Chapter -2

Panic swept across the city.The hearts of the people sunk.What a tragedy to happen during a celebration!!The dragons continued their fire and the city burnt.Many people died.Almost half the army was gone.Wiped out on a single assault.Walls crumbled down.The prince fought on but to what avail.Nothing seemed to hamper the enemy.He killed and killed.His sword blazed and drank the blood of many.In his front lay people dead some of whom he had known since his childhoom,whom he had grown affectionate too.He looked at the gates.The rams crushed the gates aside and the enemy came through the ruins and started slaughtering.Azrud came there and started killing whomsoever came thru the gates.Suddenly he heard a cry from above.As he looked that same great evil came flying and dropped a body from above.It fell just in front of his horse.The prince climbed down.He went near.As he drew near he looked upon the face of whom he dearly loved.It was his father.He cried and cursed the enemy.All hope left him.He knew the end was near.He put his father on his back and started riding towards the city.He knew there was an opening on the outer walls to the south.He will escape from there.He will bury his father and then return.He will fight his enemy to the death.The enemy saw him and came after him.He would ve been killed and murdered if it had not been for his brave cavaliers.They gave him cover.The prince moved quickly.He reached the small gates and opened it and went by.He was outside the city.The only part which had not been covered by the enemy.He took speed under the cover of the ghastly night.He reached a summit where he could behold the city.He looked back.The city was burning.Dragons breatherd fire.
He knew there was no return.

The prince did not know where to take path. He had no idea where he was going..He was nearing the mountains in the southern marches of his kingdom some leagues away from the city. The night gave way. The light was upon him. The strength of the prince faded but still was determined enough to bury his father. No grass grew there only barren lands and the mountains were snowy.He led his horse to a small hillock he could see near the mountains. That would be a perfect place for the burial. The horse galloped towards the mountain. Speed took them. Within an hour he reached the summit of the hillock. He found a patch of green grass there. He dug and dug and dug. He kept digging the ground until he found a small scroll.

The scroll said...
" the first amulet holder who gets killed by the dark lord will return by the power of light on the 5th of November ! Look for the amulet beneath the holders hand"

The prince wondered what ths scroll meant. He kept it with him and made a burial of his father. There he wept. For hours he wept. Then he noticed a strange thing. There was a sign glowing on his fathers hand that were similar to the runes of the scroll.

Then light fell upon the great king. The dug pit covered and then the light was gone and night covered again refreshing old memories in the prince's mind.

Strange visions came to the prince....his sailing across the river in this west...a great city in the midst of the river...two huge statues with their hands showing north...a great seven walled white city delved in the mountains and the mountains so white....his riding west and the golden hall and a great tower...and then to the sea and then he sees sumtin which he doesnt understand ....as these visions flood his minds..sleep overcomes him..

Morning dawned....He woke up facing the sun....He was looking to the east n far away he could see a smoke rising....He took out the scroll in the daylight and pondered what it meant.....in that scroll what was written was already read....the first amulet...the prince wondered what magic it was that closed his father 's body and what amulet?......he walked around a little bit wondering till he found a small spring arising from the mountains...he drank and refreshed his strength...Vigour returned to him. He thought about his fair city and vowed revenge upon the dark lord and prayed to the gods not to let him die till he fulfills his vow..

He walks back to where his father was buried and saddles his horse.he sits on the horse...At that tym he finds something...a golden work in the mud half buried..just near the spot of burial. he alights from his horse.he finds it...

A golden amulet was in his hands

The golden amulet the prince wondered..."then what the scroll said is true. this amulet is found by my father. Does it mean that my father would return..I think not but circumstances give me hope."
He looked at the amulet.it was like gemmed crown...it was like a crown a king is fit to wear.The amulet was of gold it was eccentrically carved by makers of old it seemed. The pinnacle in the center was a point and there was the emblem. The emblem was a tree. a white tree..The prince did not know what it symbolized and how it came there. He turned the amulet upside down. There was another scroll. He opened it. The writings were that of his father.
The scroll read:

" My Dearest son, i have longed much to say to you your heritage, your destiny. You are the son of the greatest people who ruled this world from many ages. All i said to you when you used to ask me about history, all i would tell you that from ages we have settled in our fair city of Valerna. It is time now. Should evil return or should i be nearing death, the truth will be revealed to you. Yes. Evil has to return. It said so once upon a time. The same evil that we drove years ago will return. Should it return it will exact its revenge upon me. For it was I that broke his powers when i was young. Should the hand of the shadow grow longer And should you find this amulet, You will know your destiny, your history. Yes i have written all i could against my heart but still i feel it is my duty to tell you who you are, who you maybe in the future. I have gathered my strength ere i write it.
You are the son of the greatest of all people descended from the elves when they were not estranged from men. That was a long age ago. The world of Numenor From there you are however now distantly related. This much you should know. Should you resist the evil that comes, should you be in danger and nothing to help you seek it in the west,in the citadel of the white tree."

