Chapter 29

The long siege

After the first day, the attacks slowed down for a bit and took up again at night. The time of day the servants of the enemy were at their strongest. But little did it have to say for they learned quickly to fear our lines and the skill of our warriors with bow and blade. Most of our losses had happened on the first day, yet they all stung us.

Over the next weeks, probing attacks and sneaking attacks did happen, but they were easily repelled. Not just by our arrows, but also by sword and spear.

Tauriel and I stood in front of the line blocking the path to our home, cutting down the last of the enemies that had come for us in the first wave when a coldness struck our bones. We both knew what it could be and moved carefully towards each other and held our swords at the ready.

That was when we saw a dark figure move against us, some of our youngest warriors cried at their presence, but we did not move or falter one bit. That was when we heard the cold dead voice.

"Why do thee fight? The end will come and the dark lord will return when he recovers what is his. You are only prolonging the suffering of everyone"

I felt Tauriel's anger beside me and her distrust of him as she should. Seeing him stand there, shades of the man he once was at one point.

"This darkness he creates will not endure, one day a new light will come and it will shine clear when the West is at victory" I stated in the common tongue.

He did not move or change his demeanor at us, but looked at our warriors and some of them felt true fear in that moment.

"Why do thee give them hope when there is none? Your kin is faltering, The days of the Eldar are passing. The north will fall as the king of Arthedain did"

When he spoke a sword was thrown toward us landing on the ground before. It was the sword of the King of the Dunedain. Gasps came from behind us and I could feel anger in my kin. But I would not let it affect me now.

"May, he reach the halls of his fathers" I stated simply "He died fighting for his kin. There is no greater honor than that." Tauriel added.

It seemed he and his force were taken aback by our comments. We were not shocked or surprised by his death. I had already seen him fall in my visions and I knew hard times were to come, but we would not be the ones falling in the end.

"Do thee not see? This is the future, now, tomorrow… your kin have and your ally has failed, the one will return!" it felt like the shades of men grasped for straws to make us feel fear, but we would not let him.

"I have seen much, not just your failed attempts to make me feel fear. Nay we have not failed, even if mistakes have been made. You are the one that has failed. You failed your kin, your people are now in the shadow due to thy greed and acceptance of thy ring on thy finger. Do not lecture me of failing you king of witches. If you can even be called that. Ney you are but only the witch king and I do not fear thee. For I am the daughter of the high elves of the west and I will say this to thee, you will not stand at his side in victory, but fall alone and lost in the land of men. Before the fall of his great tower of Barad Dur and the time of men will come when none of us reside."

At this, Tauriel moved closer to me as she also saw him for what he was. A shade of his former self. Less than he ever could have been before he took a ring of power.

"All you once were are now lost, all that thee now live for is his will. You are naught but a shadow in the land of the living." She said determined and I smiled to myself at her confidence.

I took a step forward and slowly I started to run forward and I felt Tauriel did so too. He did not stand his ground and yielded more and more.

"You will NOT win this day or any other day over me or my kin" I cried as I charged him calling for the light of our people the stars and moon lighted up the decimated area we were in, and the fights and fires that had burnt down the woods there and now it was time for them to pay.

I did not notice at first, but Idril and Tauriel had called for a charge, and our company charged out behind me the lord of the nine barely got his chance to grab his sword before I was at him and Tauriel came up to aid me.

He cried out at us, blocked, and charged at us, just as we did with him. A volley of arrows came out from our archers and cut down several lines of theirs before our force smashed into their lines and cut down several of theirs even in the first smash-in.

It seemed to me that night that I had made him falter his conviction failing. Something changed in him as we attacked. His Black Numenorian fell around him and the orcs were scared, very scared. Their cries were not of orcs on the hunt, but of those who wanted to flee. Only their fear of him kept them from fleeing us and our rage.

That was when the battle became more chaotic. More of the enemy rushed forward and blocked those fleeing. Cries came out of elf, man, troll, and orc. Cries of shadow came up from behind the enemy and slowly they pushed us back again. The power of the others gave our black enemy more courage and he pushed forward. Tauriel was not helping me fight him anymore as his servants tried to get at me from all sides and she killed them as I fought him. His black sword came at me harder and harder until I saw a black Morgul knife in his other hand and I dodged it. But it did not turn him off his new tactic. Arrows flew from both sides. Losses started to come on both sides, but we lost few compared to them. A dark feeling came to my heart as one after one dark figure came at me from behind the black captain. One I had seen in my dreams, was Morogmir. The other I had only heard of Rhogash a tall troll of the north with a huge blade in his hand.

