PATRIOTS OF ENDOR

[Copyright, 2009; Jane Richards]

CHAPTER 1: THE BEGINNING OF A JOURNEY

Snow was falling thickly on this group of fighters as they made their way through thick underbrush. The wet coverings in the canopy of trees overhead dripped on their clothing, and the ground, making it a soggy, uncomfortable trek for all involved. But the outcome to this march was very important to Middle Earth.

Groups, very much like this one, were making the journey from all over the area to maintain their freedom. The people of Free Middle Earth were being threatened by evil and war, brought on by the Easterlings, who lived in the far, unknown Eastern parts of Middle Earth. The information coming from Gondor told of some type of alliance between these people and those of Near Harad, south of Gondor and the ancient Ithilien.

Little was know of Near Harad, except they followed the lead of the land called Khand east of Mordor, and were traditional allies to the Black Land. The Haradrim had been the enemies of Gondor for generations. Far Harad was also in this group. They had been allies to Mordor for centuries.

Eldacar hunched his cloak, heavy with snowy water, closer to his chest to free his sword arm, just in case. Orcs and other vile creatures had been reported in this southern area of the Emyn Uial.

He stopped for a moment to check his troop’s condition as well as their healer, his cousin, AiyaCalime. He knew it would be a hard journey for everyone involved, but he had promised his aunt that he would take special care of his cousin. They had been raised together, and while he was training in special military skills and strategies, she had been trained in healing at both Rivendell and Minas Tirith. The knowledge she had learned of Elvish medicine, lore, and their own ancient magic and wizardry would prove invaluable to the Mission at hand. Aiya also had retained the ‘far-sight’ of her ancestors, and a mysterious crystal orb, given to her by her mother before her death. Eldacar realized that although she had no control over the inherited far-sight, as yet, it might be of great help along the way along with her other talents.

They had begun from Lake Evendim, called Nenuiel Annuminas in Elvish. It had once been the area of the royal city of the ancient realm of Arnor. It was now in ruins, but at one time the men of this city had fought valiantly in the Battle of Fornost against the Witch-king of Angamar. The armies of the Free Middle Earth had been victorious, forcing the Witch-king to flee east into Mordor. The exploits of this battle were still sung around the fires in the small town on the banks of this lake, which had developed after the abandonment of the city sometime in the early part of the 3rd Age.

Eldacar and Aiya had been born in the ancient city of Minas Ithil, ‘Tower of the Rising Moon’, of Ithilien, before its fall to the Witch-king and his Nazgul. Now it was called Minas Morgul. His family and that of his cousin, AiyaCalime, had fled to Minas Tirith for safety. These two families could trace their lineage to ancient Numenorean and Dunedain roots. They both knew that they weren’t actually ‘cousins’ in a close sense, but had always called each other by this familiar title. The two families had branched off many generations ago, but had still managed to stay in close contact.

The slopes became more gradual as they pushed further south, and the snow was changing to a light rain. To the east the troops could see clear blue sky which gave them more hope and a lighter step as they slogged along the rough terrain.

“Look,” grunted Idril, “up ahead is better weather. I’m glad it’s the spring Month of Tuilere. We can look forward to warmer days now, at least!”

Tuor, who marched behind him, blew out a cloud of air as he trudged along. “Seems like we may see some action pretty soon,” he commented, and others began to banter back and forth. Their morale was rising as the sun broke through the clouds, the rain slacked to a mist and they changed their direction to the east, towards the ancient City of the North Kings, Fornost.

Eldacar held his hand up to signal a halt. “We will rest here for awhile, and eat our noon meal. Aranel, you take first watch. There may be nothing to fear in this area, but with all the rumors, it’s better safe than sorry.”

The group settled onto the larger boulders, took out their rations, and began their meal always on the lookout for some type of unusual movement. These were seasoned troops who had seen much action of late. The Easterlings and their allies had been busy crossing the Anduin to harass small villages in Gondor and the northern parts of Middle Earth, which had much earlier been called Arnor. The people of this area still considered it as Eriador, the ancient name for this part of Middle Earth, and still considered themselves as either Northern Gondorians, or at the very least, as part of Free, Middle Earth.

