen and I both knew that if Lailitha was really back in the battle that was being fought behind us, there was little hope she could be found alive.

"Mir, if I die it is not important because I'm not supposed to be here. I will not let any of you die if I can help it," I said. My determination must have been obvious because Mirwen nodded her head and let go. I nodded to Mirwen and took off back through the woods. I moved towards the battle.

I hid behind a tree and watched the fierce fight that lay before me. Elves I had known and had grown to care greatly for were dieing. I saw Ionvain take down an orc and I saw a small figure with light hair streaked out of the woods towards him. Lailitha tripped and sprawled to the ground. The distance wasn't great and I was her only hope, as feeble a hope as it was. I left my hiding spot and ran towards the little elleth, I knew that my savior this day would be in speed not in my less then average fighting abilities.

I took my dagger from its sheath and used it to fend of the orcs that were trying to take me down. By some miracle I managed to get through, however I was not the only one who had noticed the child, before I could get to her an orc stood over her its cruel sword raised. I could not bare the thought of this child dieing. In a burst of speed I reached them. I struck out severing the orc's spinal column at the base of its scull with all strength that I did not know I processed.

Lifting Lailitha into my arms I held her on my hip with one arm, well keeping my dagger arm free. I knew that I had to get out of there and began to run again, this time the run was harder as I was hampered by Lailitha. The child threw her arms around my neck and hid her face in my shoulder hiding from the horrors around her that she should never have had to see.

Just as I got to the edge of the clearing in which the battle was taking place, I felt a hot pain sear across my arm as an arrow just missed me. My dagger fell from my hand and I screamed. There are times in a person's life where instincts take over, and this was the first time in mine that this happened. I knew that I could not panic so quickly calming myself I turned to pick up my dagger.

I turned just in time to see Curoneth running towards the battle, screaming for Lailitha and Ionvain. I watched in horror as an arrow struck her square in the chest. I knew there was nothing I could do so, clasping Lailitha close and holding my dagger in my hand I ran. My dagger hand could hardly hold the hilt but I did not wish to loose the blade that Laiqualassё had given me.

When we were far enough from the battle that I felt we were not in danger, I placed Lailitha on her feet and tore the sleeve from my injured arm clumsily. I began an attempt to use the material to bandage the arm.

"Lailitha, I need your help to tie this," I said when I had gotten the cloth wrapped around my arm. She nodded gravely much like Ёarendil.

"Where is Nana and Ada, 'Anna?" She asked. I looked at the child and felt a pang in my heart.

"They are in the battle fighting Litha," I replied.

"Will they come back when all the orcs are gone?" she asked.

"I don't know Litha," I replied. My mother had told me never lie to a child it only makes it worse when they discover the truth. I had to have Litha's trust for it was possible that she would not see her parents again. I felt it was partly my fault that Curoneth was dead and I swore that I would care for this sweet child. I knew that I shouldn't in case I ended up leaving this time causing her to loose another person that she loved yet I knew to make up for not protecting Curoneth I had to. "Come we need to go, and catch up with the others. We have to run, do you think you can run for me or do you want me to carry you?" I asked. My arm still pained me and I knew that blood was seeping through the bandage but there was nothing I could do. Getting back to the refugees was for both Lailitha and I the best thing we could do.

"I can run," she said with the same stoic maturity I had seen so many times in Earendil. I looked at the child and understood what had given Earendil that demeanor. He had seen more death then any child ever should see death of those he loved, those who should never have died. Unlike humans for whom death is a natural process for the elder kindred it was wholly unnatural and a great tragedy.

"Thank you for being so brave Litha," I said. I took her small hand in mine and hand in hand we ran. With in an hour we had caught up with the other refugees. After leaving Lailitha with Idril and Earendil and getting the cut on my arm re-bandaged, I went to speak with Mirwen and rejoin the vanguard.

I fell in beside Mirwen prying that there would be no more running that day. I had never liked running but since coming to Middle Earth I found that when needed I could run better then I thought I could. Mirwen looked down at me in surprise. "Where is Lailitha?" she asked as I caught my breath.

