p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Sirya had the soldiers make camp, but to not settle, in a clearing encircled by stone, with the exception of two small entrances 4 elves wide. Trees and vines broke the view, making the clearing appear larger than it was. The trees within were dead, the darkness enough to suck the life from /They set up tents and bedrolls, left papers of no value, and enough to appear to be an encampment. They started a fire in the center at twilight to lure /Sirya sent scouts to Dol Guldur, and archers scattered within the trees. The rest of his men were split in half. One half was to cover their faces in mud, lying hidden by the earth on the ridge. The other half were soaked in the river with hair tied tight against their heads. Their shields were those of the guard, nose to floor in /Once everyone was in place Sirya stood in the clearing before his battalion, warpaint of mud upon his /"This shall be the end of this nonsense." He shouted. "Today we end this, we end their reign of terror on our people. We all know the plan, and the contingency plan. Keep your mind clear, and focus your fear, and rage on keeping to the plan. If we work together, this ends today, and we all go home free of this burden."br /They cheered, and a scout dashed in to warn of the orcs' /Amrahil was to stay with Sirya, lying with the archers on the ridge. He could hear the snap of a branch, an archer in the tree in the forest. His men were set, now it was just for the plan. It wasn't what they were used to, and they would have to go against their instincts and training to stick to /The oncoming orcs were heading for the "encampment", archers in the forest shepherding them into the clearing through the larger entrance. The scout marked the end of the group with a hand signal, and the soaked warriors closed the two exits with their phalanx of /The orcs lit the tents and stormed the encampment, nothing but empty beds full of dry leaves to greet them. The dry leaves spread fire about the ground quickly, igniting and making the clearing too hot to /Archers shot the trees with flames as well, lighting the kerosene that was spread in patterns on the ground to keep the orcs away from the elves at either /The elves holding the phalanx wore gloves and were soaked through, but the heat was unbearable, the three rows of elves switching at intervals to ensure no one got burned or faint from the /The number of stragglers and the remaining orcs in Dol Guldur were estimated to be low enough for the battalion of galadhrim in the forest, now marching toward Dol Guldur to take it. They had close to a thousand orcs burning in the clearing, archers picking those off that went near the phalanx or tried to climb the wall. Sirya was getting a play by play from Amrahil, the heat on his face enough to make him turn /He could hear the distant clash of swords at Dol Guldur, and Amrahil signaled to the scout, who signaled to the next, that an update was requested. The scout before Dol Guldur informed them the estimate was accurate and reinforcements were not anticipated. The scouts had already swept for traps, and the battalion closed /After a few more moments of screaming orcs and the crackle of fire, all grew /"It doesn't appear any live in the clearing." Amrahil informed /"Turn the phalanx to regular guard duty and set a perimeter. Expand the archers further into the forest for any stragglers." He adjusted, standing. "We finish this today."br /-/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Thranduil arrived at Imladris with six guards. The orcs were fleeing and trying to set roots down in villages, so he brought back up in the event they rode through a part of the forest in need of reinforcements, but Siryas rotation had the entire Kingdom under lock and key with fewer soldiers. Thranduil couldn't pretend he wasn't impressed at his grandson's analytical /He was brought to his room and servants unpacked for him while he went to visit Elrond. He saw evidence of the galadhrim, as well as guard from Erebor, Dale, Ered Luin, and a few /Rohan and Gondor were still in a state of survival, and he didn't expect anyone from either land, however, he saw a few. Faramir, Eowen, and /As he arrived, a servant opened Elrond's door for /"King Thranduil." Elrond greeted, rising from his seat by the /"Lord Elrond." He greeted and took his /"Legolas lives."br /Thranduil put his hand over his chest, falling into the chair, his eyes shut. He wanted to snap Elrond's neck for asking him to go, but this would defer that /"He's on his way with Aragorn and Gimli."br /"Gimli son of Gloin?"br /He nodded. "They've become quite close."br /Thranduil rolled his eyes. "How do they fare?"br /"From what I was told they are uninjured, but weak and sickly. They all spent time at the healers in Gondor before leaving, and will likely visit here as well for a time."br /Thranduil nodded. His heart was still pounding out of his /Elrond put up his hand, and a servant handed him a /"This arrived just before you."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Thranduil took the letter, pulling it open. Blood was pounding in his ears. He wasn't sure how much news he could take. It was a battle report./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Dol Guldur: secured. Southern pass: secured. Forest clearing: secured western pass: secured. More than three thousand orcs dead. Eighteen elven casualties. None sustained in officers."br /Thranduil pinched the bridge of his nose, handing it to Elrond. He read it, brows /"Who was the general of the mission?"br /"Sirya."br /Elrond's eyes widened. "He is terribly young for such a campaign. How proud you must be."br /He nodded. "He has proven dangerously intelligent on strategic planning. His ability to save troops is beyond my comprehension."br /Elrond shook his head. "remarkable."