Aiya settled herself on a large, smooth stone to eat her meal. Eldacar saw to his men and then sat nearby munching on some food with a thoughtful look on his face.

“What are your thoughts, cousin?” asked Aiya.

“I’m trying to plan our strategies if we happen to meet someone who may not be friendly to our passage. There are flatlands before us with lots of small hills. It would be quite easy for someone to ambush this group without much trouble on their part. In fact, I’ve heard some rumors of Orcs riding Wargs into attack, but not this far north. At least not yet,” he added grimly.

The group broke camp and continued their journey towards Fornost with no incidents along the way. Their final destination, on this leg of the trek at least, was Dead- men’s Dike, which made not a few very nervous. It had been considered haunted by many after the slaughter of the Gladden Fields, and the city of Annuminas destroyed and abandoned.

Aiya attempted to dampen their fears, to a degree. “Remember,” she told them, “The real name of this place is Fornost Erain, Norbury of the Kings. It is only abandoned for a time, I think. If we and our allies are successful, I have seen in the flames of my fire, a prosperous land once again.” These words seemed to allay some of their fears, but then again, being warriors for the most part they wouldn’t have let this bother them overmuch during any type of battle. They were loyal to their leader, Eldacar.

Rounding a bend in the trail in which there was a large, out-jutting rock Eldacar stopped abruptly and put his hand up to stop and to get down. All obeyed quickly and silently while making ready their arms. Turning to Celdirion he whispered, “I saw a movement up ahead in those tall bushes to the right. Take two of your best and circle the area. I’d like to know if it was something… or nothing.”

“Yes, sir,” was the response and his next in command beckoned two men from behind. They nodded and followed as Celdirion quietly and cautiously moved through the bushy terrain towards the area indicated by Eldacar. Keeping low and in a wide circle, they disappeared from the group’s sight. After a few tense minutes they returned.

“Sir, there are a group of men in a low dip behind those bushes. They are dressed in black hoods and jackets, and they are armed to the teeth!” reported Celdirion to his leader in an animated, low tone.

Eldacar knew there was little choice. They would have to either change their course drastically, or face whatever dangers were ahead. He sent two groups of his troops to the right and left while the main force remained centered. Each group moved carefully forward until they had surrounded this unknown bunch of men on three sides. Not a sound was heard from the area in which Celdirion had reported they were located. Eldacar gave the signal and they rushed this dip in the hilly, bush… and found no one.

“They were here, sir,” protested Celdirion to Eldacar. “I saw them with my own eyes!”

“I believe you, Celdirion,” returned Eldacar. “I can plainly see that there was a large group here. Look at the grass and brush. It’s broken and flat. They were here alright, but where did they go?” He turned to his troops. “Spread out and see what you can find. You are all good trackers, so I know we will find some hint of what direction they may have taken.”

The group spread out to hunt for any signs. The terrain was becoming steep now, as they neared the North Downs. Not as high as most of the mountain ranges in Middle Earth, but steep and sometimes craggy in areas, with brushy ground cover hiding the jagged slopes and steep drops.

A voice was heard through the brush. “Over here Eldacar. I may have found something.” It was the voice of their healer, Aiya.

Everyone began to head in the direction of her voice, but saw nothing. Presently she popped her head out of a bush on the side of the craggy hillside. “I’ve found some sort of opening here,” she announced.

After examining the opening they found that it was a cave, which contained a pathway at its end going off into the hill. From the design at the opening it looked like one of the mine entrances which had been constructed by the Dwarves long ago and may been taken over as an Orc-hold when the former owners were driven away.

“I think you may have found how those men disappeared so completely, and in such a short time, Aiya,” said Eldacar as he stared at this open entrance. “I wonder if it is an old Dwarf mine that the Orcs took long ago, or just an Orc- hold they found and used? What ever it is, we are going to have to send some troops into it to investigate, while the others travel on to Fornost.”

“I think it was a mine, Eldacar,” put in Aiya. “Look at the runes on top of the doorway.” The healer thought for a moment and then added, “I wonder where it comes out?”

