Rhayader nodded and walked back to the hall where the sick and wounded were. He strode over to a healer.
"Can I help at all?"
The young woman looked back at him and shook her head.
"No thank you. I think you would just get in our way."
Rhayader frowned then looked at his cruches and nodded.
"Very well."
He turned and walked out back to the wall of the Hornburg. He looked out on the plains before the castle. Many bodies still laid out on the earth where he picked up his injuries. He sighed and sat on a barrel.
"Wish I was better."

_________________

"Rock N' Roll is the only relgion that never lets you down!" ~ Lemmy Kilmister

[!*#_:]

Jax looked around at the activity,something was going on.

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Visit The Varsian Kingdom!

Aemornion heard the last spoken words from Jax as he strode out towards the main gate. He didn't wish to debate any further for both of their sakes and he hoped that Arinae would reason with Jax better. Half way into the night all of the filth was thrown out and burried more in mud then in soil. After completing the tasks he noticed men carry in the wounded from the camp towards the Hornburg. Aemornion's brows furrowed in slight puzzlement and fear of what may cause such a choice for the enemy was still in the caves and a safe refuge was outside of them and the Deep for now. Atleast that was his first impression for he had no knowing of the coming of the scout.

The heavy pounding of the hammers could be heard in the back as the cave entrance was getting sealed as best as it could be from the provisions they have available. His heart relaxed a bit as a burden fell of it for he was worried the enemy might strike when the men were the weakest.

As he walked with a weary step back towards the Hornburg he noticed Arinae pace to and fro searching obviously for him. He noticed the wearied expression from before streak her face but there was something more that troubled her deeply and gave her a slight pale complexion. Suddenly he realised what would be the reason for ordering out the evacuation of the camp. He let out a heavy sigh as he stepped up to her

"Is it what I suspect it might me?" he murmured to her as he stood infront of her. His glance strayed from the dark horizon of the east back to Arinae but it was filled with wearyness and burden of things that will come yet still hope lingered deeply in his eyes

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I do not love the bright sword for its sharpness, nor the arrow for its swiftness, nor the Warrior for his glory. I love the homeland which they defend.

Arinae gave a reluctant nod, her gaze cast down for a brief moment as she took a deep breath before speaking. "A scout brought word of an enemy force not far Northeast of here, barely a few hills distance and closing in swiftly. I am having the wall breach repaired to the best of our ability, so the weak point in our defence will not be seen immediately. A craftsman of one of the nearer villages has taken on securing the entrance of the caves... with hope, we should hold, but I fear the number that may come to us from the Northeast. The scout was unable to tell the number for he wished to bring the news swiftly..."

Arinae's gaze was slightly distracted, as it wandered from one point to the next, as though in thoughts of preparation for what may be a long and gruesome battle which would test them to the brink, if not destroy them.

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I am a pro-cycling fan! Congrats to the Young rider of the Tour de France!
~Cyclist in Training~

As Khamdul worked to heal the wounded, he heard the words "enemy" and "northeast". Neither of them sounded good. If there were hostiles inside the caves and in the northeast, then this army would be trapped in a pincer movement. He wished he could go inside the cave and kill every single one of them. But he knew he couldn't; he watched by the leaders of this army. He kicked at an Orc helmet in frustration.

_________________

I was cured all right.

With a heavy sigh realising that it is no nightmare but a bitterful reality, Aemornion cast his helmet aside while lowering his head and rubbing the forehead.

"Of all the news, this one is the most ill of all" he spoke in a low voice and it seemed all his will for life left him for a heart beat. He slowly regained his composure and looked towards the hills creeping in the dark. "A few hills away you say?" he continued but with a more firmer tone "If so, the force shall arrive at daybreak. A possible few thousand against a couple of houndred."

he smirked slightly "History repeats itself but we miss one major detail that goes to our disadvantage. We got possibly the enemy in our back yard also as well as infront." a grim smile crossed his features.

"We must call out for help or we are doomed and most likely dead" he continued as he cast his glance back at Arinae "Gondor is too far away to expect help from them, it is in the newly restored Northen Kingdom of Arnor we must lay our hopes to. Send out two messangers towards Anuminnas with the scroll i will write for each of them. Both must ride their own separate ways for if one fails and gets slain, we still have the other to hope for the message arrives" he spoke as his voice firmed and his face grew more stern and determened

"Come! Let us prepare as best as we can and give a battle that will be sung of for many years" he clasped reacourigingly Arinae's arm while forcing a slight smile with a glint of pride in his eyes.

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I do not love the bright sword for its sharpness, nor the arrow for its swiftness, nor the Warrior for his glory. I love the homeland which they defend.

Arinae nodded firmly to his words, though doubt still coursed through her mind, as she wondered how many lives would be lost before the much needed aid would arrive, but his words and firm tone gave hope and new courage.

"I will have the two swiftest horses prepared, Milord, and the most able riders ready to take leave when the order is given" Arinae replied, inclining her head slightly.

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I am a pro-cycling fan! Congrats to the Young rider of the Tour de France!
~Cyclist in Training~

Jax stopped the conversation and continued on trying to help where he could.

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"I think I know how we can deal with the enemy in the caves," Khamdul said quietly to the leaders. "It is risky, dangerous, and mostly immoral, but the ends will justify this. I can go with some of you guys disguised as Wild Men and Orcs into the caves. The Orcs will naturally assume me as their ally and that assumption could aid us. We can somehow get their leaders outside the caves where we would assassinate them. I can't meet the army coming upon you with the guise of diplomacy I fear. That army mostly likely has the very men that betrayed me."

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I was cured all right.

Jax Listened to the words spoken. It sounded good to him.

"I would be willing to try that."

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Visit The Varsian Kingdom!

