Chapter I: Western Light
"Lord Glorfindel! Come quickly!"
Glorfindel quickly spurred Asfaloth forward to the head of the army of Imladris, rounding the last edge of the Mirrormere to where Elladan sat astride his own horse. "What have you seen, Elladan?" Instead of answering, the half-elf merely pointed.
To the southeast, the fair Naith of Lothlórien lay in ruin. Trees had been felled by the dozen, in a manner that Glorfindel recognised instantly as orc-work. Elladan looked at his commander worriedly. "Are we too late? Has my Grandmother fallen already?"
Closing his eyes, Glorfindel concentrated on the world of the Unseen, the realm where any who has seen the Light of Valinor shone like an unveiled star. After a moment, he smiled. "No, Elladan, fear not. The lady Galadriel lives still, and her people with her. Though the Naith is ruined, I sense that the Eldar still fight, gathered around Caras Galadhon to protect the mellyrn."
Elladan looked at him in a mixture of relief and shock. "Caras Galadhon is all they have saved? Cerin Amroth is lost?"
"I fear it is so," replied Glorfindel, and turned swiftly to survey his troops. Gathered from all those residing at the Last Homely House, they still numbered but a few hundreds. With luck and stealth, though, not to mention the combined powers of two Noldorin Exiles and a Ring of Power, they could still succeed.
Swiftly now he ordered his troops. Forth they rode with great speed, covering the twenty-five or so leagues to Caras Galadhon in a matter of hours. When they first heard the sounds of battle, he sent Elladan and Elrohir off with a wing each of cavalry, sweeping around to flank the enemy while Glorfindel struck straight at the heart of the orc-horde.
Forth swept the Elven troops, faster now than the wind itself. Glorfindel led the charge, crashing into the unsuspecting Orc army from behind. As they turned to counter him, Galadriel rallied her own desperate forces, now given new hope, and struck once more at the now-inattentive enemies pressed against the walls of Caras Galadhon.
Back and forth the battle raged, but slowly Glorfindel and Galadriel's armies were pushed back together to the bridge that led into the heart of Lothlórien. All hope seemed lost, but then Elladan and Elrohir struck simultaneously at the flanks of the enemy, cutting a wide swathe through the orc army and bringing down their commander within minutes.
The orcs fled, pursued by the cavalry of Imladris, save for a few who were quickly dispatched by Galadriel and the Galadhrim. Returning from the chase, Glorfindel met Galadriel at the Great Gates. Dismounting from Asfaloth, he bowed before her. "That was well fought, Lady Artanis."
Smiling at this use of her ages-old father-name, Galadriel nodded. "Yet still it would have been in vain were it not for your timely arrival. I thank you for that."
"Thank the Lord Elrond," replied Glorfindel, "for it was he who sent us."
"When next I see him, I will do just that," promised Galadriel. After a moment of silence, she asked, "Did my eyes deceive me, or were my grandsons leading that final attack?"
"Your sight has not yet failed you," said Glorfindel with a smile. "Elladan and Elrohir are accomplished in the ways of battle, much though we might wish it unnecessary. They are the best commanders in my force, a trait which," he added with a twinkle in his eye, "it seems they inherited from their grandmother."
Galadriel laughed, and the shadow of death left her face for a moment. Sadly, though, it returned soon after, when Celeborn strode over with a final death count. The numbers staggered Galadriel, who had for so long lived in peace.
"So many?" she whispered as Celeborn and Glorfindel moved to support her in her sudden weakness. "I have failed them..."
"Nay," replied Celeborn, "say not so. We have protected these people for over a thousand years. There has been no failure on your part, my wife." The silver-haired elf sighed, and shook his head. "Galadriel, we knew that our time here was coming to an end. The world is ready for the Dominion of Men, and we must pass West over the Sea. Those who fell here, we will meet again in a short time."
"Your husband speaks true," put in Glorfindel. "Lord Námo will not keep them long, for they were slain fighting for their friends and land, and moreover were not involved in the Rebellion. You will see them again soon."
"I hope that you are right," replied Galadriel, standing up straight again. Looking at her husband, she said, "You say the world is ready for the Dominion of Men, but I fear that, if we do not act, there will be no Men left." Turning to the south, she closed her eyes, and when she spoke, her voice was distant. "This was not an isolated event. Orcs have struck at all the lands of the Free Peoples. Rohan and Erebor may fall within days. One who we had trusted has betrayed us, and he gathers all the forces of Sauron to himself. He will strike next at Gondor, before the King can return to take up his throne." Her eyes snapped open, and the fire within them was that of Artanis Nerwen, warrior of the Noldor. "I will not allow Saruman to destroy this world I have worked so hard to preserve. Glorfindel, prepare your troops. We ride to Minas Tirith at dawn tomorrow."
It's back.
This is the sequel to my previous story, Darkness Falling, and you really need to have read that to make sense of it. Fortunately, it's on my profile.
To anyone who read the previous one, I'm sorry about the wait. At the moment I have six of the ten chapters in this story finished, and I really am stuck on chapter 7. I know what needs to happen, but I cannot think how I'm going to do it. Nevertheless, I'll post those chapters that do exist, to save anyone watching the wait.
Expect the next chapter in a few days.
Cloaked Eagle