Chapter - 5

Dawn came quickly. The morning light of the Sun fell on them. The prince got up. Elladan And Elrohir were not on their beds.The prince walked towards the opening of the shelter.The clouds had vanished and the wind had calmed down.This was a day they had wished for a perfect start for a day's march.

"Too late do you sleep my friend. Now that you have got up, will you sup with us. We got breakfast for all."

The prince turned around.It was Elrohir and Elladan.

"Where do you disappear?That too without any noise?"

"We elves have more skill than humans friend.It was we who taught the humans to walk without noise but still they make noise.But it is only the men of numenor that now come near to us when a feat is achieved of this kind.But less talk now, A good breakfast and then a day's march.Quickly let us have and run in the lands towards our birthplace,Cuivienen.Come Eat. We walked too far to find food. "

"So early in the morning.Do not elves tire?Especially after the weather rented her wrath on us yestereve."

"Ah You strike again upon a topic that we keep a secret and give to none except them elf-friends."

He took a packet from his pocketsand then he opened it.There were cakes.

"Cakes?"

"These arent any ordinary cakes.These we call lembas.We carry them on our travels to sustain our strenghth.How we make them we will keep a secret.but now eat.I call you Elf-Friend From now."

"Thank You."

The prince took them and ate all of them
The elves laughed.
"One piece of cake is enough for a man to sustain himself for a days march even if he be a tall man of minas tirith." said the elves. "Save it for the future."

"Well.What about breakfast?"

The elves laughed again.

"Here it is" said Elladan."You have shown your usual cunning in getting up for a breakfast."

The prince the packet from Elladan and sat down eating his lot.

Breakfast been done, The company marched forth. Down the hill they came. The barren land looked better today. Hours they marched. Ever the prince looked back. His city now would be far away. But one day he would return to claim his own. Sun was scorching but it didnt affect them. They were determined not to let the weather soak their spirits as it had done yesterday. They marched and marched.Ever they marched westwards and to a little north always their path was laid.Elladan and Elrohir led them. Twice in the day they rested.Mountains were gone far away to the east.Now they looked only distant to the eye. Westward trees were visible.

"We rest here for the day" shouted Elrohir.
"What is that place which looks so green?"
"Havent you guessed it yet?That is our destination.Cuevienen it is my friend. Cuivenen,the home of my fathers. It is still some miles before us and and we cannot reach it by today night. It is already four in the evening. So we as well might rest here."
"In the open."
"Yes. In the open. Does it sound weird to you. we will sleep like the elves and the men did in the morning of the world. What a nice time it would be,seeing the stars and sleep.The stars of heaven.White and fair they glow and many shapes they form. A great mystery they are to us. Varda, Elbereth we call her, created the stars so that light could fall upon us when we awoke. Ever the stars shone in the west. There was no evil that time. Morgoth was captured by the gods and elves were free.They werre like children but ever moved towards the light in the west. But then the light of the stars werent enough. So The Sun and the moon were created and now they move. You are the people of the sun.You also came west looking at the sun. The sun rose from the west those days. But the gods thought that the sun should be made to rise to the east so that the sun could be far away from the moon for the sun god always liked the moon god,Arien she is called by us, so the gods changed the course of the sun.So now it is that sun rises in the east."

"Quite a history you have given me friend.I have a lot to llearn still about this middle earth. I was only taught battle tactics and battle history."

"That we see. You have much to learn. Though middle earth is strckn by war and death, there are still some places that are at peace and worth going to. And now the times are not so dark as when it was during the previous ages.But now by your tidings the doom maybe upon us. But i do not think that the evil lord will ever move towards the west.But i maybe wrong."

As He said these smoke arose from the distant mountains.Thunder and lightning there were.
"Whats that?"
"Evil but we have naught to fear. We must move through the night.To Cuevienen it is that we go."
"Why are you rushing?"
"Those lightnings may be nothing but evil fumes but we cannot tell.Though not goblin has passed beyond our arrows,it maybe that the enemey has learnt of its defeat and he maybe sending a host after us. I hope it is not so. If it is then we are ill put against them.This is why we are rushing. In cuivienen the power of our people will protect us."

