"I will not leave you, Thorwen!" - Calenamath

22nd June/Nórui, 3018, The Enclave of the Temple of Morgoth, The Emyn Duir.

The thud from the cell door echoed down the dark stone passage. Calenamath informed the guard he was on his way to report to Nuta. Like all members of the temple, the Guard wore black attire with the eye of Sauron emblazoned on his tunic. He had a black turban on his head and, like the priests, he kept his face covered with a black scarf. He nodded with acknowledgement and Calenamath was relieved that he had not noticed anything different about the postulant he had left the cell with.

They walked unhurriedly to the end of the passage, but Calenamath did not speak until they were safely out of sight. "We are going to release the other prisoners. Keep your head down until we reach the cells."

"What if someone speaks to me?" whispered Thorwen.

"They won't. You are dressed as a postulant. They take a vow of silence."

As they walked, Nuta and Saruman appeared from the other direction. "Follow my lead," whispered Calenamath, and they both bowed low as they approached.

Nuta's single dark eye bore into him as if searching for some flaw. "Hail Acolyte, is the Gift fed and ready for the journey?" asked Nuta.

"She is, High Priestess," replied Calenamath.

"And did she give you any trouble?" asked Saruman.

Calenamath could feel the power of his voice upon him, but resisted and remained composed. "She did not, My Lord!"

Nuta's crooked smile broadened. "Excellent. Go to the cells and oversee the movement of the prisoners to the waggon in the south tunnels. This Enclave must be completely abandoned by the time the Elves arrive."

"As you wish, High Priestess."

Nuta dismissed them. But Saruman eyed Calenamath suspiciously as they passed each other. Further along the torch-lit passage, they went, not daring to turn around. Even though Calenamath was sure he could feel Saruman's eyes upon him. Once he was sure Nuta and Saruman were out of the way, He handed Thorwen a dagger and she slipped it up the sleeve of her robes.

Soon they reached the main cell complex, which was made up of several large cage cells. Each tightly packed with prisoners in manacles. There were Elves, men, even women and children. They were of the Woodmen and the Beornings, allies of the Wood Elves who came under the Lordship of Grimbeorn, the Old, son of the great shapeshifter, Beorn.

The women comforted the children as best they could. Whilst the Men and Elves stood defensively at the door of the cages. Ready to prevent any prisoner being removed by the guard, who stood watching, a whip held firmly in his hand. Bregwen was a prisoner in one cage and Calenamath caught her eye as he passed her.

Once he placed the eating utensils on a side table, Bregwen picked a fight with one of the Beornings. "Settle down, you two!" demanded the guard, and he went to bring his whip down on them. But Bregwen caught the end in her hand and pulled it towards the cage. As the guard tried to retrieve the whip, Calenamath came up behind him, breaking his neck before he could summon aid. "Search the body for keys!" he ordered Thorwen.

Thorwen searched the body, finding a ring of keys on his belt, and tossed them to Calenamath. He broke it open and set about unlocking the cage doors to release the prisoners. The smaller keys he passed about so the prisoners could unlock their manacles. But there was no time for celebrations. "Hurry, there is not much time, we must get to the armoury!"

Several Beorning men remained to keep watch. Stating that they carried the blood of the old bear and were hungry for priestly blood. Calenamath put his finger to his lips. Then led Thorwen and the remaining prisoners silently down a torch-lit passage towards the Armory. So far, his plan was going well, but the next stage would be pivotal.

He stopped at a junction and gave Bregwen a silent command. She and two other Elves then ran around the corner. There was a minor scuffle and Calenamath was relieved to hear the armory door being unbolted. Looking about him to ensure the other passage was empty, he motioned for the others to follow him.

Around the corner, the Armory lay at the end of the brief passage. Its heavy door was now wide open and Bregwen was quickly dragging the corpses of two guards into the Armory itself. Calenamath ushered everyone inside, then closed and barred the door behind him.

