Naurmaethor |
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Hanasian |
Fornost - Into the Grey Afternoon on: March 01, 2015 01:23
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Dukhalas shed most of the old uniform and put his own vest, breeches and cloak back on. He had no need of his satchel, but carried it anyway. He would have to be really careful now. The sounds of clashing swords rang out and drew ever closer. Gukkhus’s men were pushing further into the city! He watched as the wagons started moving away. The fire-lobbing catapult must have been moved forward, for the exploding fireballs were landing ever deeper in the city With each blast, the mood of the city’s inhabitants seemed to be losing its cohesion and was becoming more panicked and chaotic. A few stones arced high and started landing near the Royal Palace, but most of the stones were still aimed and were hitting at the walls stones were still being directed at the walls. Dukhalas dodged some of the flames that scattered near the healing house and slipped down an alley and made his way toward the inn where Dauwna had worked. He gritted his teeth at the thought of the day they had parted so long ago. He disagreed with her decision then, and even more so now. He now wished to see her, and hoped she was safe in all this. He did not know where to look for her, so would go to the last place they had spoken…
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Dauwna’s mind swam in dream and nightmare. She saw herself being driven away with the surviving people of the city. Soldiers ran along watching and setting up lines to hold the rear, while many dark arrows rained down on them. With haste they rode south and west, with the snows turning into a cold rain. She searched the faces of the soldiers, looking for Marcadil, but he came not. The vision blurred and changed, with Marcadil moving along with the soldiers protecting the fleeing people. But she was left behind as hands and arms wrapped around her and lifted her up. She was dropped over a shoulder like a sack and was bounced as she was roughly carried back. Swords cut and pierced the fleeing people as they ran in terror. She struggled to free herself from the grips of the man, but he tightened his grip as he looked at her
”You my dear are a lucky one. You get to live for a while.”
The laughter from others around him echoed and she turned her head to see. There were others being carried. They were not going to be lucky at all. A quick death would be more merciful….
Dauwna awoke suddenly in a sweat. A shaking thud shook the palace as a stone hit the side of it. She was calmed by a voice that lay near her.
”Be not afraid. Be strong! You will need to walk now.”
Dauwna looked up to see Queen Firiel taking her hand. Dauwna caught her breath and sat up. The light silk nightdress she was in stuck tho her and she wiped her brow with the sleeve. She was chilled as she stood. Firiel removed her cloak and wrapped it about Dauwna and she clutched it tightly. Dauwna said as Firiel walked her out of the room
”You must not… I am but a chambermaid of your house..”
“It matters not this day, for those on high will be the lowest, and many commoners will arise to heights. This day, we are all the same, and must leave the city.”
Another thud shook the palace, and dust fell from the ceiling. Firiel said to her as she led her out to the back,
”I have seen you work, both in the palace and in the infirmary. You have skills needed, for our plight will be long and hard, and will come at dear cost. Your burns are healing, and you need to continue to get well.”
Dauwna paused as the Queen turned to help others. She them moved on to where she did not know. She hoped Marcadil was still alive and well. She wanted to hold him once again.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Gukkhus’s men seemed to be having the upper hand in their fight, with only the City Guard and reserves coming up to do battle. They slowly and with precision moved deeper into the city from the north. They had no word from Dukhalas, so Gukkhus assumed they had been discovered. He had sent runners back to Angmar command of their success of getting inside the city, and so a couple trolls and their orc handles were sent up. They wasted no time hammering on the walls to knock a way through. A unit of heavy infantry, savage men of Carn Dum, came up to help press the advantage once the way was open. By late afternoon they would have broken through and a new flood of terror would pour into the city…
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Malassuil paused his horse and Bregolman stopped and turned.
”What is it?”
Bregolman asked. Malassuil squinted and finally said,
We have more trouble to the north. The sound of distant blades comes from there. At first I thought it only echoes, but it is more. If Dukhalas and his men could get in, rest assured more have likely come.”[/i]
They turned their horses as some people ran by in panic. Malassuil then asked,
”Sargent, you need to go to the gate with haste. Get word to Aranarth or Amliath of this northern breach and have them send any who can be spared. Are Marcadil and Richard still alive? Did they make it back from the North Downs?”
“Yes they did sir. They have been in command of the combined remnants of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd that returned. Sadly there were not many. But news of you returning will lift their, and everyone’s spirits.”
Bregolman answered. Malassuil grunted, then said,
”That may be so. But I want the few men I know to assist with this. If things are going ill, then I will not expect many, if any to come. But if one of the Princes has things well enough in hand, then I would like for all the remaining remnants to join me, along with anyone else who can be spared. If this threat is not checked, then things will go gravely ill for this city and everyone in it.”
Bregolman nodded and kicked his horse forth. He knew there was no time to spare. Malassuil looked back north, and suddenly saw some soldiers running towards him. They were young reservists. He dismounted his horse and yelled as he pointed at them,
”You! To me!”
They skidded to a stop and sheepishly walked to him. Malassuil looked at them in the greyness of the day.
”How long have you been soldiering?”
He asked them, One replied quietly,
”Three weeks. Our whole school class was called up.”