"So it be. Come. How much time will it take for us to reach there?"

"Five hours if we go straight towards it."

"Then straight we go".

And straight they went.Marching through the night. Torches they lit. It was like a procession going westward.Night bought many shades. Cool air blew from the north. They could not know where they were.

"We can go no further" cried the men.

"It is only some distance away. Just an hour's march and we will rest. Come do not tarry.Evil maybe following us."

The prince put his head to the ground.

"I hear horses behind us. As many as a hundred. Stay still and low.Draw your swords."

And there they were Figures of horses loomed over the distance.Bows were ready,swords drawn.It was an excellent formation. The formation was as if like an arrow.The line behind had archers and the dense portion had swordsmen with archers strewn in between.The prince and the elf lords stood in the center.

They were coming.

The elvish host waited.The line of horsemen grew nearer every minute. Fear grew upon them.What new terror was this?Nobody could tell.They grew tense every moment,

"Hold your breath. Hold your breath" Cried the prince.

The horsemen stopped way back so that arrows could not reach them. They held a white banner and the lead horsemans hand was that of peace..The leader came forth with another forward..

"Ask them not to shoot."

Elladan replied."As you wish.But we must be wary."

"Put your bows down but be ready." ordered the prince.

Elladan and elrohir strode forward.

"Who art thou that come here following us. Speak quickly ere the hand of peace turns to the hand of war." said Elrohir.

To that the horseman replied."We are the cavaliers of the king. We come from the city of Valerna. Evil doom came upon us. Our city was burnt and destroyed. Our king is dead. We were outnumbered. We fled from there seeking hope and allies who may help us in our very need.Yesterday night we came upon your prints. Hoping against hope that you were allies, we rode towards you.But i do not seem to recognize you. You are no man."

At this prince came out happily and said "Gerold! how happy am I to see you again. Luck and Time has bought us here together."

"Azrud??I thought you were dead.IT is good to see you here. How did you find them?"

"This is a long story Gerold. We are heading westwards. For now we are going to Cuivienen. Come and join us."

"We would be glad to join you.Lucky you are that you are alive. The dragons destroyed us."

"The dragons are killed and so are the goblins that were sent to capture me."

"When did this happen?"
"Three days ago. And what do you know about the thunder in the east."
"We do not know much Azrud.It started today eve and has been going on for much time."
"Come now.We ride west." turning to the elves."Its ok they are friends and allies. We now march westward."

The prince happy that Gerold had come was about to turn away, the second horseman pulled up.

"You might not know me. But i am Hawkhold, brother of Hawkeye. It is happy to know that you aided him in his last minutes."

"It was not me but him who aided me. But now come. How many are you?"

"There is a hundred from Valerna. And i have bought some people from Hildorien,numbering a two hundred.We were not able to aid you at the fortress since we were far away. We met the horsemen two nights ago. They were rushing west madly and nearly galloped over us had we not jumped.But then the leader turned seeing a company of men and led them around us.They asked for help and we gave them.We remembered their armor and knew that they came from the eastward city.Since you are now our leader,We are yours to command."

"How did you know that hawkeye is dead?"

"The tidings of death has many wings.We can read the air.The air brought foul wind from the east.We sensed something amiss. We decided to go towards the mountain but one sole rider came from the east bearing the news of Hawkeye's death.But now lead us whither you would."

"I do miss him a lot. He was a great help in need. But let us not talk dark things. We have to reach Cuivienen fast. We are already late."

and So they marched The company strengthened than before.

The company walked. An hour later they reached a far green country....But the country was at war.

The country was at war.Smoke arose from the northward regions...

"Lo!The battle has come to Cuivienen as well. cuivinen burns." exclaimed Elladan.

"Who stays here?As history explains all the elves left to the west."