We started to get pushed back further at their arrival. Had we been tricked by them? Was this their test of our strength? Ney I knew not. But now was not the time for my dreams to come true, nay nightmares. The dark captain let his lieutenants take over the fight and before we could do anything about it I flew backwards by a blow from the troll. My body felt broken… But not as bad as the abuse I once had lived.

Cheers came from the black force and our lines separated for a moment. Both sides watched their leaders duel and Tauriel came over to me.

"My love! Are you well? I will get aid and get you out from the line" she cried out and felt me over to see if I were indeed injured.

I looked at her and saw her beautiful face as I reached for her arm. "help me up, please my love" I said lowly and reached for my sword on the ground.

The taunting laughter of the black captain pierced the air and a chill wind came from the north.

"I killed thy king of men. Now I will kill thy daughter of elven lord!" he spoke and laughed at the same time.

Rhogash the troll came forth with his large sword, his eyes looked at Tauriel… My mind went straight to the image I had seen not long ago as I slept. Ney, it would not come to pass. For a creature so large he was quick. The moment I was back on my feet he was close to us and I pulled her arm hard the moment he raised his sword and I stepped between him and her. Raising my sword and the sheer force of his strike forced me down on my knee. Holding my sword with both hands I held it.

The orcs, men, and the black captain himself stopped laughing and cheering on as I slowly started to rise back up. Still holding contact with Rhogash blade. Chanting words of strength, I had learned long ago in the fallen city of Gondolin.

I quickly moved aside and his blade hit the ground hard and my strike came quickly cutting the trolls arm, leg and stomach. His armor was a little match of my elven blade and the troll cried out hard in pain as it dug deep in him. Cheering came from our lines, pain cries came from the warrior troll and it came for me again. I stepped from it and the troll's anger was all it had left to come for me. Yet more I struck it before my last slash came. Precise to its throat sliding it open as it fell before me. Pain shot through my body. The first strike hit me hard and I had taken much of my force to take out the troll.

Yet the battle was not over and I looked up with my head still bowed as I cried out harshly.

"Shields up. Hold the line and ready arrows!"

Both my wife and our captain repeated the words.

A harsh screech came and the black force attacked us without care. They threw themselves at us like nothing before. The chill in our bones got weaker and weaker. It could only mean he had fled from us. Orcs trying to jump over our front line were cut down by our archers so they would not be able to attack our warriors from the back. After a while, we had managed to push them back some and they were faltering more and more.

"Release arrows" I cried harshly as the new attack came at us.

Tauriel and Idril did not move away from me as much of my strength had been used fighting the black captain and the troll. Such a brute he was, but it took much effort and skill to fight them. Even if the troll was brave and came for me, his skill though great compared to men, was nothing against one of the Eldar and I was happy that fight had ended quickly. The black captain on the other hand had truly got under my skin and I knew I would not be able to defeat him as such… but a day would come for his end and I hoped I'd be able to be there.

Slowly we pushed them back yet again, taking them down one by one, cries of death and sorrow came over us, but we did not yield. Death and glory were now over us as a black Numenorian got lucky and I lost my sword. Quickly I drew my knives and blocked his next attack before he had a chance to strike at me properly. With my other hand, I forced the knife through his armor and I twisted it. Truly making him feel it. He then fell to the ground dead with morning arriving to us. The last of their force was easily killed with their twisted souls not able to stand the light.

I looked around and I saw elves dead along the orcs, men, and trolls. Little could be done now but to aid the injured and I made sure to see if Tauriel was safe and she was. Having picked up my sword and handed it to me she made sure to reach for a kiss before resting her forehead on mine.

"I was sure I would lose you, my love" she let out so only I could hear. "firstly with the black captain and then the troll. How did you block such a mighty blow?" Her arms were around me holding me firm.

For some time, I said nothing. Just holding her was enough for me and I loved it.

"I had to fight them to keep you safe and your love made me able to do what I did" I whispered to her before I stole another kiss from her.

It was clear on her face she did not believe me, but it would have to do for now. I knew her warrior spirit would hate for me to be overprotective of her, yet I could not help myself in being so.

We then looked around us and saw several elves hurt on the ground amongst the dead orcs and men. We gave each other a quick look and moved over to aid each of them while several of the warriors kept guard and ended the misery of wounded enemies.

We saw every wound from shallow cuts to bodies ruined by swords arrows and spears. Some were even poisoned and those I took care of as Tauriel aided the ones who were mainly injured, yet not also sicken by wile remedies of the north.

"Hathron," I said as I saw a warrior I knew on the ground. He could barely move yet tried to when he saw me.

"My lady…" he responded with great effort and tried to grab my hand.

His armor had been pierced and his wounds deep. By his state it must have happened a bit ago.

