In the distance, Mirecyla saw Miriel’s Giant, the Savage, in a stand-off with one of the Enemy Giants. There was a mass of elves converging on her from the southeast and one rider moving in from the northwest. Miriel was cornered but Mirecyla knew that she could make it through.
In front of her the elves had been racing just out of range, running towards the fence. There was a Giant-bat along with two dozen people gathered nearby it. Was this a trap?
Elrohir kept encouraging his soldiers even after sustaining such huge losses, “Come on, just a bit further!” He shot a red flare into the sky.
Mirecyla saw that he was still popping off smoke. Was this to distract her?
——-
“Incoming, Elrohir’s cohort, sir!” An elf cried to Celeborn. The Lord turned to see Sigeric giving out orders and stood back, allowing them to proceed. Let the Shifters take care of the situation. He would have to deal with figuring out what the hell this thing was.
The obelisks. The energy they exerted made it impossible to pass through them without certain death. It was a trap. So this was Morgoth’s plan? Trap them in Gorgoroth, cut off the Gondorian support and surround them in the Udun. What then? The traitor amidst our ranks? Were the Shifters in cohort with these Enemy Giants? Was this all a ploy to lure out their warriors? He shook his head and looked back at the Giant the girl had transformed into. She had grabbed a hold of Ha’zi and ran. Therefore the boy was important, not them. She had ignored everyone else. Was this all for him? Or was there something he was missing? Why not just abduct him? No. There was a bigger picture.
Surround the Gondorians and Crandil. Slaughter them? No, the Armoured Giant and that Snake we’re blocking their retreat but not outright attacking. Lock them in.
Cut off the Shifters and the Noldor. Capture Ha’zi. Perhaps he was an important goal but not the main one. The other Shifters...were they also to be captured. He looked out to see his grandson, Elrohir’s escort returning. Nothing had been heard from Elladan’s and Zaro’s seemed to be routing as well. They had lost a sizable portion of soldiers...
Slaughter the Noldorin forces. Cut off the Gondorians, block them in. Capture the Shifters.
It was all making sense. The Gondorians weren’t important, they merely served as an antagonist to Morgoth. If any survived and escaped, the Reunited Kingdom would come down like a hammer upon Mordor. They were being penned in like livestock, they would be killed, but by what? Were the Enemy waiting to capture the Shifters and defeat us before they kill off the Gondorian Cavalry Regiment?
Perhaps. Kill off the best of the elves here, destroy the leadership, eliminate the threat of the Noldor in Middle-Earth. Guarantee the secrecy of Morgoth in Mordor for a few months before another’s party is sent to investigate, allow Morgoth more time to plan. And the Shifters...capture and restrain them, perhaps, and eliminate them as a threat to Morgoth. Yes, it was all making sense. So the Shifters were the most important goal here.
“Master Burgins, stay close to my side.” He said to Daugo before turning to Sigeric who was about to fly off, “The Enemy’s plan relies on the capture of the Shifters. The Gondorians and us are merely pawns to be evisicerated by the Enemy. Do not allow any of you to be captured. Now, go! Bring back the boy. I trust in you to do so, Sigeric!”
———-
Glorfindel saw the Enemy Giant ahead of him. That girl. Damn her. The little shit had been with them since Minas Tirith. Right under their noses. And what else? The other Giants in the Gondorian ranks? Damn them all to the void.
He bid his horse to continue, rushing towards her feet.
——
”They’ve blocked us in, Major Crandil!” Commander Magath exclaimed. They had set up a rudimentary camp once the monoliths activated and the appearance of the two creatures at their rear became apparent.
“Nothing can breach that light. It’s a barrier preventing us from reaching the elves on the other side.” Lieutenant Mori stated.
“Sir, what do we do? The army has been roused and the Cavalry has formed ready to charge the Giant and the Snake but our arrows do nothing and everyone who has gotten close has been decimated.” Captain Amandil asked.
‘Quiet,” Crandil murmured, “I need some quiet.” He waited and thought.
“The Enemy doesn’t seem to be interested in engaging us head on. And there’s no point in wasting lives. We’re suffered fourty-two casualties as it is-“
“Fourty-four.” Captain Amandil interrupted.
Crandil sighed. ‘Fourty-four casualties. No more lives need to be spent. Hold your positions. Amandil, I want you at the front. Don’t send any more riders back to Gondor. They’ll just be killed by that damn snake; Mori will join you. Magath, stay here and try to destroy that black-ass monument. Pull it down if you have to! I’ll attempt to contact Lord Celeborn and his soldiers on the other side of the gridlock.” They all remained, gazing at him.
“That is all! To your stations!” He yelled, standing to attention.
“Sir!” They replied in unison and left.
