The Gondolindrim Kin

Chapter I

Amidst the chaos of the battle, few Goldolindrim succeeded to follow Tuor and Idril to anticipated safety. The surviving elven warriors only bore the armor they wore in battle, bows and a sheath of arrows slung on their shoulders. The children and non-warriors only had the clothes on their backs. No food was among them.

They were headed south to Eagle's Cleft, a narrow passage through the Encircling Mountains past the plain of Tumladen.
Tremendous mayhem reigned behind the Gondolindrim. Orcs and Balrogs attacked the Hidden City, and magnificent dragons soared over the Tower of the King and blew fire in the midst of the chaos.

The company sped toward Eagle's Cleft. Battle cries echoed through the lowland, and splatters of red were painted on the black canvas sky.
Gelwen and Mistnith were in the middle of the throng, running alongside their kin. They were halfway through the plain when a harsh voice towards the front of the crowd grunted an order for fifty men to lead him to the rescue of his son.
"What does he speak of, Gelwen?" Mistnith uttered as she struggled to watch the men gather in front of the throng and quickly depart across the plain.
"Tuor was speaking, Mistnith. He needed aid to rescue his son."
"It's far too dark," Mistnith complained. "I cannot see where the men are going."
"Come, sister. We must follow our people. The men will surely meet us at Eagle's Cleft," Gelwen assured.

"Orcs!" Someone cried from the back of the crowd. The warning was immediately interrupted by a screech, and silence followed. The orcs were attacking the refugees.

Gelwen's eyes widened in utter terror, for she knew the company was still in grave danger. "We must get to safety!" She emphasized to the elves surrounding her, "Do not give up hope! We are nearly to Eagle's Cleft!" With this she grasped her sister's hand and picked up the pace.

At last, the survivors reached the mouth of the trail. But they had not yet reached safety. The narrow pass had a cliff to one side and a sheer drop on the other.
"You must be cautious, Mistnith. The passage is dangerous."
Gelwen carefully followed the elf in front of her once she began to ascend up the mountain. Her sister was on her heel. The slight wind caused the she-elf before Gelwen to falter toward the precipitous drop. Gelwen desperately tried to steady her so the poor elf wouldn't plunge off the cliff, but she was too late. She lost her footing and plummeted off the precipice. After her downfall, a boulder took her place, startling Gelwen. From above the passage, orcs hurled rocks at the unexpecting Gondolindrim. Gelwen dropped her moist hands from her face that were soaked in tears caused by the fallen elf's misfortune, and kept ascending up the mountain in fear of a rock driving her off the cliff.
"Are you alright, Mistnith?" She inquired, praying for a call behind her.
"Yes," her sister assured. "Now keep moving!"
Obeying her sister, Gelwen continued up the never-ending path of terror.

Thundering footsteps sounded from the mouth of Eagle's Cleft. A Balrog was approaching, sent to destroy the remaining Goldolindrim. The fiery beast had colossal wings with hands and feet to crush its opponents. The creature was fifteen feet tall with ram's horns and a mane of flames. Orcs themselves were afraid of Balrogs because they were the demons of Middle Earth.

Rocks rained down on the elves and path alike. The Gondolindrim were frightened for their lives at the approaching Balrog and the orcs around them attempted to wipe out the remainder of the race who were climbing to safety.