Thorwen and the other prisoners hastily armed themselves, while Calenamath kept watch through the peephole in the Armory door. Bregwen and another Elf dressed in the guards' uniforms.

When all was ready, Calenamath explained that he and Thorwen would pretend to lead a group of prisoners with Bregwen and her companion in the rear. "Do not reveal you are armed unless it is in self-defence. The quicker we can get to the caverns, the better."

"What happens when we get to the caverns?" asked one man.

"I have scouted a way out onto the mountainside and the Elven army will already be approaching. Lady Thorwen will lead you to safety. Whilst I and any volunteers shall join with the Elven army and flush the temple from this place."

As they left the Armory, Bregwen grabbed a torch from the wall. Calenamath and Thorwen walked slowly down the maze of passages as if they were priests leading a group of prisoners. Every time a priest passed them, Thorwen avoided their gaze. Then, one priest approached Calenamath and asked him where he was headed.

"I am taking the prisoners to the transport waggon."

The priest paused for a moment. Calenamath tightly gripped the concealed dagger beneath his robes. But the priest nodded and continued down the passage. The whole company breathed a sigh of relief and set off again, till at last the neatly quarried stone gave way to more roughly cut tunnels. The tunnels opened out into a network of dimly lit caves.

Two Elves remained at the entrance to keep watch, while Calenamath pointed out the direction they needed to go to exit the mountain. But as he surveyed the path, Calenamath noticed a nest of sleeping Orcs on a rocky outcrop. Barring their way. "We should split into small groups and creep past them. If the Orcs wake, we will be in a better position to defend ourselves. Lady Thorwen and I will go first."

But Thorwen insisted the women and children should go first. It did not surprise him. Her childhood experiences had made her very protective of the vulnerable. It was one of the many things he admired in her. He could see how much she had grown in wisdom in his absence. That she was going to make a great and wise queen when she came of age. But first, he must ensure he got her out of this dreadful place and safely returned to Thranduil.

Bregwen and a couple of Elves volunteered to lead the women and children past the Orcs and they split into two small groups. The escapees held their breath as Bregwen carefully led the first group slowly past the sleeping Orcs. To everyone's great relief, they made it across safely. But there was no time for rest. As Bregwen signalled for the next group to join them.

At one point, one orc appeared to stir, but the Elves kept the children calm enough to pass by safely. When they reached the other side, Bregwen and the Elves quickly ushered the women and children through the cave exit and out into the twilight.

Calenamath took Thorwen by the arm. "We should go next!" he urged.

But at that moment, a blast from a distant horn echoed through the caverns, rousing the sleeping Orcs. The two Elves who had been on watch fled from the tunnel. "The priests are coming and they have a wizard with them, clad in white!"

Calenamath unsheathed his sword. "Then we must fight our way out!"

"I can hold them off. You take on the Orcs. I will follow after," said Thorwen.

"I will not leave you, Thorwen!"

"Then stand back!"

While the rest of the escaped prisoners attacked the Orcs, Thorwen ran to the edge of the cavern. She threw back the hood of her cloak and cast the scarf aside. She closed her eyes and held her arms aloft. Words came into her mind and she instinctively knew how to use them. To call upon her friends, the stones to aid her in her time of need. The ground trembled beneath her feet and then rocks tumbled into the entrance, blocking it completely.

Calenamath noticed that Thorwen did not diminish after using her Will. She was getting stronger. Thorwen unsheathed the short sword she was carrying, and they hurried to join the others. By now Bregwen had returned and was helping to mop up the last of the Orcs. "We should leave them to it. That blockage will not last long if Saruman is with them."

As if tempting fate, the blockage exploded, sending rocks and debris hurtling through the air. One struck Calenamath in the head, knocking him out. When he came to his senses, someone had removed his cloak and scarf and he was being dragged up towards the entrance. His ears were ringing, but as his sight cleared, he could just make out Thorwen holding her own against Saruman. "Thorwen! NOOOO!" he screamed.