As she uttered this last question a screeching din reached their ears. From behind a thickly covered part of the hill emerged Orcs! They were being attacked by at least part of the larger group seen earlier, or so they thought.

Eldacar and the troops quickly formed a battle stance as the Orcs ran down the hillside toward them. Spearmen, kneeling in front, allowed the archers in the rear to shower volleys over their heads before they put their spears into play on the enemy. The swordsmen on horses made quick work of the remaining group of these foul creatures. It was a very short, but successful sortie for the Patriots of Endor. They had received some injuries, but no deaths on their end.

As Eldacar stood in the midst of the dead Orcs, spit the dust from his mouth, and wiped his blade, Celdirion walked over. “Sir, I saw no Orcs when scouting earlier. What I saw were men,” he declared.

“The men must have entered this cave while the Orcs waited to ambush our group. This makes it all the more important to send some troops into that cave to follow,” returned Eldacar, and began to plan his next move.

As the troops began to regroup and gather the wounded, their healer moved among them tending their injuries, but carefully keeping a sharp eye out for any danger which might befall, but none came. All was now quiet as Aiya stared into the flames of the fire that had been started to heat water to cleanse the wounds of the injured. She threw more wood on it, seated herself on a nearby rock and again stared into the sparks and blue-orange flames flickering out at her.

Dusk was arriving quickly in their camp. The troops were gathering around small campfires, fixing their evening meal and discussing the impending actions among themselves, but always keeping their voices low. A trooper quietly put more wood on the pile beside Aiya’s fire, but she didn’t seem to notice him as she silently continued her stare. The sight had come to her, unbidden, but almost always informative. She had never learned to control this, to ask it to come, it just came, which puzzled her sorely at times. As she gazed she saw the remains of a destroyed city, but her sight changed in seconds and she could see a dark, forbidding place deep within a mountain. Long passageways of dirt and stone, large caverns which filled her with foreboding. She realized that her comrades were in great danger and were also outnumbered. Then, in an instant everything was gone, only the flames of the campfire were left for her to watch.

She left her seat and strode over to Eldacar who was consulting with his troop leaders. “I’m going into the cave,” she blurted out to her startled cousin. “I have seen something in the flames that tells me we will have wounded in this horrible place. That the Haradrim are in there waiting for us. I will be needed.”

Her cousin knew of her far-sight. He had been with her many times when she had experienced this family trait, and he knew that her visions were, for the most part, accurate. Although more in tune now with his troop of warriors, battle strategies, and fighting, he suddenly realized that her visions could be a valuable tool, even though they seemed to come only unbidden.

“Aiya, you know you are welcome, and your talents are valuable to us, but as you say it will be a dangerous mission,” he answered with a worried frown on his forehead.

“I care not, cousin. I have seen what I must do. It is in my vision,” was her reply. “I am a woman amongst warriors, but I know I will be an asset to the mission,” she added firmly with her chin held high. She had heard of the daring and brave shield maidens of the mighty horse lords, those horsemen called the Rohirrim of Rohan. These were women who fought alongside their warrior men in battle. They rode and fought as well as their men. She had, as yet, to meet one, but would be honored to do so. With that thought in mind she ventured over to where her horse was tethered, checking on his water and giving him a handful of grass she had found beneath the bushes. Silverfoot had been her most trusted companion, other than her cousin Eldacar, on this journey. She wondered if they could take their horses with them into these caverns. If not, her mount would have to be cared for by another trooper while on their way to Fornost.

On a whim she reached into her medical rolls lying on the ground next to the fire and felt the hard round object wrapped in a soft cloth. Her mother had long ago given it to her. It was a family heirloom and was said to have power of some type, but Aiya had never used it. In fact, she had almost forgotten about it and when she did remember, it gave her a slight uneasiness. Wizards were the only ones to possess and use these types of crystals, weren’t they? Now, she gazed at the crystal as she uncovered it.

“What is that, Aiya?” her cousin asked her. She jumped, startled. Eldacar had approached quietly, taking her by surprise. “I seem to remember it from the house of your mother, long ago.”

