The sky was stormy, and the Elves arrived under cover of thick fog.
"This is to our advantage." Mirineth, the leader of the assembled party looked up at the rain from underneath the cover of the ancient watchtower at Gwingris. "The enemy will not be forewarned of an army assembling here."
And an army it was. So many had pledged their help to search for, and perhaps rescue, a friend dear to them. The Vanimar were assembled, as was the warband of Imladris and the Laiquendi. Every clan had at least sent a representative. Andarne and Tinuvinil of the Malledhrim were here, on leave from their duties in Mirkwood. Several others looked like they had come from the fronts, but some also were clearly friends of Nimlith, not used to war. Even some Men were there - and a Hobbit, insisting she was a friend of Nimlith's. She had joined them at Rivendell, saying she had heard of Nimlith's disappearance, and would not be convinced to stay behind for her own safety.
Mirineth looked over the arriving parties with a mixture of pride and pity in her face. They were eager for news, begging her to speak to them.
"At the moment we do not know if Nimlith is even alive, or can be rescued," she admitted, shaking her head. "We are waiting for word... but our scouts have not returned. Where is Huinen?"
Miji, Nimlith's great-grandniece, turned around from where she was holding lookout. "He has not yet been seen today. I hope he has not been captured himself."
They looked out into the gloom. Nothing seemed to be escaping from the fog here. A good omen... or a bad one? Mirineth looked at Miji, standing lonely and not betraying emotion. Was she not caring about her aunt being captured, perhaps dead? Or was she simply not capable of letting this into her mind, lest grief overwhelmed her? It was hard to tell with these Nandor.
Suddenly, something stirred in the courtyard below. Shouts rang up to them. "It is Huinen! He has returned!"
They climbed down and assembled in the court of Gwingris. Finally they could see the army assembled in strength. It was certainly a force to be reckoned with, even against a sizeable Orc company. All now looked with concern at Huinen, who stood there silently, his head downcast, waiting for the right moment to speak.
"I have grave news..."
Taking out a bundle from his bag, he finally looked at them.
"This was found, two days ago already. An Orc was carrying it..."
He revealed a thin circlet of silver leaves, bent and battered but still shining with the clearness that only jewelry of elf-make could achieve.
"I believe it is Nimlith's." Miji stepped forward, looking at the Circlet. "Yes, I think she wore this before."
Huinen nodded. "It is Nimlith's... it was a gift." He looked down, then spoke on slowly, as if each word was giving him pain.
"I... asked the Orc... where Nimlith was to be found." He coughed. "He told me that the Dúnlendings had taken her... that she was to be taken someplace else. He... fell on my knife before he could tell me more..."
This caused a stir in the assembled party.
"The Dunlendings! Then we must make haste."
"The Dunlendings are not known for their hospitality... it may already be too late."
"Where shall we search first?"
Huinen held up a hand.
"Before he died, he said something strange... 'Sharkû will get you all.' I wonder what this means."
Mirineth and Miji nodded, memorizing the phrase. It was something to be discussed, later. But for now, time was pressing.
"We shall move out and rendezvous with the scouts! Everyone, take your horses and follow us."
The journey through Eregion took time, and with some concern the party noted that the weather was clearing up.
"No good," Mirineth mumbled. "We shall have to wait for darkness to approach then."
She had them stop at nightfall, just south of Echad Eregion, to rest their horses and themselves before the expected battle. Several scouts had then appeared from the woodworks and met with her and Huinen in secret conversation. The rest of the party studied their faces from afar, trying to read whether the news was good or bad.
Finally, they reached a conclusion and rejoined the army.
"Listen to me!" Leaning on her staff for support, Mirineth raised her other arm and waited for the noise to die down.
"Nimlith is being held in a camp south of here. It is on the top of a hill with great vistas, so taking it by stealth will be very hard. But if we rush in, they will surely kill the prisoner and escape..."
The leaders of the assembled parties nodded. They had enough experience to know the camp's placement was strategically sound; easy to defend, hard to attack by surprise.