"She is fine; I left her back with the main group. She is probably scared out of her wits but physically she is fine. Curoneth however is a different story." I looked at Mirwen with a lump forming in my throat. "I saw her take an arrow through the chest Mirwen, I don't think she survived. Why did she follow me? Why was she allowed to leave you sight?" The last two sentences I said with anger and frustration at what I saw as a useless loss of life. I did not blame Mirwen but once I had spoken I knew that is how my words would be construed.

Mirwen closed her eyes and murmured an elven prayer. "I turned my back on her for but a second, Eruanna. That is all and then she was gone. No one could find her after that and we couldn't stop, you know that," Mirwen explained. "You are right it is my fault." She bowed her head.

"I did not mean it that way Mirwen," I said trying to alleviate the guilt that she felt, for the same guilt griped my own heart.

A dark haired ellon walking not far from us turned to us. "It is not your fault, my Lady. None can keep a mother from her child if that child is in danger. I saw the elleth leave and thought nothing of it. So if blame must be laid in this it must also be laid upon me." He placed a gentle hand on Mirwen's arm.

"Thank you, my Lord," said Mirwen looking up at him her eyes glistening with tears. It seemed to me that his words made sense. No one person could take the blame for this tragedy. Curoneth had been asked to remain and had she followed that request she would not have been hurt. It seemed that Mirwen also took comfort from his words and let herself acknowledge that her guilt was not founded. "What is your name, I do not think that we have been introduced," she asked.

"Thranduil, Oropher's son of Doriath," he replied. "May I enquire as to your names my ladies?" he asked in return, however his eyes did not leave Mirwen.

"I am Eruanna-Mernaseldё, Lord Thranduil." I replied. Thranduil, I thought, the name was familiar to me. I knew I should know it but I could not place it. Something came to mind about forest(s?) but that is all I could recall. This was the first time that I really noticed that my memories were fading; I knew that there was something important about this ellon that I could remember but I did not. It wasn't until Thranduil was crowned King of Erin Lasgalen that I knew what it was I had forgotten.

"I am Mirwen of Nargothrond," Mirwen said looking up into Thranduil's eyes.

She turned back to me. "Eruanna, what happened to your arm?" she asked indicating the bandage around my upper arm.

"I got nicked by an arrow, that's all." I replied. I brushed off her concern knowing that there were those back at the battle in much worse shape them me.

"You can't, fight with that Eruanna, you would be better off back with the others," she said. I knew her words to be true although I didn't particularly want to admit it. I retreated back to the main group to find Idril and the elflings. Earendil seemed glad to see me. We had spent little time together over the few weeks we had spent in Nan-Tathen as I had been busy helping around the camp. He introduced me to Andil and Belegir two young Sindar whom he had met and become friends with during our stay in Nan-Tathen. Litha walked with them in silence. Her blue eyes haunted with what she had seen, she didn't speak. When she saw me approach she immediately came to me taking my hand in hers. I took it and gave it a reassuring squeeze.

At sun down that day one of the rearguard came running up to Idril. He was uninjured but was still covered in battle grime. I was carrying a tired Lailitha walking with Idril at the time. The poor child was exhausted and still very shaken from her experience. "My Lady," said the scout bowing quickly to Idril. "We have overcome the orcs and Lord Tuor sends me to tell you that he is well. He asks that you find shelter and await the remainder of the rearguard there." The scout bowed again and awaited Idril's reply.

"We will do so," said Idril. So, a number of scouts from the vanguard were sent to find a suitable location, while the scout waited with us. Not long after, one of the vanguard scouts came to tell us he had found a suitable cave not far ahead. After telling the other scout its location the rearguard scout left to return to the rearguard with a few elves that had some skill as healers.

Author's Note: First I would like to thank everyone for the amazing reviews that I have received keep them coming. Secondly, I apologize profusely for the long delay in the posting of this chapter. I had some rather large issues with it that I found I had to work out before I felt comfortable posting. Thirdly; the next section in this story is in rather rough shape because there were some little additions to the plot that weren't there when I first wrote the next chapter, namely Lailitha. I have to work her into it before it can be posted. Last but not least, I thought this semester was going to be the easier of the two but I now find that I was horribly wrong. I will work as quickly as I can but school unfortunately has to come first.

Lots of love Elariel