“I really don’t know. I’ve been wary of trying to use it,” she replied softly, “but, I believe it may be of help to us now. I will be sure and take it with us when we go into the cavern. She stared up into the night sky with its glittering pinpoints of light. There, almost above them, was the brightest light. “Ah, the Light of Elendil shines upon us tonight. I feel comforted by its glow.”

Eldacar smiled, squeezed her shoulder, and left her to her musing as he went to the main campfire to discuss the next day’s events with his captains. He began to go over the situation at hand. He knew that the cave was riddled with honeycombs. Going in there without some sort of plan would be suicide. Chances were great that the Haradrim, and perhaps more Orcs, were waiting to ambush anyone who entered. Sitting in deep thought, and reaching into the back of his mind through countless battles and skirmishes, he began to formulate a plan.

Weighing the pros and cons, he realized that there were no best case scenarios with this situation. They had to reach Fornost quickly, that was a foregone conclusion. Even though going through the cave would take days off their journey, hopefully, he was resigned to the fact that there were no other choices. He knew the weaknesses as well as the strengths of his men. He had fought beside them for many years, and trusted his leaders. He would lead the party chosen into the caverns, while two of his captains could proceed toward Fornost. It was going to be risky, but when had something like this not been dangerous?

Sitting on a log with her cloak wrapped around her, Aiya listened as the men discussed their plans on entering the caverns.

Eldacar walked over and sat next to her with a thoughtful expression on his face. “Can that crystal be used to light the way, Aiya?” Everyone knew that the darkness in this honeycomb of tunnels and caverns would be impossible to travel through if no source of light was found. Some had torches made with large wooden staffs wrapped with a black foul-smelling substance at one end which would burn for awhile, but would they last for their entire trip through this unknown underground world?

“I really don’t know, Eldacar,” was her answer, then she smiled and looked at him with a twinkle in her eye, and arose from her seat. “Let’s go into the cave entrance and see. This will be an experiment, and I hope… a good one for us!”

With that exchange they both headed for the dark entrance. Eldacar didn’t much take to her suggestion, but before he could protest, she was already ahead and almost to the cave. Summoning three of his troop to follow, they trailed both towards the passageway at the back of the cave. Stopping Aiya a few paces short of the ominous looking passage, he and his men stepped forward, silently, just inside. Their swords were drawn in anticipation of some type of attack. None came. Satisfied that the immediate area was safe to enter, he beckoned his cousin to enter.

With the crystal already in her hand, she uncovered it. Immediately there was an intense, bright glow lighting up the surroundings. Looking around, he counted the various passages that were before them, eight in all with one much larger and wider than the other seven.

Eldacar recalled an old story that he had heard around the many campfires at which he had been present. The information seemed to indicate that the passages would all merge into a large cavern at some point. With this in mind, and wishing to take their mounts rather than leave them behind he chose the larger tunnel. This way they would not be on foot once they were out of this. The horses might also give them an advantage if attacked, as they were all battle trained mounts.

There was one problem. In order for the crystal to light their way, Aiya would have to be towards the front of the group. The last thing he wished was to see her killed or captured. He would have to put part of his group around her as defense, with the rest following as a rear guard. Not really liking this situation, he turned to Aiya. “You will have to be towards the front to light our way. Are you up to it?”

He got a slightly devilish smile. “Remember all the games we used to play when we were children? I took the dare almost as many times as you!” Standing as straight as her body could muster, she entered the cave with Eldacar, and the frontal defense troop. The rear guard was led by the Elven Celdirion, fully armed with his Galadhrim bow and longsword, Glaurung, an arrow nocked in the bow for fast response.

The sound of the horses echoed eerily through the tunnel. Even the breathing of both them and their horses could be heard in the silence that prevailed throughout this subterranean world, but Aiya’s crystal continued to glow brightly, lighting the way as they moved cautiously forward. Eldacar remembered the dares that his cousin had taken when they were children. This was a totally different situation than any childish games they had played.