"What do you suggest we do?"
"I suggest we split up." Maedhran spoke up.
Mirineth nodded. "Yes, split up. We will send an advance force, taking out the scouts by stealth to stop them from raising an alarm. Then we shall move in at once from all sides, overwhelming them before they can react."
She looked at Huinen. "Having to rely on stealth also means I shall not be able to come. Huinen and Miji will lead you."
Huinen nodded. "I shall lead the advance force. Who is with me?"
They selected one of the best hunters from each kin, able to glide through the night like the wind, with no sound or shape betraying their presence. Miji and the others looked after them with worry on their faces.
The scouting party climbed the hill in silence, looking at the palisades of the camp above. It was large enough to hold a company of Dunlendings, but it seemed very quiet - not the bustle of a war camp, or the constant racket of an Orc place. Whoever led these Dunlendings knew discipline.
They split up into pairs, approaching from every direction. With sharp Elf-vision, they could spot the shapes of horsed guards outlined against the stars. Quickly they decided on their tactics, and moved in.
Miji paced around the campfire, eagerly awaiting the party's return. The army was getting restless. Lookouts tried to glimpse a sight of the goings-on at the palisades, but everything was hidden by distance and night.
"If they do not return soon, the camp will be alerted simply by the noise of this army," she thought. "Where are they?"
Suddenly, something stirred in the darkness. "I seek Miji! Where is she?"
Miji stepped forward. "I am here. What news?"
A scout appeared out of the night. "Huinen told me to find you. We are to approach from the eastern side - it is less exposed. Move in the army."
Miji nodded and gave the signal to her captains. "We're moving in."
Elves can move stealthily with surprising speed. The army had entered the camp and overwhelmed the gate guards before a single alarm had sounded.
The Dúnlending leader cursed and shouted in her rough language. "Attack! Kill them! Move, you wretches!"
The battle was fierce and short. The camp had likely been an outpost to be defended in times of war, but the Dúnlending company holding it now was small, likely only travelling through. They were no match for the wrath of the Elves.
Seeing her brethren were overwhelmed, the Dúnlending leader yelled a dark curse in her tongue and dashed to a tent set towards the back of the camp.
"Move no further!" She shot an evil look against her pursuers. "I will kill her!"
The Elves hesitated. In the darkness of the tent, they could see a sleeping figure.
The Dunlending crouched down and harshly pulled up the figure, setting a shining blade to her throat. It was Nimlith, gagged and bound and seemingly feverish. Her clothes were ragged and stained with blood down one side, where a a gash revealed a savage wound on her left leg.
"Step back I tell you!"
Maedhran tried to reason with her. "Let her go! You must see that your situation is hopeless!"
But the Woman only looked at him in panic. "You killed my army! My army!," she screeched. "You will pay for this!"
Huinen looked at the Dunlending, then the others. "Do what she says. Move back. She is scared." He turned back to the Dunlending and spoke, in Westron: "Can you understand me?"
Nimlith slowly opened her eyes, feeling the cold metal on her skin. She struggled weakly, attempting to get out of the Woman's grip. A drop of blood appeared on her throat where the knife touched it.
"Please, don't hurt her." Miji spoke up. "What do you want?"
"I will, if you do not step back!" The Dúnlending held Nimlith in front of her, shielding herself from the dozens of Elven arrows trained at her. "You will listen to me! I want a hostage - one who can walk. Then you shall let me go."
"Let me take a shot," Andarne whispered to Miji. "I can hit her."
Miji shook her head silently. Too risky.
She gently pushed back the party, leaving the Dúnlending some room. "What shall we do?," she whispered in her own language. "Give in? Or try something stealthy?"
Huinen stood lonely, still talking to the Dúnlending. "What is your name?"
"I am Cymrat, leader of the Dunlendings. You killed my brothers! Why should I trust you?"
"We shall not harm you... just... let her go." He turned to the others. "She is nervous, she may do something foolish if you do not give her room. Only Miji, stay."