"Remnant of the wild elves still linger here still remembering the call of the west but they have not the heart to leave.They no longer care for the troubles of the West. They just defend and rule their domain. But now we must let them know that the West still anticipates them,still cares for them.They are those elves who were lost in the march west.Coming back they have ruled Cuivienen for ages.Now their domain is threatened."

"Did not the rule Sauron affect them?"

"It affected.But they resisted Sauron. But Sauron let them live For he was too busy concentrating on demolishing the West and hunting for his ring. He thought that once the ring came into his grasp,the west will be subdued.Once it is this little domain cannot resist his power and he will get them.This was only luck on their side."

"I have heard of Sauron being a vile guy. Why did not he think that the enemy could send the ring of power into his domain for getting destroyed?"

"Because he weighed everyone in his scales. If he was after the ring he would claim it for himself as isildur did.So he weighed the others. A wise fool he was as gandalf said."

"Gandalf?"

"A wizard sent from the west.He left middle earth after the fall of sauron."

"Oh.But what now?Do we aid these elves?"

"Yes. But first we must form a strategy.We do not want to rush inside and be killed.For these elves are wary and hidden.And we do not know this place too well.Tell your riders to back off and take some other route and come from the northeast at their rear.We elves will take to the woods and combat from the front."

"The smoke might just be a forest fire."

"No. Your eyes are not as that of the elves. WE can see far.We see goblins on the northern marches.Come elves into the woods now come."
The elves sprang into the woods like deers

while the elves sprang into the forest,The prince and his cavaliers rode eastwards.Few miles later they circumvented the forest by taking the road northwards.For hours they rode.They knew that if they were late the batlle would go ill...They rode and rode.No man was tired.They liked the smell of battle brave as they were.
Soon they came to a summit.From there they looked...The goblins and elves were at war.Arrows were seen flyin from one bank of a stream to another. The prince could see many goblins fall but he could also see elves falling. But these elves were different..

Elladan and his host had not yet arrived.

The battle raged below.Goblins were gaining ground.The prince and his cavaliers sat down to decide upon the strategy.

"The elves have not arrived yet. We do not know what has beset them. Till they come we cannot attack the goblins" said Gerold.

"The elves may be delayed.We should move upon the goblins rear. The elves of Cuivienen are being defeated slowly."

"Yes. We should attack.But be wary. The goblin host is too many. Gerold Take your horsemen to the left when we reach down. Hawkhold you take the men to the right. Let the other follow me to the center.This should be such way.Gerold will first attack from the left and when goblins concentrate on the gerold's forces hawkhold you attack from the right and then i attack from the center.We cannot make further decisions now."

"Men Put aside your fear and drive the evil into the abysss.This is not the day to run.This is the day we fight.This is the day when we stand and deliver our friends from the evil that besets them. So Stand Men of Hildorien. This is our day, our time and not theirs. Ride now Ride."

The host climbed down.The prince signaled To gerold. Gerold moved faster and further.

The goblins rained arrows on the elves across the stream.They were going to set loose another volley when Gerold attacked on their rear in the left side. Many got ridden down.The goblin commander said " Move to the left maggots move to the left.Slay All"

The goblins moved towards the left.Soon Gerold found it tough to withstand the goblins.

The prince signaled to Hawkhold.His men went with him though a small force.The majority of the force remained with the prince.

The horsemen of hawkhold attacked on the goblins right flank.The prince blew a horn.And the horsemen and cavaliers attacked from the center, The prince's wrath unfolding. He now looked like a great king riding to battle. His sword held above, The amulet upon his head, He looked like some grear king who had come from the western lands to help them.So it seemed to the elves across the stream.The elves also started moving across the stream.Swords in their hands they attacked the goblins main flank.The prince moved towards the goblin commander.

"You minion of foul powers,Get lost ere I slay you."

"Ah! I m protected by my lord's powers.These will be our lands. The dominion of men has come to an end. The dark city will be victorious. Your people shall be enslaved and your cities shall be demolished.Our time has come."

"Begone. You shall not roam freely here as u used to.You will die."

