Tolkien's Battles

[piosenniel]

littlemanpoet

I was confronted with the horrendous task of describing the over-arching sweep of events that made the battle's actions and turning points, while not forgetting the individual heros and heroines.

Your quote reminded me of my favorite Tolkien battle: 'The Fall of Gondolin' from the Book of Lost Tales II.

From the first description of the Gondothlim watching in dread as their sky waxes redder and the snow on the mountains turns to red as if it were dyed with blood to the description of the king's tower beset with orcs, serpents of flame and balrogs, the tension builds and the hopelessness of the defense is seen. Morgoths troops sweep like a dark flame over the city, while the brave defenders rally and retreat until all is lost.

Great heroes rise up to fight against the foe - Tuor and the men of the Wing, Glorfindel, and Ecthelion to name a few.

Then leapt Ecthelion lord of the Fountain,fairest of the Noldoli, full at Gothmog even as he raised his whip, and his helm had a spike upon it he drave into that evil beast, and he twined his legs about his foeman's thighs; and the Balrog yelled and fell forward; but those two dropped into the basin of the king's fountain which was very deep. There found that creature his bane; and Ecthelion sank steel-laden into the depths, and so perished the lord of the Fountain after fiery battle in cool waters.

Great, epic battle scenes; haven't read better.