Not a day like others
Disclaimer:
The characters, places, and events are creations of J.R.R. Tolkien. No profit was or will be made from this story. It was written solely for entertainment.
Author’s note:
As always many, many thanks to my wonderful beta reader Erulisse.
Summary:
Imladris is swarmed with orcs. The elves struggle valiant but will it be enough in the end?
Rating: PG-13
Warning: the story is rated PG-13: this chapter contains violence, disturbing themes and death
Chapter 1: the end of all days; Elrond’s POV
I stepped back into the alcove just in time to avoid the searching gaze of an Uruk-hai. Briefly closing my eyes I gripped the hilt of my sword that my knuckles went white.
I suppressed my first impulse to come forth and slain the brute stalking through the entry hall of my house. Only the last shreds of rationality stayed my hand. Contradicting the Uruks now would only end with my death and so I would not be able to rescue what was still worth rescuing.
My fury however was quickly replaced by sorrow when my searching gaze encountered the many dead elves lying strewn all over the floor of the hall.
Hardened because of the many wars I had fought and used to such cruelties my heart still clenched and the many years of peace had stored away such pictures in deep recesses of my mind with the hope of never being forced to see them again.
But the dead lying in the hall were from no memory they were real. I could smell the blood flowing over the floor and it let my stomach lurch.
These were no warriors, merely members of the staff and they had no chance to defend themselves against the vehemence of an advancing orc much less an Uruk-hai.
With a sharp intake of breath I pressed my left hand against a deep gash running down the length of my right side left from a dirty orc scimitar while I had fought my way through the hall. The blood loss already made me dizzy and let me feel light-headed. If the wound would not be treated any time soon I would not have to worry over other things anymore. Again I clearly felt what it meant to be Half-elven.
Again I risked a glance at the hall but ducked back when even more orcs pressed through the front door. Valar, this could not be. Where had these masses suddenly come from?
Most of the warriors were fighting outside the house and I could not hope for help from this side. They had all hands full in their helpless attempt to hold back the incredible numbers of orcs invading the valley.
Many warriors of the inner and the outer defence had been slain during the first attack wave and hordes after hordes were still pouring into the valley. Glorfindel I had not seen for hours.
When I heard the plump steps of an orc nearing my spot from the other side of the corridor I flattened myself even more against the wall. I could smell them before I saw them.
Again I had to stay my hand and not charge at them knowing that my superior fighting skill could not match the huge numbers roaming though the house in the end. Ten orcs passed my hiding place without noticing me or even looking into my direction.
I had to get out of the house. Here I could achieve nothing. Every room – from the library to the Hall of fire - was crowded with orcs, tearing all apart where they could get their filthy hands on.
The east wing of the house had long collapsed after the Uruks
had played havoc in the kitchen and somehow managed to dismantle the great hearth.
With no helpers there anymore to confine the fire it had unchecked spread throughout the room and beyond and left nothing but destruction in its wake.
I hastened through a side corridor but before I could reach the portal my blood run cold in my veins at the scene I could glimpse while hastening past a room.
I saw my youngest son Elrohir kneeling on the floor lifting the limp body of an elfling into his arms unaware of the Uruk behind the door it’s scimitar raised for the final blow.
Unbidden came the many dead children to my mind which I had encountered after checking on the nursery. My councillor Erestor and I had fought hard to reach this side of the house but after we had hacked our way through uncounted bodies of orcs our effort was in vain.
The orcs had made a thorough job of killing all elflings including Liriel and Thaniel, their nurses. Erestor had been killed too while holding four Uruhs in check to give me the opportunity to check on the children and look if anyone was still alive.
No breath anywhere in the nursery and one of my loyalist companions dead I fought the remaining Uruk down my fury lending me strength that was frightening.
This day had already seen the dead of my oldest son Elladan and of so many friends and companions that I thought there was no increase of sorrow possible. Yet the scene unfolding before me was promising otherwise.
I was going to lose another son. My heart nothing more then a deep and black hole, my hands are shaking with fury and from fever I uttered a battle cry in the hope to rescue at last one of my children.
To be continued……………………