Ohtacárë i nwalmë úquétima: The Battle of the Gulf of Lhûn

[Ecthelion]

Ecthelion shook his head at the messenger, he had other plans. The Corsairs were gone and the siege weapons let off lots of darke black smoke. Ecthelion looked over the water and could see quite far away the Corsairs in their boats sailing away, Ecthelion grinned a little. Ecthelion told the men to rest and counciled with the leaders and captains there. The spoke for nearly an hour when they finished. Ecthelion would be went off to the southside of the Gulf Of Lhun with 450 of the Ranger Army, 2,000 miltia, and 175 of Heren Istarions warriors. Nain Ironfoot started off to the northside of the Gulf, a little past the mountain's slope with 450 of the Ranger's Army, 2,000 miltia, and 150 of Heren Istarions warriors. Nain also sent infront of him a quick elf to tell Arathin and Heren Istarion what they were doing and to be on alert.

[Ecthelion]

Ecthelion spoke to his men on one side of the Gulf while almost at the same time Nain was talking to his men the same thing, "I have simple words for you all. Enimies may be coming a shore for one reason or another. Slay any underlings or normal orc warriors, but if you come across any men of high positions take all weapons, injure them if you must, then bound their wrists and ankles then send as small amount of men as you can to bring them back here where we will make camp." All the warriors nodded and construction on a crude camp began on both sides.

[Anamatar IV]

As the camp on the North side was setting up their camp a watch man called aloud that a number of horses were riding.

"Surely that is Heren Istarion!" Nain told those near him. Indeed the remaining 225 soldiers of Heren istarion, 50 swords men, 50 arches, 125 spear men, and the council of Heren Istarion of whom were back away West had come, though in little number. Soon they blended in with the green and brown cloaks of the Rangers.

[Ecthelion]

Nain welcomed Heren Istarion's coming and quickly went to find Ingolemo, when Nain found him Nain said, "It may be helpful to Ecthelion if you sent some men and some of your council to help on the other side of the Gulf." Nain watched as Ingolemo pondered on the statement and thought of an answer.

[Arathin]

An hour after Ingolemo arrived with the Helen Istario's forces, a new shadow of horsed riders were seen in the east. Soon it was apparent that it was Arathin and her Dunedain. She had remained at the city the longest to secure it and its people, but now she was furious that those Umbarians had gotten past her. She met with Nain, Ingolemo, and her Lord Ciryaher's trusted captain, Ervurkea. "We must defend this land!" She stated with such contained anger in her voice that it was as venom dripping from a freshly dipped blade. "I will not have these vile, servicers of the Dark Lord ravage my land and slaughter my people. We must leave the camp soon. I want all, ALL, officers or their servants brought directly to camp and an eagle sent to inform me of their capture immediately after they are caught. All captains will have an eagle messenger with them."

[Arathin]

Even as Arathin spoke these words, a small hobbit on a very tired pony came riding into the camp bearing a message from Lord Ciryaher's general Goldhram, containing precious information about the war in the east. Arathin read over the message quickly, and then turned to the hobbit. "What is your name, master hobbit?" "Olly Digwell, Mister Goldram sent me to give that there to ya, pretty lady." Arathin smiles sweetly at the hobbit, and called to one of her Dunedain bodyguards. "See to it that our dear Olly Digwell and his pony are well taken care of. Let them rest shortly before he leaves again to return to General Goldhram." The Dunedain nodded.

As soon as Olly Digwell, his pony, and the Dunadan were out of earshot, Arathin whirled upon the other leaders gathered. "A grave deed has been struck upon Arnor. Rivendell was attacked by Trolls of the Hithaelgir. Ingolemo, you take the Heren Istarion forces plus 1,000 of my militia and go to the aid of the east. You are to meet General Goldhram in Bree and from there follow his commands." Ingolemo gathered the militia and HI forces then left quickly to be to the Shire as soon as possible.