Shocked and surprised as he was, He had to look for help and that could mean to look for the citadel of the white tree. Then he remembered his dreams. He remembered the white city. "That maybe it" thought the prince. The prince sat back on the horse and at one look at his father he spurred his horse towards the west. He rode down the hillock as fast he could and the horse would carry. Soon he came to a green pasture. He spurred his horse to a halt. and got down for a fresh breathe of the air. The air seemed cold but nonetheless it bought strength to him. He sat down n he thought about the evil that beset his world. He thought about the dragons. "They were destroyed long ago. That was what my teacher told me. None had survived since a dragon named Smaug was killed by the dwarves. Others were killed soon after sauron the dark lord was driven from his tower and since then he never returned. Then how come the dragons came to the battle. How come?" Thought He the valiant one. He could fathom only one thing. That atleast three or more had escaped the slaughter. They had fled from the king many spoke about or from the elves and dwarves when they ravaged the great fortress of Evil And the evil lord must have found them and tamed them and used them for his own cruel purposes. Dragons. A great mystery surrounded them. His master had taught him much and he had read much. He tried to recall what they were. In that fair country, even at that houir he could think such thoughts.

Dragons. The great flyers of the air. Majestic and royal looking. They have many colours. Some black, Some white, Some brown, Some Red. Dragons..They had their own dreams. To steal and gather wealth. From whomsoever they could. Whether elf,dwarf or man. Dragons were first found in the north, in the far north in the first age of the world. They were reared by Morgoth the first dark lord of the world. a Valar who had turned evil. The first dragon was Glaurung. He had wreathed much havoc in the days when elves and men together waged endless war upon morgoth for he stole some gems from the land of the gods. There Feanor the Elf came in pursuit of him and and with him came the whole dominions of elves. They waged six great wars upon Morgoth. Of which three they won. then began the siege of Angband the great fortress of morgoth. During the siege, Morgoth reared his secret weapons, the dragons. He found them in the crags of the north and there they had been since the morning of the world. The biggest of them all was named Glaurung. Glaurung was the one who carried himself out in his young age and wreathed havoc upon the fields of the elves. But he was young and his weak armor was pierced and he had to retreat to the dark fortress. Then years later the siege was broken. Then began the battle of Dagor Bragollach. Elves and Men stood against the evil with the aid of the dwarves. But evil swept them and the elf king was gone and the defences were ruthlessly crushed. Evil creatures people called the orcs ravaged the lands and the elves either fled or were killed. All the elven fortresses were sealed and hidden.But slowly the elves began driving the evil away from their lands but the peace of old could never again be secured. Some years later Glaurung was revealed. That was at the Battle of The Unnumbered Tears the elves called it Nirnaeth Arnoediad. That was the time after the fourth battle when the elves and men took counsel and deemed that they were strong, they set forth to attack angband. but they were defeated largely due to treachery. The seeds of evil were thrown. Their armies were crushed. Glaurung was upon them and the darkness crept. In that huge darkness morgoth bred many dragons. In years that came Glaurung was slain by a man who was an Elf-Friend. Years later when elves called upon the aid of the gods, The gods withdrew their curse for that they had laid upon the elves that they could never return until what the sought was fulfilled. But the time had come when a man came forth n asked for aid and such a speech he wrought, That gods took kind and sent a host to this world. The fortress of Angband was broken. Elves and men fought against the orcs and evil men. Many dragons came to battle that day. But all slain and dead, either at the hands of men or elves or eagles which were sent by the gods. Morgoth was captured and thrown into the deep void without the world. From there he came no more. But his servant fled into the far east.Then lands were broken and waters were changed. The remaining dragons made their way into the east to the withered heath they dwelt there for ages. They looted all who came in their path and became wild and savage.
Later when the servant of Morgoth returned to the west, he found the elves prospering and men gone into the west and built the kingdom of numenor, he put a fair disguise. He sought to help them. With the aid of his knowledge, they wrought three rings of power. This they gave to the elf lords. Then they wrought seven, This they gave to the dwarves. Sauron then decieved all and in the forges of Mount Doom he forged the master ring, The ring of power which guaranteed him power over all rings. He forged nine which he gave to nine lords of men and they were his servants, nazgul they were called. Ringwraiths they were terrible and deadly. Then there was battle. Elves suffered but they had aid from the elves who still remained in the western parts. One elven force held a fortress of rivendell. Another held out at lindon.

