Emyra urged her white mare faster, she was exhausted but exhaustion was a small price to pay for delivering the news as quickly as possible.
Finally as dawn broke Emyra could see her Fathers Kingdom, and relief washed over her, she rode through the gates and did not stop until she got to the doors and hopped off her still trotting horse. Rushing up the stairs Emyra pushed the doors open quickly moving into the main hall where her Father and Brother were conversing with each other.
"Ada, Rhydian." Emyra gasped trying to catch her breath when she stopped in front of them.
"Emyra, is everything alright?" Estalian looked at his exhausted daughter a worried expression coming onto his face, Emyra shook her head in response. "Greenwood is going to war with the orcs and have requested us as allies." Without a question Estalian and Rhydian started relaying orders to prepare their warriors; the Elven kingdoms were going to war.
A week after her return from Greenwood, Her fathers army left ti join Oropher and his men on the battle field. Leading their army was her Father and Brother, while Emyra remained in the middle riding next to the archers who were on foot. She had argued for days with her father to let her go and had to prove to him that her skills with a bow were refined enough for a battle field. Emyra wore delicate armor, under her armor she wore robes of rich blue colors, and black leather pants, on her head she wore a thin gold circlet that was forged to look like vines. She rode her White mare but her usual saddle had been replaced with one crafted specially for battle.
It took days to reach Oropher's army, and that had been lucky, the Orc forces could be seen in the distance advancing without much coordination if any. Estalian, Rhydian and herself rode up to Oropher who was on his horse, Thranduil by his side.
Emyra's hands felt weak and her stomach twisted, not because she had never been apart of war, but because her best friend, someone she couldn't think of loosing was riding into war as well and losing him was a possibility. Deep in her dark thoughts a hand gently rested on her shoulder, Emyra jumped and her eyes snapped to the eyes that belonged to Thranduil. His had no emotions but his face looked noble and strong.
"You can stay back if you freeze up, use your bow, and avoid getting caught in the middle." Thranduil said it calmly but Emyra could hear the concern in his voice, she nodded looking him in the eyes before he turned his horse around and returned to his Fathers side. The first horn of war rung in her ears, and the elves marched forward.
Emyra kept her eyes on the four men who delivered the first blows, hundreds of arrows flying over their heads towards the Orc army. She strung a arrow onto her bow and aimed at an Orc but her hands shook, Emyra closed her eyes calming herself everyone she loved knew how to fight, they would be fine. Opening her eyes once again Emyra aimed and let go of the string the feathers brushing her cheek, the arrow flew hitting the orc she aimed for in the center of his head, making it drop dead.
Another set of arrows went flying over head and the sound of dying cries came from every direction along with sword against sword and sword against armor. Emyra looked up to see where her Father stood, he was fighting side by side with Rhydian, then a little more to the left stood Oropher.
Oropher tumbled, he had been grabbed by the ankle and was yanked over by a huge Orc that had managed to sneak up behind him, Emyra grabbed a arrow from her quiver and latched it onto her bow string, she let the arrow fly, but it simply bounced of the massive orcs thick skin. She saw Thranduil running towards his Father with all the speed he had, but even then he was too late, the Orc lifted his hammer and brought it down on Oropher. Thranduil reached his Father and Emyra had never seen the Prince so angry, he used so much of his force to slice the beats arms clean off making the Orc suffer, he then sliced its neck and the Orc fell.
"Thranduil!" Emyra called dismounting her horse running towards Thranduil who was kneeling beside his Father. Emyra knelt beside him and gasped at the horrifying scene in front of her, King Oropher was dead.
"Ada." Thranduil whispered. "ADA!" He then yelled making Emyra jump. Emyra did the only thing she could, she wrapped her arms around Thranduil holding him tightly as he sobbed into her shoulder, looking around she saw the fighting had ceased and only elves were left standing and were slowly gathering around the dead King as the sun was beginning to set.
Her father and brother broke into the circle but kept their faces neutral as they looked at the scene. Emyra looked at them, tears escaping her own eyes as she rested her head on Thranduil's murmuring soothing things in his ear to low for the others to hear. Estalian ordered Rhydian to find the injured with any men who were capable, he then picked up Oropher and wrapped his limp arm around his shoulder. Oropher's silver hair tangled, matted and stained with blood.
Emyra moved, standing up slowly doing her best to help Thranduil up as well, as soon as he was on his feet Thranduil looked at Emyra, let go of her, wiped his tears and walked over to Estalian to help carry the fallen King, a noble expression returned to his face.