Arathin looked at Ecthe. "You must take the remaining Ranger forces and meet up in Harlond. You will take 1,000 of my militia with you and move west to the shore. Look for any officals. I want them sent them straight to Forlond immediately, understood?" Ecthe nodded and left, gathered the militia and his Ranger troop. He then left to meet up with Nain in Harlond.

Arathin called her men together. "Listen carefully to me, my people." She called out into the silence of the ranks. "A great terror hath stuck this beloved land of ours. We must purge it of this horror!" The troops cheered. "I must ask that 2,000 militia remain here at the Havens; 1,000 in Harlond, 1,000 in Forlond. You must protect the Havens from the foul enemy! The remaining 1,000 militia will accompany me and the 500 Dunedain into the west. We will seek out the enemy and destroy it!" The militia and Dunedain cheered; then split up in three districts, those for Harlond, those for Forlond, and those to leave with their lady Arathin. Arathin called for Olly Digwell. "My dear hobbit, you must return to General Goldhram and give him this. It details our plans." She handed Olly Digwell a message. The hobbit nodded. "It will be my honor, pretty lady." Arathin smiled cheerfully at the hobbit and sent him on his way. Then she, her Dunedain, and 1,000 militia moved out heading west from Forlond. The Lord Ciryaher's Captain, Ilmarion, from the Havens accompanied the Lady Arathin in her journey.

[Ecthelion]

Nain and his half of The Ranger army walked alone towards Harlond and Ecthelion's half with 1000 miltia came from the other way. The other 1000 miltia that Ecthelion had walked quicker to go whence they came. That night both groups met in Harlond to set up a camp that would hopefully stay awhile. Ecthelion rushed to find Nain so they could council, and they did so as they also looked out upon the waters in front of them.

[Turgon]

The battle in the Gulf raged on, and no side it seemed could gain the upper hand. The power of the Arnorian ships easily matched by the swiftness of the smaller corsair vessels. Turning hard to starboard the Adûnakor slipped passed the oncoming Eárkaraxë by the narrowest of margins. It was then that Sorontil caught a glimpse of the brown-skinned man standing upon the enemy deck.

'Jahrdur!' He hissed. 'An ill tide it was that brought you here...' Sorontil ran a hand across his grimy brow, convinced that it was fate that had thrown him up against the Haradan. 'Hard about!' he yelled to the helm's man, a fey fire burning in his eyes. 'Jahrdur of the Havens commands that beast. What glory awaits us if we capture his ship! Prepare to board!'

[Ecthelion]

Ecthelion sat alone on a log looking out upon the waters afore him. A little brown bird landed on his shoulder, a note tied to its leg, Ecthelion unrolled the letter and read it not knowing who it was from. It was from his mother, in Gondor, the armies of Gondor had surrrenedered, his mother and sister would have to obey the Mornclaurians or die. A single tear tumbled down his face, followed by many more. Thoughts ran through his head a mile a minute, mostly bad thoughts of pain and suffering to his family. Ecthelion looked up to the sky and fell to his knees praying to Eru that his family would not be harmed, but he knew that his prayer will most likely be in vain. Ecthelion wiped away his tears and walked back to camp. Upon arriving Ecthelion gave the note to Nain who read it was well, Nain looked up at Ecthelion and said, "I'm am so sorry Ecthelion, may the make it through these bad tiems unharmed." Ecthelion nodded and scribbled something on it the parchment quickly and sent the brown bird off to his family. Nain could see great anger grow in Ecthelion's eyes and saw it most fit to let him be alone for awhile. Ecthelion took a lonely stroll on the bay thinking soley about his family.

[Ciryaher]

Jahrdur roared and had the Eárkaraxë turn about. They sided up to a burning marine troop-transport and allowed the men to march aboard, saving them and also amassing a force to combat the Adûnakor.

He yelled something into the depths of the ship and then stood upon the prow of the mighty warship. "Target all arrows and ballistae upon the decks of the Umbarian flagship until we are locked against them. Fire grapples once we are stationary. Ramps lower and then our men will storm the ship. Watch out for oil-pots. Target them with ballistae before the men board and tip them onto the far deck. The oil will pour inside the ship, and the deck will be cool enough to walk on just as our men board." The orders went to a cluster of lieutenants who then ran to do their duty.