Lindon was held due to the aid of the numenorean forces. Then came a host of men from the West. Kings of Men. Sauron's army was routed and driven and there was victory at last. In that time the dragons did not heed sauron's call. and slept with their wealth in their great halls. Sauron withdrew and built his fortress of mordor and the great tower of barad-dur. From there his dark power began spreading eastward. Years later A numenorean force came and laid siege to Umbar and took sauron for prisoner. They took him to numenor. The numenor. Sauron soon corrupted their king and urged him to wage war upon the gods and the elves. He assented. The faithful fled and came back to this world and found the realms of Arnor in the North and Gondor in the South. Cities they built tall and huge and prospered for a little while. The armies of Numenor were doomed. The island broke Storm came. Sauron lost his body form and his spirit fled back to this earth. There he resumed a dark form. He assaulted the realms of the men. A city he captured and a great king fled from him. He it was that assembled a great host of elves and men. The Last Alliance. it was. Battle took place. Sauron was overthrown. The tower of barad dur was demolished. And A King took from sauron his one ring. The ring was supposed to be destroyed but it was not to happen. He took the ring for himself . Soon the ring vanished out of all knowledge since the king died. Meanwhile in the north, Skirmishes raged on between elves,dwarves and dragons. Main source of this was wealth. Many dragons were killed but soon smaug the last golden dragon attacked the dwarven fortress.the dwarves fled.smaug remained ther for many years. The shdow of sauron stretched out again over this world. Darkk things began to come back. Huge battles were fought. The ring was found. Then smaug wass killed in a mission of the dwarves . Later the ring was destroyed and sauron fell and returned to the void. The kingdoms of men were restored and new king came back. Orcs, goblins and dragons were slain. But three there were that escaped and flew to the far eastern lands.They slept for ages until one evil man came them and tamed them through his wild arts. And with him They waged war upon Valerna.But of the three the prince did not know.

The prince was Thinking thus. Suddenly some sounds awoke nearby and by the time he could saddle his horse again, Arrows were pointed at him.
"Stay still or our bows will sing" cried a man from behind. The prince stood still and wondered what this new danger was. "I do not wish to treat with brigands. Let me go and you will stay safe."
"Brigands! We are not brigands. We are the wild rangers and this is our land. Who art thou that ride so carelessly here sitting on our grass and trodding here and there on our lands. We have followed you from leagues but we did not intercept you for we thought you will stay awhile here. Who art thou?"

"I am the prince of Valerna, Azrud son of Althrun. My city has fallen into the hands of the enemy. I look for help and rest in these wild lands. For now i am going west."

Surpise emanated from the men around. A man stepped out from the trees and walked towards the prince.
"I am Hawkeye, the leader of the rangers. This land is called Hildorien. And is ours since ages. We were friends of your ancestors who had their fortress just a few leagues north of this place. Yesterday news reached us of the doom of Valerna and we suspected that some might come here escaping the evil that comes nigh. It was only you who escaped the ruins?"

"Yes. It is only me. I took my father also but he lies now dead and is buried on a small hillock east of here."

"Ah The small hillock east of here.. That was where the light shone yestereve. We followed you from many leagues. We did not intercept for i thought you were escaping from the darkness but today we had to make sure it was not any other enemy. Long has the darkness hunted us. Ever since we refused allegiance to the dark lord. Long had he betrayed us of old. But now let us not talk about dark things in the sweet morning air. Where were you going to?"

"I was going west. Yesterday afternoon i buried my father. i recieved from there an amulet. I also had some dreams but one thing i will tell you. The white citadel of the tree."

"The White Citadel! We do not know where it lies. But it is rumoured that it is in the far west. Long leagues lie between us and them.It may take even a year to reach that place even on riding."

"A Year That is very long. But i still want to go there as i have an errand there."

"Errand" said Hawkeye,"A year shall u pass in the wild. Leagues and lands you may come across and different waters and seas you may have to tread..But i think you have some strength in you that may take you across. I think you need not fear any thing now. We will leave you safe to our western borders and then you may have to tread alone. Men lower your bows..This is a friend and an ally."

Just as he said this...something fell behind. The wood was burning. Five minutes later The forests on the eastern borders were ablaze.

The dragons were here.

"Run. Flee. Doom is upon us" shouted the men.

