[alaklondewen]

The fruit of the enemy had taken Fornost. The streets lay in ruin, and the stench of the death and despair that surrounded the Counselor and his guard sought to overwhelm and overcome them. Ereglin covered his mouth and nose with his left hand and tightened his grip around the hilt of his sword with the other as they passed yet another scene where a small battle had occurred. Three young Dunedain lay where they fell, crumpled on the street. The Elf noticed the absence of their swords and wondered at the irony of others being slain by their comrades weapons.

“We must be careful, sir.” Gaeredhel called over a crash coming from their right. “The enemy holds no order.” His words were short and clipped by the steps he took. “They seem to be charged by the chaos that surrounds them.”

Ereglin nodded gravely just as shadow covered the city. The terrifying screech that followed cut into the Elf’s heart with a blade of darkness, and Ereglin stumbled momentarily...the Witch King had arrived. Darkness covered his eyes like a thick tapestry. Frantically, the Elf grabbed at his face and wiped his eyes, but he still could not see. A growing pressure gnawed on the edge of his mind, and he called out with as much force as he could muster, “A! Elbereth Gilthoniel!” Immediately, the darkness fell away from his mind like shards of glass, and Ereglin breathed deeply as though he had held his breath for several minutes.

“Lord Ereglin!” The guard’s voice broke brought him back into the dire scene. “We must move with all haste, sir...we are nearly to the Inner Sanctum!”

“Yes, with haste!” Ereglin followed Gaeredhel as they began to race toward the gates of the third level.

A crowd bustled around the entrance trying to file through. Many of the women were crying, as were their children, but as the Elf looked over their faces as they approached, he noticed one woman with a face as cold as stone. She carried with her a babe, hugged closely to her side, and Ereglin wondered how this woman, who’s sapphire eyes blazed, would fare. The Men parted enough to allow the Elves through, and they hastened to the King’s Hall.

One of the King’s guards met them at the base of the structure. “Lord Ereglin.” The guard quickly bowed and nodded to Gaeredhel. “Minister Mellonar is awaiting your arrival. All Elves are to assemble within the Hall.”

“Thank you,” Ereglin nodded to the guard, and he and Gaeredhel ran under the eaves of the great hall. At that moment, cries rose from the people within the third level and great crash was heard above them.