On the deck, the five-score troops arranged themselves in formations that would be later known as the testudo, with their shields facing in every direction to totally protect the formation. Their stout, but razor-sharp swords bristled out, presenting a moving block of pain and defense.

Four formations accumulated upon the great deck of the Eárkaraxë just as the volleys of arrows and ballistae smashed into the mighty Adûnakor. Just before the two ships' prows passed eachother, the submerged ram of the dromund turned to port, smashing into the hull of the Umbarian ship to the aft of its starboard side. There was a loud clamour as barbed harpoons shot into the hull of the Adûnakor and dragged it to the side of the Eárkaraxë.

Boarding ramps dropped and the four groups of highly trained and merciless marine-infantry stormed onto the flagship of the Corsairs. As this attack began, another troop-ship came up to the Arnorian flagship and unloaded another force onto her deck. Jahrdur told half of these to remain, and for the others to come across with him. He drew his scimitar and blew on a horn before he led another group charging across onto the Adûnakor.

-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-

To the dismay of the Umbarian ships furthest west in the great armada, a new fleet, just as mighty as the one they now battled, appeared on the horizon. Little did they know that yet another, and equally powerful, fleet held the mouth of the Gulf, preventing any entry........or escape.

[Ecthelion]

A small bird flew up to Ecthelion, the bird bore a letter from a friend of his, Sarion, in the Istarion army. Ecthelion opened it and read, the army was soon to be battling an evil force of about 300. Ecthelion knew there was nothing that he could do so far away, he scribbled on a piece of parchment and sent the bird back. It would fly over the battle until its end then swoop down to Sarion, if Sarion falls, it will go to anyone. The parchment simply said,

Send back the results of the battle soon as possible -Ecthelion

If no Istarion forces are left the bird will not come back. Ecthelion watched the bird fly away into the distance.

[Ecthelion]

Hours later Ecthelion looked to the east, he did not excpect to see anything, but lo! in the distance cam flying the small bird of his friend, Sarion. The bird landed on Ecthelion's shoulder bearung a small parchment, he opened it and read,

Ecthelion,
The forces against us fled, the dead aren't too many and there are few injured, I myself am ok with minor scratches and cuts. I'm not sure what we shall do now, but I wish you good luck my friend.
-Sarion

Ecthelion sighed and out the letter in his pocket and watched again the bird fly into the distance. Ecthelion could feel his time was coming soon.

[Ecthelion]

Ecthelion and Nain stood looking out at the water upon the many explosions and screams of battle on water. It was then that Ecthelion made up his mind, turning to Nain he spoke, "We are no longer needed here." Nain nodded and followed Ecthelion who spoke to Nain and other Captains briefly.

Soon all the Ranger army was packing away and leaving behind things that weren't needed any longer. A few hours later the army was off walking at a fairly quick pace towards The Shire.

[Ecthelion]

Nearly a day later the army marched up to the border of The Shire, guards came up to Ecthelion and Nain who led the army, the slightly taller hobbit looked at Ecthelion and questioned, "Why do you come to The Shire? Where do wish to go? Who are you? And who are you allied with?" Ecthelion answered the hobbit, "I am Ecthelion of The Rangers and General of its forces, we head to Stock to travel down the Brandywine. We are allied with Arnor and Lord Ciryaher." The hobbit nodded and turned to his fellow guard, they quickly discussed then the first hobbit answered, "Ok sir, welcome to The Shire." Ecthelion nodded and the army walked in heading for Stock.

[Ecthelion]

The army soon made it to Stock, instantley Ecthelion went to find a hobbit who had boats, minutes later Ecthelion found a hobbit who owned just enough boats for his army. The hobbit and Ecthelion started and about ten minutes later the hobbit agreed to take the army and Ecthelion and his men got onto boats with haste and began sailing south on the Brandywine.