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"There was a knock, and Aragorn swept in. Thranduil stood, expecting legolas behind him. Elrond smiled, taking Elrond's face. "My King."br /Aragorn beamed with pride, meeting Thranduil's eyes. He turned back toward the door and Legolas swept in. He was thin, and his face was marred with what he had seen, but he was /"Adar."br /He embraced his father, and Thranduil crushed him against him, his hand in his hair. He felt the same, he smelled the /"My boy." He whispered, Elrond and Aragorn leaving /"I'm so relieved you are alright."br /Thranduil laughed, tears in his eyes. "I'm relieved you are alright, ion nin."br /"Where is Sirya? Baineth? Emarth? Amrahil?" He added, hoping for someone to be /"Sirya and Amrahil are all that stand, Mellon nin." He said /"Where?"br /"Dol Guldur. Your son just took it." He smiled /Legolas stared, his expression warring with many thoughts, /"Baineth?"br /"She went out to save some children that were stranded after a battle. She didn't return. We've searched daily since-"br /"When-"br /"The better part of six months." He said gently. "I'm sorry."br /He had tears fall onto his cheeks. "Emarth-"br /"He fell fleeing a battle with Sirya."br /"Sirya-" he said /"Sirya is the finest strategist I've seen since Maedhros, and he tormented Baineth and I until we allowed him to go with Emarth."br /Legolas swallowed. "My son?"br /"Your son liberated Mirkwood and saved thousands."br /He but back a sob, and Thranduil held /"Baineth- Emarth-"br /"They are in the undying lands, and will wait for you."br /Legolas looked at his father, searching it for malice, /"I know you have wanted to sail," he said /"But you will not."br /Thranduil shook his head. "I will not."br /Legolas wiped his face. "I will not, not while Aragorn and Gimli live."br /He nodded. "We have time to discuss such things. For now let's rest, my boy, and be grateful."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Thranduil arrived at Imladris with six guards. The orcs were fleeing and trying to set roots down in villages, so he brought back up in the event they rode through a part of the forest in need of reinforcements, but Siryas rotation had the entire Kingdom under lock and key with fewer soldiers. Thranduil couldn't pretend he wasn't impressed at his grandson's analytical /He was brought to his room and servants unpacked for him while he went to visit Elrond. He saw evidence of the galadhrim, as well as guard from Erebor, Dale, Ered Luin, and a few /Rohan and Gondor were still in a state of survival, and he didn't expect anyone from either land, however, he saw a few. Faramir, Eowen, and /As he arrived, a servant opened Elrond's door for /"King Thranduil." Elrond greeted, rising from his seat by the /"Lord Elrond." He greeted and took his /"Legolas lives."br /Thranduil put his hand over his chest, falling into the chair, his eyes shut. He wanted to snap Elrond's neck for asking him to go, but this would defer that /"He's on his way with Aragorn and Gimli."br /"Gimli son of Gloin?"br /He nodded. "They've become quite close."br /Thranduil rolled his eyes. "How do they fare?"br /"From what I was told they are uninjured, but weak and sickly. They all spent time at the healers in Gondor before leaving, and will likely visit here as well for a time."br /Thranduil nodded. His heart was still pounding out of his /Elrond put up his hand, and a servant handed him a /"This arrived just before you."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Thranduil took the letter, pulling it open. Blood was pounding in his ears. He wasn't sure how much news he could take. It was a battle report./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Dol Guldur: secured. Southern pass: secured. Forest clearing: secured western pass: secured. More than three thousand orcs dead. Eighteen elven casualties. None sustained in officers."br /Thranduil pinched the bridge of his nose, handing it to Elrond. He read it, brows /"Who was the general of the mission?"br /"Sirya."br /Elrond's eyes widened. "He is terribly young for such a campaign. How proud you must be."br /He nodded. "He has proven dangerously intelligent on strategic planning. His ability to save troops is beyond my comprehension."br /Elrond shook his head. "remarkable."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"There was a knock, and Aragorn swept in. Thranduil stood, expecting legolas behind him. Elrond smiled, taking Elrond's face. "My King."br /Aragorn beamed with pride, meeting Thranduil's eyes. He turned back toward the door and Legolas swept in. He was thin, and his face was marred with what he had seen, but he was /"Adar."br /He embraced his father, and Thranduil crushed him against him, his hand in his hair. He felt the same, he smelled the /"My boy." He whispered, Elrond and Aragorn leaving /"I'm so relieved you are alright."br /Thranduil laughed, tears in his eyes. "I'm relieved you are alright, ion nin."br /"Where is Sirya? Baineth? Emarth? Amrahil?" He added, hoping for someone to be /"Sirya and Amrahil are all that stand, Mellon nin." He said /"Where?"br /"Dol Guldur. Your son just took it." He smiled /Legolas stared, his expression warring with many thoughts, /"Baineth?"br /"She went out to save some children that were stranded after a battle. She didn't return. We've searched daily since-"br /"When-"br /"The better part of six months." He said gently. "I'm sorry."br /He had tears fall onto his cheeks. "Emarth-"br /"He fell fleeing a battle with Sirya."br /"Sirya-" he said /"Sirya is the finest strategist I've seen since Maedhros, and he tormented Baineth and I until we allowed him to go with Emarth."br /Legolas swallowed. "My son?"br /"Your son liberated Mirkwood and saved thousands."br /He but back a sob, and Thranduil held /"Baineth- Emarth-"br /"They are in the undying lands, and will wait for you."br /Legolas looked at his father, searching it for malice, /"I know you have wanted to sail," he said /"But you will not."br /Thranduil shook his head. "I will not."br /Legolas wiped his face. "I will not, not while Aragorn and Gimli live."br /He nodded. "We have time to discuss such things. For now let's rest, my boy, and be grateful."/p