The prince got down from the horse. There was an excellent display of swordsmanship. Many times they fell,they faltered.They pushed each other. At the last The prince beheaded the commander. He stood tired and was savoring his victory.That he did not see three goblins coming at his left with swords.And when he turned it was too late.The goblin had flung his sword at him.

The prince ducked too late.A scratch upon his arm made him cry out loud. Hawkhold heard and made for him.The prince stabbed the gut of the goblin which had hit him. The second goblin made a fling but was pushed away only to be struck by an arrow in the throat.Goblins and goblins came to attack the prince.The prince killed them. He was sorely hurt. Some poison was at work. Hawkhold killed many.Gerold and his riders did their bit. The prince slashed the head of one and with a double stroke killed two. Pain in his arm made him slow but he fought. Hawkhold was now beside him.

"Are you well?"

"I do not know. I have got scratches before but they never pained like this one."

"Some poison is at work. The goblin swords are always poisoned.You are unlucky."

As they talked they kept slashing the goblins. More goblins came from the forests around.The prince and company were dismayed. At this rate they would be soon outnumbered.The elves were holding off the main flank that came from the east.They could not help.They were being defeated.

ll hope had died out.The elves and men sounded the retreat..


"From where did these goblins come from?" asked Hawkhold

"They roam freely in these lands thinking the power of their new master will protect them. But i have no way of knowing how they came and how so fast?Maybe they are made of some other stuff than goblins."

"If this is some new evil that the enemy is brewing then we ought to be careful.What should we do. We are outnumbered.We cannot defeat them."

"Yes we cannot defeat but we will still fight them."
"Arrows.Release."

Arrows volleyed and stuck the goblins who were trying to cut of the retreat.

"Retreat to the forests.Retreat.Faster Faster.There is no choice.Flee to the other end.Flee."

"Gerold.Flee is not the right word.We do not flee.We fight on the other end. There we can lose them and trap them in the west.Lead them westwards."

"As you command sire."

"Turn west.Turn West."

The prince was taking his company westwards.The elvish leader was on his right."

"I am Valmir,leader of the elves of Cuivienen. I do not know who u r and why you come to our aid but we are glad that there are still men in the east that look kindly to us.Men of the east have been ungrateful to us.Even when we taught them so many things.Ever their hearts rotten towards us intending damage.We had years of peace but now evil has returned.But now come Battle is here.We should be silent."

The prince smiled and gave an acknowledgement."Hanunled"

They reached the western end and there they organized.There they were coming running towards them.
The elven captain command.
"Lagethrad Hallas."

"Dego Infilveth"
Volley of arrows met the goblins.Many died but the host was huge.They came near.But suddenly from the trees behind the goblins figures were seen.

The goblins were caught between fire and water.The men drove the goblins to the water so they fell and died. The others who managed to flee into the forest met fire.Figures bearing logs of fire slashed the goblins.Many goblins died.Victory was at hand.Arrows were launched from the forest.The prince turned towards the gobling Ducking under the blow and bringing his sword late and swinging his arm,he cut through the goblin's body and then jumping fell upon another goblin and cut his throat.The pain in his arm didnt matter now.He had to take revenge.
The prince displayed excellent swordsmanship.With a sword he stabbed a goblin in its stomach and at the same time drew his knife and pierced the goblin's eye.Blood was thrown out...covering the face of the prince. The prince wiped it off.Slashing he went as many as came in his path.Soon he was near the figures.Another goblin hacked at the prince.But the prince was wary.The goblins sword was stuck in the ground.The prince pushed him towards the stuck sword.The prince then stabbed at its back.Slashing he went.There was a tree log nearby.He picked it up and slowly rushed towards the huge troll that had come.The prince hit its leg with the log and when the troll turned,the prince disappeared behind a tree.The foolish troll looked behind the tree.Suddenly its eye was pierced.The troll let out a cry.Arrows skewered it .The prince jumped upon its head and stabbed it three times. The troll fell down.The prince moved faster.Goblins lay dead.Victory was achieved. And then the prince let out a happy cry.And then came a cry of pain and darkness soon settled him...