"Let me see your wounds" I said askingly and I tried to lift the clock of him that he had pulled around himself.

"Nay please don't, my lady" he reacted quickly and looked at me with his weakening body and spirit.

"Why would I not? You are my kin I must aid you" I said sternly back to the wounded elf.

"Our world will fall, the darkness in the north and south cannot be held back. Our city will fall and it will all be for nothing…." He said with a sad look on his face, clearly mustering what strength he could.

"How can you say so? Yes, the darkness is around us, but a new day will come and we will defeat it and sail west when our time has come" I responded as i lifted his cloak while holding his hand firm. Then I saw the devastation of the damage. The fact he had held this long spoke to his spirit and I knew I could do little for him… despite the extensive lessons from ada.

"You still think so my lady?" he said saddened and his strength quickly leaving him.

"I do… Hathron I have seen it in my foresight. I have seen the fall of the evil to the north and the evil to the south. I know we will win despite the feel of despair we all feel…" as I spoke I saw his face pale more and more and his grip on my hand and arm loosened.

"Hathron… HATHRON!" I cried out. But he was gone. Everyone around me stopped their work momentarily as they heard the pain in my voice. The anger I felt in that moment of losing yet another elf before me hurt me deeply. Yet he was not the last.

Two elves came over with a stretcher to carry him off the battlefield and I got up and moved on. Tears in my eyes as I got to work on several elves less wounded and some as Hathron. Hurt beyond our aid. I was only happy Tauriel had not heard my anger at that moment as she had aided a very wounded elf and had gone back to the camp with the carriers as she tended the wounded elf.

Idril had her eyes on me and I felt like she wanted to come over to me yet did not. My anger at the losses we had still boiled my blood. Slowly the wounded were transported off the field and back towards the path and then I saw Tiriunel sitting on the ground looking to the north. Her leg was bandaged with ripped parts of her cloak and I walked over to her kneeling beside her.

"May I see your wound Tiriunel?" I asked and she turned her head slowly.

"Lady Elwen… it is not deep I just… needed a break… I can get back by myself…" she said as if she needed to excuse herself.

"Let me see" I said and carefully moved the ripped cloak away and saw a nasty gash on her leg.

"It is deep, but not poisoned, I can see to it when we return to camp, let me find a stretcher for you…" I said and was about to rise up when she grabbed me.

"They have all worked so hard today my lady. Let me walk back. They deserve rest" she said more concerned for others than herself. "Please help me up and I can make it" she asked and I nodded as I reached for her arm and pulled her up.

"You are strong-willed, as a warrior of old," I said and smiled at her. To only get her blushes in return. Yet a few steps and she started to struggle.

"You are injured and this won't do…" as I looked for Idril and I could her Tiriunel about to speak I saw her.

"Idril come and help me, this warrior is hurt" and as I spoke she came over quickly and lent herself as support to Tiriunel's other side and we both supported her back towards our lines in the mountain path.

"My lady, our healers have retrieved all our wounded and dead… what do you want us to do about the fallen enemies" Idril asked as we helped Tiriunel back.

"order them piled along the front where the battle was the hardest. Let their dead remind the enemy of what will happen to them if they march forth once more. Set all our archers on the tops of the cliffs so they can cut down anyone that walks past the fallen of the enemy." I said with hate in my heart.

"Yes my lady," my captain said as she looked forward.

"Idril. Kill them all" I said to which I only got a nod back. She didn't show it as much as I did, but I knew she also felt the losses we had since the siege started.

The rest of the day was spent in the healer's tent. I saw Tauriel, Idril, and the elves of my company rush back and forth as I did to aid the healers and treat the wounded. Some had been sent back to Imladris and Ada for treatment, yet the less wounded and those too injured to transport we took care of.

We had little to no time to eat or drink, but it was not even in our thoughts. Just aiding those injured was and we did aid them to the best of our ability. Few died after we got them back to camp, but each was a blow like no other.

Idril had given the order of no mercy as I had commanded. Not that any elf would give them such. Except for the men of the enemy. But soon a messenger from the archers arrived and he found Tauriel first that came to me.

"My love, men of the north pushed forward passed their dead and our archers reported they are now all dead as commanded." She said with little emotion.

"Good," I said as I looked at her all dressed for battle and a mix of black and red blood all over her armor.

"They deserved it for all our loss," she said and reached for me, hugging me as we stood there before wounded elves and healers who finally were able to rest.

"We must inflict fear into them, their reckless pushes still call for us to meet them in battle. If our archers can hold them at bay, we will not fight them close if we can prevent it" I whispered.

To this, she only nodded as she kept hugging me.