"Very well milady" Aemornion nodded to her words and hurried off into the Hornburg. There he found what he searched for, few sheets of parchmets, an ink bottle with a pen and a candle that lit it. Swiftly he took a seat by the table and begun to write down the message that should be brought to the north with a firm and clear script.

--------------------

For: Lord Hargond, son of Halbarad, captain-general of the Silver Company

Greetings my brother,

sadly I bring ill news from the Southern lands but this time the threat does not lie in Gondor but among our allies of Rohan. Lady Arinae called out for assistance some time ago and Gondor answered to their call with a good force. The enemy took Helm's Deep and the fortunes were turned against the Rohirrim for another force pushed them against the wall of their own creation. By the will of fate and the Valar alike, we came in time but the battle was fierece and heavy. Many men fell on both sides thus weakening the force.

The ill fortune does not end here, soon after we recaptured Helm's Deep and the Hornburg we were faced with another burden. The Glittering Caves are probalby filled with the enemy, somehow we managed to seal them in and as I write this letter to you my old friend the enterence was sealed for the time being. How long will it last and how big is the force inside, I do not know. A few hours ago a scout came from the North East, a new force is coming our way also, numbers unknown. We are weak and require aid for we may not manage do defend the keep, too few of us left compared to the incoming force. Gondor is too far away so now I turn to you and your men. Come swift my brother if you can, darkness is creeping in swift on us.

Signed,
Maethor Aemornion, son of Berenion, captain of the White Tower

P.S. Bring cloverleaf spears and many arrows

--------------------

With that Aemornion rolled up the two same parchements he wrote and sealed them with the wax from the candle and while it was hot he pressed the blade pommel against it marking it with the sign of the White Tree.

Swiftly he walked out towards the riders prepared for the run and presented to each of them one scroll. "Ride hard!" he said "Take the road swiftly but be careful, branch out in time as you go. All our hopes lie within you"

The two men nodded and with a swift kick and a horse whinny they bolted off into the night.

"May Lord Manwe give you swift winds in your backs" Aemornion murmured and turned to walk back towards the others and get ready preperations for another blood drenched battle

_________________
I do not love the bright sword for its sharpness, nor the arrow for its swiftness, nor the Warrior for his glory. I love the homeland which they defend.

As the Captain of Gondor left to fullfill the task of the written parchments, Arinae was left to handle the suggestion that came her way in the form of Khamdul.

Slowly she shook her head, though her thoughts were distracted by the persistant ache in her shoulder. "No, that is too risky, and what good would it do to open the caves when they have already been closed in? The enemy within would surely become suspicious upon seeing strangers to their force enter..."

She sighed heavily and lowered her gaze. "It might still be possible, but the risk is too high... would should at the least wait until we have aid here, or our men have been well rested."

Suddenly there came a cry from the craftsman and the men who had secured the gate to the glittering caves. Also heard was a dull thudding behind the barracade, and the wood and iron began to quiver under the enemy pounding from within.

"Men to arms!! Guard the gates!" At Arinae's cry, archers who had previously been told to be prepared, set ready their bows from a safer distance, though they did not yet draw their strings.

Arinae rushed forward with several other men to come beside the craftsman, watching carefully how the support would hold against the ruthless beating of the enemy. It held well, even though it shuddered, but still swords were drawn and steps taken backward as they awaited the possible onslaught.

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I am a pro-cycling fan! Congrats to the Young rider of the Tour de France!
~Cyclist in Training~

Rhayader watched the men rush past him, grabing swords, shields and bows. He had not heard what had happened, too focused on his own thoughts. He slowly stood trying to avoid the many running men and walked to the edge of the wall looking down at where the men were heading. The caves! There must be more left. Rhayader grabbed a bow and a quiver of arrows and walked around until he could see the entrance. He pulled up a barrel and sat down waiting for any movement.

_________________

"Rock N' Roll is the only relgion that never lets you down!" ~ Lemmy Kilmister

[!*#_:]

Jax raised over with his sword out ready to help in the fight if needed.

_________________




Visit The Varsian Kingdom!

As the depth of the night spread its gloom around, Aemornion suddenly heard the cries coming from the barracade of the Cave enterence. Swiftly he ran towards them calling all available men capable of wielding a blade or holding a bow bent with him.

He noticed Arinae standing with the unsheathed sword along with all other men. Aemornion loosened his blade alike from its sheath and held it by his side.

"Let us hope it will hold for some length of time" he murmured towards Arinae as he stood by her side "and perhaps if we became lucky maybe they will give in and leave the caves." he sighed then while tightening the grip on his sword hilt "But as I know those foul wretches, it will not be so"

Aemornion then swiftly turned around to the men and spoke with a firmed tone he built up over the years well "Archers, form a line and prepare volleys!" he commanded while motioning with the sword "Swordsmen, first line in a crouched position!"

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I do not love the bright sword for its sharpness, nor the arrow for its swiftness, nor the Warrior for his glory. I love the homeland which they defend.

((I'm back!))

Tindomerel had left Rhayder to take lead Lebethron to Helm's Deep. An eerie feeling fell over her as she entered the Hornburg. She shivered, remembering...

Tindomerel had quickly tied Lebethron to another post, to keep the stallion from wandering off. She aided the wounded as much as she could. The elf had nocticed Rhayader, walking around with his cruches, and cursed him, in her tongue. She kept an eye on him as she continued to help the wounded.

Tindomerel heard Arinae's cry, and spun around, turning to run to where Arinae's voice had come from, hand ready on her sword. She drew it as she saw the entrance to the caves. She heard the Gondorian captain's orders, but spotted Rhayader and stood by his side.

"What do you think you're doing?" asked the elf, glaring at him, trying her best to look mad, "You should be resting."
Her glare was slightly softened.

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The Ever So Confused One

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