She turned in Calenamath's direction, only for Saruman to seize the advantage. Calenamath watched in horror as he struck her with the full force of his Will. She went down immediately. Before being pulled out of sight, the last thing Calenamath saw was Saruman standing over Thorwen, grinning with malice. "I warned you, Almárie, that I far outrank you, little girl!" He then lifted her unconscious body and carried her away.

Calenamath struggled with his rescuer. "We must go back and help her!"

"We need the army, Hir Cóon nin. We need the king's army," replied Bregwen. Just then, they heard another blast of a horn. An Elven battle horn.

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

23rd June/Nórui, 3018, The Enclave of the Temple of Morgoth, The Emyn Duir.

The stars were now clear in the sky as Thranduil and Legolas surveyed the dark mountains before them. "We shall surround all entrances. Calenamath will bring Thorwen and the released prisoners through the caverns, so I have sent the Huscarls to assist. There are likely to be Orcs. We shall begin the assault at dawn when the Orcs will be weakening. They shall be a poor defence for the temple. We will purge the enclave and make sure they never use it for their foul practices again. No enemy is to be spared. We shall cleanse this foul place of all its taint. Legolas, go to your position and wait for my signal." Legolas bowed and went on his way. Thranduil stood alone, looking at the stars. The sickle was now prominent in the sky. "Elbereth, be with us this night and watch over my beloved Thorwen," he whispered.

Suddenly, he saw Bregwen approaching through the trees. She looked dishevelled and was leading a group of escaped prisoners, including women and children. But from the look on her face, he could tell she did not have good tidings. When she reached Thranduil, she collapsed to her knees, weeping as she related what had taken place in the caverns.

"Curunir the White Wizard has her. Hiril Thorwen used her Will against him so that we could get away. But he overpowered her. Hir Calenamath was stunned in the attack and could not help her. But he would not leave once recovered. He has gone back for her with my company. Ordered me to take the women and children and bring word to you."

Thranduil's heart broke at her words. Yet he could not feel more proud of the Thorwen at this moment. By placing herself between the escaping prisoners and Saruman, she had shown true courage and nobility. He laid his hand on Bregwen's head and lifted her chin. Looking upon her as a proud father. "Rise Hiril Bregwen. You have done well this night. Now take your charges to safety and rest. We shall find Hiril Thorwen.

"No, Hir Aran Nin, I cannot abandon Hiril Thorwen," insisted Bregwen.

"As you wish, Hiril Bregwen, but see that your charges are safe first. Then you can join my company. We shall no longer wait for the dawn."

Bregwen bowed, and he kept a watchful eye on her and her charges until they safely reached the battle camp where they would be taken care of. Thranduil could no longer contain his composure. The thought of Thorwen in the hands of the White Wizard filled him with a rage deeper than anything he had felt before. Saruman was in charge of the White Council. A council of the wisest Elves and men in Middle Earth and yet Thranduil had never been invited to attend. He, the last Elven King in Middle Earth, had not been considered worthy enough. It was a slight that still burned.

Had it not been for Mithrandir's visits, he would never have known what had taken place at these councils. Perhaps Saruman had thought him to be a threat of some kind. Now the very leader of the White Council had shown his true colours. And it was certainly not white.

Thranduil turned to his captains. "Ready your companies! We shall delay no longer!" He looked behind him as his armies awaited his command. No longer restraining himself, he sounded the battle cry. "Your future queen lies within that mountain, stolen by our enemies! Let us show them what it means to steal what is most precious to us!"

The warriors howled in response. Sharing the rage of their king, they charged toward the entrance of the Enclave. Thranduil glanced at the glowing bracelet on his wrist. "Hold on,  Almárie, I am coming. Stay strong, Melleth Nin," He called out to her with his mind. His heart told him she had heard him, but no reply came. He took a deep breath and steadied himself before joining his people into the enclave.