“How old are you?” Malassuil asked. The boy answered,
“Fifteen. I will be sixteen in a fortnight.”
Malassuil sighed as he looked at them. He stopped others who were broken and running. More, seeing the old commander and their comrades standing there, lost enough of their fright and came over. Malassuil had gathered about a dozen of them. He looked back the way Bregolman had ridden off, and hoped he would have some of his veterans join him. He said to the boy who had spoken and said,
”Your commander, who is he?”
“Darian, grandson of the King. He led us. We fought hard and well, but when he fell, we panicked. Forgive us, for we had given up the field…”
Malassuil’s hand went up and he stopped talking. Malassuil said,
”Young Darian? Amliath’s boy? The young prince is dead?”
“Yes… he led us well. We were in meelee with the hillmen, when a knife thrown with skill hit him in the neck. It hit him just below his helm and just above his mail. I was next to him and I froze as his blood splattered on to me. He crumpled to the ground and his blood poured down the street like a river. He was trying to speak but I had to stay ready. I killed the charging Hillman with a thrust of my sword, and he fell too, spilling his blood all over me and Darian. I then leaned down and removed his helm, and he tried to speak, but all that came out of his mouth was more blood. He gasped out one last breath and his eyes stared up to the sky. A snowflake landed on his cheek and I brushed it off. I don’t know what happened after that. The others were either falling to the hillmen’s swords or breaking and running. I must have stood and ran. I remember little until now. My friend stayed with me. We were taught to always keep another’s back…. And…. ”
The boy rambled, but Malassuil cut in,
”Enough words. Its best we not speak now of Darian. You seem to have the respect of your comrades, for even now they come and gather around. You are now a corporal of your unit. I am sure Amliath, Aranarth, and King Arvedui will approve of this. Now, I need you to help me. We will stand tall and proud, and you all will advance with me. We can’t let the Hillmen have run of the city unopposed. My Sargent is off gathering the rest of my men, and we will hope to have things well in hand by the time they get here. Now, we need to protect the healing houses, the flank of the palace, and the rear of the main force fighting to retake the gate. Stand with me men! This will be remembered as a great day in the history of Arnor!”
They young soldiers cheered, and they were no longer the broken rabble that was running only a few moments before. They turned in a line and Malassuil mounted his horse. He drew his sword and pointed back up the street from whence they came, and they marched in step behind him.
They didn’t have to go too far before they found some of the hillmen. They had assumed they had won the day and were busy looting houses. The first few were slain quickly by the boys whom they thought they had driven off. But it didn’t take long before Gukkhus had them rallied and in a formidable line. Malassuil accessed the situation, and he knew it wasn’t good. Though here their numbers were for the most part equal, he had cadets, whereas Gukkhus had highly trained mercenary killers. And Malassuil knew he didn’t have the means to secure his right. The hillmen still had free run into the City to the east.
Bregolman rode up and dismounted. Amliath acknowledged his arrival with a salute. For the most part, they had managed to hold the orcs to a stalemate at their line, but they were suffering on the walls. More holes were knocked through the right, but the left managed to hold due to the catapults not having a clear shot against them. This was good, for it left the southeast corner of the city free, and that was where the exodus was gathering. Bregolman reported the news of Malassuil, and the critical turn of events at the north wall to him, and without a word, Amliath signalled Marcadil over. Marcadil came up, bleeding from a severe cut to his forehead. Silently Amliath read that Marcadil wished no treatment, and he said,
”It appears that your commander lives! Malassuil is in the city, and even now holds our rear. Yes, the enemy has breached the northern wall, for too little resources did we give there.”
“If m’Lord pleases, I would like to take the few men left from of the North Downs defence and go find Malassuil. I think they will be glad to know one of their old commanders lives on!"
Marcadil said, Amliath looked about and said,
”It shall be so. Yet I fear we will all meet not too long from now.”
Marcadil nodded and waved to Richard, who were holding the left of the line. Marcadil then said to Richard and Bregolman,
”You can choose to stay, or come with us to find Malassuil. It sounds these hillmen are more skilled in urban battle than the hordes of orcs. I myself will take the eight remaining comrades of the 2nd Company and go to the north. If any of the 1st or 3rd wish to come, they are welcome. From the words of Bregolman, it seems there is a need behind us.”
The few who were still standing came forth, and they set out up the street to find Malassuil. To know he lives and is in the field with them here has lifted their hearts!
[Edited on 03/01/2015 by Arveleg]
Eighth King of Arthedain - It was in battle that I come into this Kingship, and it will be in Battle when I leave it. There is no peace for the Realm of Arnor. Read the last stand of Arthedain in the Darkest of Days.
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Naurmaethor |
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Eruwestiel_Evensong |
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Hanasian |
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ItarildeSirfalas |
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Hanasian |
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Naurmaethor |
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Hanasian |
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ItarildeSirfalas |
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Hanasian |
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ItarildeSirfalas |
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Eruwestiel_Evensong |
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Hanasian |
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Cenor |
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Hanasian |
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Hanasian |
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Eruwestiel_Evensong |
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Hanasian |
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