Defenders of Middle Earth: A Middle Earth Story(Book 3)

Chapter 16: Fireship

Smoke rose hundreds of feet into the air above the city, and as the company traveled forward they could clearly see the dark pillars billowing ahead. No sun rose that morning, dark clouds filling the sky instead and a chill wind blowing. Glorfindel and Caledorn rode at the front of the group, their eyes watchfully on the road. So far there had been no sign of the enemy, but both elves knew that their luck wouldn't last long.

As the came to the city they heard the growing din of a battle that had already begun. The faint clash of steel and the cries of elf and orc alike indicated that the walls had been breached, and the orcs were already inside the city.

"I'll ride ahead," Caledorn said, casting a grim look towards the rising smoke. "We should know what is going on before we rush blindly ahead."

"I'll go with you," Taliel added. "Going alone would be folly."

Glorfindel let out a weary sigh. "Very well. We shall await you here. If you don't return by noon, we'll follow you."

Caledorn spurred his horse ahead without further comment, his jaw set in determination and his emerald eyes narrowed. Taliel followed, her horse nervously swaying its head back and forth as the smell of smoke reached its nostrils.

They rode until they came to a hill overlooking the city. By the time they reached it the smoke had abated slightly, and it was clear from where they stood that the attack had been repelled. Destroyed siege towers lay smoldering against the bleached walls, and several corsair ships were aflame in the bay. The miniscule figures of elves could be seen hurrying about the city, attempting to put out fires and shoring up damaged portions of the wall.

"It'll be more difficult to enter the city now," Caledorn said quietly as he observed the enemy regrouping around the city. It was clear that while they had taken casualties, much of their force was still intact. It appeared as though they had erected dirt and wooden walls around the city, and had hastily constructed camps behind them.

"Their backs are unprotected," Taliel said, noting the lack of defenses at their flanks. "If we had more soldiers we could easily overwhelm them."

"Alas, twenty odd rangers and a few elves would do little more than give them another week's supply of food," Caledorn replied with distaste. "I do not see a way to break through."

Just then, a horn sounded from the city. The two elves looked down into it, attempting to find the cause of the call.

"...What is that?" Caledorn asked, pointing a gloved finger down into the valley.

"I don't believe it..." Taliel replied in disbelief.

Out of one of the shipyards a lone ship sailed forth. It was smaller than an elven warship, and rather than a single large sail it had two smaller ones, spread to either side like the wings of a great swan. No soul could be seen on the deck, and the ship was sailing straight forward, not steered by anything aside from the breeze.

In the bay ahead several dozen Corsair ships lie anchored, their black sails furled. Caledorn could make out movement on the decks, but he was unsure if they had even seen the elven ship.

It continued forward at a crawl, meandering towards the unwary fleet. Caledorn noticed an archer on the docks, a flaming arrow fitted to his longbow.

"What's he doing?" Caledorn asked in confusion.

"I do not know..." Taliel murmured, distracted by the sight in front of them.

Suddenly, as the elven ship reached the fleet, the longbowman loosed his arrow. The flames were not orange, rather they were silver, and the arrow looked like a shooting star as it arched across the dawn sky. In a few seconds, it landed on the deck of the elven ship.