"Come prince, come. We must ride now come. Faster men . Saddle the horses. We flee to the caves. Ride your horse friend. Ride now ride."

The prince and the other men rode. Trees gave way. Burnign logs fell from above. They stuck a path and but it was not safe. The company led throught bogs and briars. The doom was behind them. There was no safety. Cries were heard that rent the hearts of men with fear. Only the prince and the leader of the rangers could resist it. The prince spoke soflty to his horse,"Put aside fear."

"Where are the caves that you speak of Hawkeye?"

"Five leagues south of here we come to the mountains. There we must strike a path i know that leads us to the caves. Caves i said not exactly so. A small fortress from where we hold a lookout over the land. My men are still there guarding the fortress. WE must reach there quickly."

"Ride men ride faster."

A huge firebolt came from above and stuck a company of men.

"If one firebolt could kill twenty men, a few of them are enough to obliterate our company. We must ride fast. Quick"

Half an hour later they reached the caves with the dragons still hovering in the air. They looked out below. The forest was burning. Nothing now remained. Not even one tree. Not even grass would grow again"

The company entered the gates. A commander of men met hawkeye.

"Move your men to the walls. Make ready the arrows. Slay at will"

The men fired arrows at the dragons. Nothing happened. Arrows didnt seem to affect the dragons. Cries were heard below. Down they were the evil creatures goblin like waiting to prey upon men.

The prince drew his sword. "Keep firing. Do not stop. Do not show them mercy. Kill!!!"

The men fired arrows down. Several goblins died trying to swarm the mountain.

The dragons swooped upon the men and breached the defenses. Men were thrown here and there. Fire spread in the caves. Men rushed to drowse it. Hawkeye pulled one string and slew many goblins. The prince drew to the gates with a host of men at his call.

The gate was soon knocked down and goblins entered the fortress...The prince slew many. Hawkeye soon came to the gate.

"The condition is sore. The dragons are wreaking havoc. Arrows dont seem to stop them."

The prince didnt answer. He kept ventilating his fury against the goblins. Then he remembered some thing. A thing taught by his master.

' Dragons are well guarded and armored. They have a long span of life and they dont die just like that. Arrows and swords are no use nor are axes an spears. There is only one way. You should look underneath their arms for they are guarded by their armor'

"Hawkeye, Ask your men to shoot underneathe the arms of the dragons. Only that will stop them. Quick before we are doomed. I will stay here."

Saying this. he slashed many.

Men kept dying, the prince fought on. Dragons showed no sign of relenting. They were getting defeated. the gate was tough to held while the marksmen tried to aim for the underneath of the dragon's arms. Hawkeye nudged an arrow to the string. Carefully taking aim he let the arrow go. Straight the arrow went and as the dragon flew by, the arrow struck the underarms. The dragon let out a cry. It came towards hawkeye. The hunter lodged another arrow. He looked at the dragon. The face was armored but he discovered something that should have been earlier. The eyes of the dragon were unprotected. The arrow twanged. It hit the left eye perfectly. The dragon fell down breathing fire at his last breath. The dragon hit the ground killing many goblins below.

The prince congratulated Hawkeye. "Good deed"
Hawkeye said. " Save your praise. There are two more dragons. We need to hold out. There are few left alive now, Azrud, too few to hold out. The defenses are not going to hold long."

"The defenses will hold." Saying this the prince resumed his position at the gates.

Goblins poured out from everywhere. But atlast all who entered were killed. Then a huge goblin entered. "Ah! Prince. There you are. The Master wants you dead. You are of no use to him. Now Die."

The goblin drew his sword. Fire ran through it. Swinging his sword he rushed towards the prince. He flung his sword at the prince. The prince blocked it with his own sword and pushed it back. Many times the goblin flung but was defeated every time. The goblin gathered his strength he rushed he flung, Again the prince blocked. The prince moved his sword so fiercely that the goblin swung towards the left and dropped his sword. Suddenly the prince swung his sword to the left and trapped the goblin betweetn his sword and his left shoulder.
"Now You Die." Saying this, He beheaded the goblin.

The other goblins who had entered saw prince's face and then looked at their fallen leader.

The prince said to the goblins."Take him and say to your master that i have no need for him. Take him ere my wrath falls upon you all."

The goblins afraid took their leader away while some flung at the prince but got killed.

At the other end Hawkeye was still taking aim. He shot arrows at the goblins below. All goblins were dead now. The prince barricaded the gate.
"Arrowmen!! Bring down the dragons. Bring them down." Arrow men fired at the underams of the dragon. Soon another dragon fell below. Hawkeye managed to shoot the right eye of the third dragon. But the dragon flew away knocking Hawkeye down .