And so the weeks and months and years passed in Imladris. Fighting between us and the enemy got less and less for his forces started to fear Imladris and what were at its borders. That is until the time comes for our liberation from our enemy.

Nana had several times over the years sent messages to us to come home even for just a short break. But nay we had not, the fear of the black captain assaulting our elves as we rested was not acceptable to us so we stayed. Ada had come a few times to talk strategy and give us news from Lothlorien and the woodland realm. Both mustering forces to aid us and we were ready to welcome them.

Plans were done and redone several times as we expected the elves from Lorien and the woodland realm to arrive. Both forces had set out in early spring and were expected to arrive from the north and south era mid-June. Yet when the day came only a force out of Lorien arrived. As Tauriel and I were on the northern border as we had been since the siege started we were the last to get aid.

We all waited and my wife got more and more concerned.

"Why are they not here? Their horns should have blown at morning rise. It is mid-day and we have not yet seen any sign of the king." She said standing by me worry in her voice.

"It is strange my love. Faint as it was we did hear the horns of Lorien in the south. They should have scattered the forces there by now and hopefully, they will come and aid us" I said looking at her. Her face only looked north.

We could see the forces of the enemy getting worried as If they knew what was going on or at least got suspicious.

"We cannot wait any longer or they might flee. Less of their evil kind that is allowed to leave the better" I said and turned towards Idril when I felt Tauriel's hand on my arm.

"What if something has happened? What if they are not coming?" she said with a worry in her eyes.

"Then we will go find them and see what happened," I said and gave her a quick kiss. "But first we need to clear the way" She nodded and gave me a great full smile. We both walked back to our line seeing veterans of many years of war. Many of them had even fought in the last alliance and yet they were willing to take up the sword again.

"Elves," I said loud and looked over them yet again.

"Yet again we stand at the field of battle, but this time we will be the ones pushing forward. No more defending our home only. Now it's time to take back our land and push the scourge of Angmar back to their cold pits in the north. This day we FIGHT. This day they DIE. Let the armies of Angmar know this. Never again will the land of the Noldorin fall to the hands of the witch king. Let them fear our blades and arrows. Let them fear our cries of war. There are no finer elves in Middle Earth I could fight with. Celair. You marched with my ada to Mordor and here again, you stand with your blade. You do me honor for doing so. Idril. My captain and friend. Years have gone by and still you follow me. I can say little but to be humbled by your faith in me. Tiriunel. I am honored to have you at my side. All of you I am honored to have you at my side. Tauriel, my wife. My love. Your fiercely in battle ever makes me proud to be your mate. From our first skirmish at the peak by the trollshaws and all up to today. You are my better half, and I would follow you into battle even to death. I would follow all of you into battle and death."

That was when we heard the forces of the enemy cry out and slowly started to advance I drew my sword as did Tauriel and Idril along with everyone else. I reached for my wife and kissed her.

"Today NO ELF DIES" I let out at the end of my speech

"Shield wall. Spears forward. Archers ready" Idril cried out as we stood in the front lines. Ready for whatever is to come.

The enemy crashed into our shields and pushed us back at the sheer weight of their force, but it did not take long for us to stop them and push back. Their forces were scared and worried. The grey shades of the witch king's sorcery started to dissipate and light started to come through.

The battle was hard and desperate on the side of the enemy. They cared not for any losses they had and our shield wall had firm. Our Archers fired so many arrows it would be hard for them to even reach us at one point. Trolls and orcs fell by the number and the sheer number of them throwing themselves into us was more worrisome than their skill with a blade. Thankfully the sun broke through more and more and the cries of pain shot out from the orcs. The trolls started to falter and move back and then we saw the banner of Lorien from the west and north. The Galadhrim had come to our aid and the battle was quickly turned and over for the enemy as they were slaughtered to the last. Elves all around us celebrated our victory and the end of the siege. That was when Tauriel grabbed my arm and we rushed off towards the Galadhrim and we asked all of them for their commander. I knew what she was thinking and soon we were pointed to the one leading them.

"Our thanks for your aid warrior of the golden wood," Tauriel said and the elf turned towards us I had seen him before long ago in a dream or when grandmother had visited us.

"Haldir," I said stunned and he bowed to us and smiled.

"My lady Elwen and Lady Tauriel. It is my greatest honor to come to your aid." He stated, "The lady Galadriel and Lord Celeborn send their best wishes."

We both returned the bow and elfish greeting before my wife could hold herself no longer.

"Haldir, have you any word of King Thranduil and his forces?"

"Please Haldir, tell us you know something," I added quickly

"Nay my ladies. I was sent north by Lord Glorfindel. I know nothing of the elven king"

Our hearts sank and we all looked towards the high pass.