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

Chapter 24: The Horn of Rivendell

"It's hopeless!" Cirdan exclaimed as he slammed a fist on the table. "We're completely surrounded. There's no way to call for help now."

Glorfindel let out a reluctant sigh of agreement. "Even I am beginning to think that victory here is unlikely."

"Victory is no longer an option."

All in the room turned to Caledorn, who was leaning against a thick pillar near one of the room's corners.

"What do you mean?" Taliel asked, slightly confused at Caledorn's confident tone.

"We will die fighting, on the offensive," Caledorn replied as he strode to the table. "The orcs are expecting a long siege. We cannot give them what they expect, we can inflict the most casualties if we take the initiative."

"Why do casualties even matter at this point?" Taliel insisted. "We'll all die anyway."

"Yes," Caledorn said. "But our sacrifice could keep this orc host from ravaging the West. If we cripple their forces we can prevent them from having free reign to raid freely."

At the dark-armored elf's words there was silence. Glorfindel nodded slowly in agreement, while Taliel and Cirdan seemed uncertain. Caledorn knew that there was little to no chance of surviving the coming battle. But he would not die like a caged animal here. He would make a stand worthy of the protector he was.

"Are you with me?" He asked.

Glorfindel stepped forward and placed his fist upon his chest. "I am, gwador. Let us do what we can to keep the West safe."

Taliel nodded as her eyes met Caledorn's. "Perhaps we can stop them from wreaking further havoc."

Cirdan shook his head reluctantly, finally closing his eyes and nodding. "It seems as if that is our only choice. Let us make our last battle one worthy of remembrance."

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Night had fallen by the time the survivors had prepared for battle. The city was still alight with flames, but the orcs had set up camps outside of the observatory and were no longer looting. Their raucous laughter and the occasional sound of a fight could be heard, and it sounded as if many of the orcs were drunk.

"Grog... Orcs thrive off of that putrid filth," Caledorn said, disgust evident in his voice.

"All the better for us though, we may be able to take them by surprise," Taliel replied as she watched out of one of the observatory's many windows.

"I shall take a company of archers to the right of their camp along the docks," Cirdan said. "We can have more archers at the windows here, ready to fire on our signal."

"I'll take what horsemen we have to flank them on the left. We can charge in once the archers are done firing." Glorfindel ran a finger along the blade of his sword, making sure that it was sharp.

"Taliel and I will charge out through the front doors on the signal," Caledorn asserted. "With luck we might be able to kill all of them before they have a chance to assemble."

"There's still the orcs outside the walls," Cirdan replied. "We won't be able to kill them all."

"No, but having the cavalry on that side will ensure that we aren't flanked," Glorfindel countered. "We should be able to inflict heavy casualties in very little time if all goes as planned."

"Well..." Cirdan mused before shrugging his shoulders. "We have little to lose. May the Eldar watch over us this night."