Their mounts were nervous in these closed, dim confines. It took a few minutes for the men to calm them as they began their descent through the passage. Staying on the outer edges of the crystal’s glow, Eldacar led the way with sword drawn, his senses at their keenest. He suspected that the first onslaught would come when they were well into the passageway. At least that was what he might do in the same situation.

With his three most trusted men, Cirdan, Torondor, and Arnor as a frontal defense and Celdirion leading the rear guard a perimeter was formed and he felt that this was the best defense he could possibly have in this particular situation.

The two objectives were to make it though to the end of the passageway and into the main cavern, and prevent any Orcs from getting to the rear of the group. If the enemy reached the rear the horses would undoubtedly be killed. They would desperately need these mounts when they reached the other end, if they made it.

The air was damp and had a putrid stench to it. “Orc smell,” he whispered through clenched teeth and he used all his senses to block it out. These horrid creatures had a peculiar odor which one could smell a good distance away, usually.

The group forged ahead always expecting the worst around every bend. Aiya felt secure knowing that these men were battle-hardened and ready for anything that might happen, but when Eldacar put his hand up to stop them, her heart was pounding so hard she was afraid it could be heard for miles.

He was giving hand signals to his men. They knew what he was signaling, and obeyed. Aiya stepped to her left, with her back against the side of the tunnel to await whatever happened. The glowing crystal still lit their way as she continued to hold it up in her outstretched hand.

Silence reigned in the Orc-hold, for that is what it was. A tunnel, built by the Dwarves as one of their mining operations and taken over by Orcs. This was a long way from their Orc home in the Misty Mountains, but it wasn’t surprising to the troopers. When Angmar the Witch-king took the city of Fornost, many Orcs had scattered along the way to the ancient North City of the Dunedain. They had forced the Dwarves out of some of their mines and taken them as their own.

Aiya exhaled slowly, realizing she had been holding her breath, but she didn’t want to alert any enemy who might be lurking about. The light still shown brightly, but only slight movement echoed through the tunnels.

Celdirion, acting as the rear guard held their bows at the ready and the troop slowly moved through the rocky maze. After what seemed an eternity they entered a large hall-like room. There were no decorations, as a Dwarf hall might contain, just dirt, gravel, and dripping water, surrounded by large boulders.

Picking their way carefully through these obstacles was not easy, especially with horses, but they managed to accomplish the task, although very slowly. Eldacar, Torondo, Celdirion and the others kept their vigilant watch for any attack, but none came. They heard rustling sounds of movement every so often, but nothing ever appeared.

In a low whisper, barely audible, Eldacar warned, “be ready, all of you, I have a feeling that we are about to see action very soon.”

Torondor nodded in agreement and they looked in all directions as far as the glowing crystal would allow. At that moment a drum sounded from somewhere inside the tunnel complex. More drums answered, as if communicating with each other.

At the other end of this massive chamber were a series of large boulders. They were large enough to hide both men and mounts. Eldacar hand-signaled to the entire group, pointing to these rocks and indicating that this would be where they should hunker down. The tunnel ahead of them seemed to be from where the drumbeats were coming, though it was difficult to tell with the echoes emanating from all around them. The group saw the silent instructions and settled their horses as well as themselves behind the boulders to await the outcome.

From where she was sitting, behind a very large, gray rock, a fresh breeze seemed to brush by her cheek. She could even feel it on the back of her neck and smell the fresh air, which offset the Orc-smell. She immediately turned and waved to Celdirion, who was nearest to her and signaled. Her animated message looked comical, pointing to her nose and then waving towards the tunnel opposite the one from which they had just emerged a few moments ago.

Eldacar and Celdirion quickly positioned themselves so that should anything come from that direction they would have a clear view. Aiya slipped her dagger, Estel, out of its sheath in her belt. Summoning all the power available to her, Aiya held the crystal tight in her hand and began whispering an ancient verse. She felt it might aid those in her group, which was ready to do battle. It had been handed down over many centuries from the High Elves, but this was a form of the Eldaran tongue which was used by most Elven folk now in the west called Sindarin. The Elven brethren of Rivendell had taught this to her.

A flash of movement caught the corner of Eldacar’s eye. His reflexes and instincts, brought about by many past battles took over… it had begun.

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