The leader shook her head again. "No. Give me another hostage, one who can walk. Then we shall talk." She gestured to Huinen.
"You will do. She is of no use to me."
Huinen nodded grimly and took off his bow. "I shall go with you."
Nimlith frantically shook her head, trying to speak through a gagged mouth.
"Nimlith... do not struggle. Leave now." Huinen's voice was so soft only an Elf could hear it. He handed his bow and sword to Miji and stepped to the Dúnlending, who immediately dropped Nimlith and held her knife up to Huinen's throat.
"Out!" She gestured frantically at the Elves, backing towards the exit and keeping Huinen's body in front of hers at all times.
Miji rushed to her aunt to remove her bonds and the gag from her mouth. "Nimlith! Are you badly wounded?"
Nimlith looked up at the assembled Elves in wonder, only now seeing the strength of the force that had come to rescue her.
"Not grievously. I can walk." Her face showed determination. She looked around for something to lean on, grabbing a spear shaft from a fallen enemy nearby. Gripping it tightly, she got up.
Miji watched her aunt worriedly. She was clearly in much pain, her hands gripping the spear so tightly her knuckles had turned white.
The Elves were clustering in, wondering what would happen now, offering aid. Even the Hobbit, moved to tears by seeing her friend rescued, offered a slice of honey-cake to her. "You'll feel better!" Nimlith took it and stared at it. Her eyes were feverish. "Thirsty... I need..."
Miji held a flask of tea to her mouth. "Drink." She looked around. "What is happening to the other hostage?"
Nimlith looked up. "The other...?"
"Lord Huinen, where is he?"
Something like fear came into Nimlith's eyes.
Outside, Andarnes bow twanged. Huinen, ignoring the knife at his throat, quickly unwound himself from the Dúnlending's grip, grabbing the blade and catching her fall as she tumbled to the ground, struck in the leg by an arrow.
The other Elves closed in. Andarne took the arrow and broke it off at the shaft. "Do not move, Woman."
"You shall be our prisoner now." Huinen looked at the Woman with vengeance in his eyes.
They carried the prisoner back inside the palisades, threw her down in front of the fire.
"It is only a matter of time before the racket here alerts the other camps. We should leave quickly." Maedhran looked at the horizon, where a thin line of light announced the approaching dawn. "Burn the camp, there is enough kindling to be found here. Leave nothing behind."
Huinen nodded grimly. "A wise plan. But first, we need to decide what to do with our prisoner."
The Woman spat. "I shall not beg for mercy from you."
"You have nothing to ask for." Huinen looked at Nimlith. "What shall we do?"
Nimlith looked at the Woman, then at the bodies lying in the camp. Her face looked weary.
"Let her go..." she whispered.
A gasp escaped some of the assembled Elves. "Let her go? But she..."
"You want us to let her go, to continue her evil another day?"
Nimlith shook her head sadly. "Too many have died today already. Leave her."
"At least let us take her prisoner, to negotiate."
Cymrat lay crouched on the ground, her eyes closed. But underneath her lashes, a cold glimmer appeared. Suddenly she jumped up, a hidden dagger springing from her sleeve, dashing towards the Elf.
Nimlith looked up, trying to shout a warning. But she had no time...
Then the Woman sank to the ground, stabbed by a spear through her ribs. "Bu..." She looked at the spear, her lips moving soundlessly. The life left her eyes, and she fell over.
Huinen sank the spear deeper into her body, then pulled it out. "So... it is ended."
Nimlith nodded. "She chose death."
"She was too far gone to the Shadow... we could not have saved her."
"Yes. But... she had to be given the choice." Nimlith's face was dark as she turned away, leaning on her staff heavily.
They slowly made it out to the entrance. Despite the many arms offered for help, Nimlith insisted to take the steps out of the camp on her own. Only then she accepted to be helped up on Lord Huinen's horse, to be taken to safety.
Behind them, the flames started to consume the camp. Dawn was coming - it would be a bright day in Eregion.