The prince tried to rush towards hawkeye but at the corner of his eye he saw a firebolt coming at him. He jumped aside. The fire destroyed the walls and the way was barricaded by stones. He got up. Blood spelt from his hands. He tried to remove the stones. The men were afraid. The women were crying. The prince was alone. the chamber was burning. The gate broke down and in came the dragon.

The dragon, one eye pierced, came in through the door. The dragon screeched and let out such a noise, a spell fell upon the prince. The prince find sumthing hard buzzing in his mind. He had his hands on his head and kneeling down. The dragon stood there with his mouth upon. The dragon har teeth as sharp as its claws. The teeth could skewer a wild boar. The dragon advanced towards the spell bound prince. The prince could neither move nor speak. The dragon looked into the eyes of the prince. The prince was about to swoon.At that time,, A horn sounded outside.

Help had found them at last.

the dragon flew away and the spell lossened. The prince fainted down.The men looked down to where the horn came from. There was a small host gathered together clad in green. They had pointed ears. They had bows and their bows were made from yew and not of wood. Carved like the horns of the boar. They saw the dragon belching fire. They saw one flee towards the mountains, towards them.
The prince regained consciousness...The debris of the chamber were removed by the men from other side and enquired his well being. The prince got up and was informed about the new host that had come. he looked down from the fortress. The host was firing arrows at the dragon. The land burned. The prince took his steps slowly towards Hawkeye. Hawkeye was bleeding.
"Prince of Valerna, There is nothing you can do now, I am beyond healing. My body is broken. The dragon spikes got into me. Nothing can stop the death approach me"
"I will not let anything happen to you. Bring medicines if you have any stock."
"We dont stock medicine here friend. What we have cannot ail me. I must leave this middle earth. It was a pleasure meeting you, son of greater sires. One thing is what i should tell you which i have kept secret. Your father had bidden me to say this to you if ever we should meet."
Now the words of Hawkeye came in whispers.
"You were born with the blessings of the gods. The god Aule himself created you. Aule requested your father to keep this a secret. But the time has come. You have a great destiny my friend. You were born to combat evil. You maybe running away. But in doing so You are fighting it in some way. One day you will return here and I foresee there will be great wars that you will face and there will be a great battle in the end that you will lead. A battle of good and evil. Now i should sleep. Take my men with you prince. They are yours to command. Go with all blessings. Flee while you-"
Saying this he died in the arms of the prince. The gate was open and in came a hooded person.It was an elf.

The elf removed the hood. He saw the prince holding Hawkeye down. He went to the prince.
"Hail Prince! I am Elladan from the city of Rivendell. Imladris in our tongue. I am the son of Elrond who left this earth to the west to the lands of the gods. I come to aid you in your quest."

"How come? I am equally surprised ."

"Surprised you should be. But there is no time to talk now. My brother elrohir is down commanding battle and you should not stay long. Come Fast. The dragon is wreaking havoc."

"Dragon. I will willingly slay him for he caused much damage already."

"I grieve about your loss. But do not grive now. This is the time to fight. Come call your men and let us free this land of evil. Too long has hildorien stood against the evil. For three ages it stood. but Time has given some other destiny to this land now. Come."

With this the elf and prince along with the men went down to battle. Swords and bows in their hands. They looked as if it was their last adventure.

Below, The dragon was breathing fire. The elves had a tough time dodging the fires and hiding behind stones to evade the dragon. Only elrohir stood still upon a rock and commanded the elves. He saw elladan come with men behind him. The dragon also turned towards the men. The dragon took flight. Elrohir knew he had to distract the dragon. He knew it may cost him his life but still he had to. This was an order he had to follow. Elrohir stood upon a rock higher than before. He called out to the dragon. The dragon distracted flew towards elrohir. Elrohir had his sword.

Now the prince knew the person on the rock had done this to distract.
The prince alighted his horse. He went behind a huge rock.Quickly he took out his bow and he took his arrow and took aim.
"May you have the best speed and kill that beast." It was his favorite arrow. The arrow twanged. The arrow pierced the dragons' left eye. Now blinded totally, All elves and men fired at him. The dragon fell down.But it was not dead.The dragon still breathed fire.The prince drew his sword. The prince faced the dragon. With his sword he pierced the dragon armor and the dragon lay dead upon him. Then the prince swooned under the faint odour. All he could see were the dim figures of the elves.