Game In Middle Earth - Chapter 36.
Time passed quickly, and preparations for the battle were completed just in time, which left the Alliance leaders quieter.
On the third day of receiving the report of the explorers, the troops of the tribal caudillo arrived at the camp in front of Belegost.
What Aldarion saw was a large number of people who, seeing the defenses deployed by the alliance, began to prepare a camp without any concern. This gave Aldarion a bad feeling.
If the enemy troops showed themselves like this, it meant that their morale was very high. Also, the fact that they had not attacked on arrival meant that the enemy leader was no fool who was easy to fool.
Even though, it was not going to be as easy as he thought it would be, Aldarion was still confident of being able to defeat him. That the enemy troops were so confident would lead directly to defeat. If they managed to kill the commanders of the enemy army, normal soldiers would begin to lose their morale and their chain of command would be destroyed, creating many opportunities to defeat them.
It was already late and, while Aldarion watched as the enemy army camped, it began to get dark. Sunlight disappeared and torches were lit in both camps to keep watching.
Duihir approached Aldarion. – “My lord, you should not be nervous. With the help of our allies we will be victorious and we will be able to take revenge”. – He thought that his captain was nervous about his first battle, what he did not know is that Aldarion was only studying his enemy.
Aldarion did not stop looking at the enemy camp while shaking his head. – “The battle does not worry me, it’s more, I’m quite confident with that theme”. – Duihir was impressed by the statement of his lord, but Aldarion did not stop there. – “What worries me the most is you. I do not want to see you die uselessly here”.
Duihir was thrilled to hear it, and his heart began to pound louder at the thought that his lord was not the useless he was when Aldarion was living in the camp. His lord had matured a lot, becoming someone you can trust. Duihir still had to see how much Aldarion had grown and see how he would develop in the future.
“Be quiet, my lord, we will all go back home safe and sound. Within the enemy army, nobody can be compared to our soldiers. They are the greatest elite”.
After listening to him Aldarion turned around, while smiling, to look at Duihir. – “At no time have I doubted you. I could not have wished for better subordinates. You are my brothers”.
“Thank you, my lord. We will not disappoint you, we will fulfill your expectations”. – Duihir bowed and said goodbye.
The night passed without any mishap, the army of the northern tribes made no movement and stayed resting in their camp.
With the first ray of light on the day, the soldiers began to get up and have breakfast. Aldarion and the other two leaders of the alliance met and reviewed the strategy. They had already decided that the commander would be the Lord of Belegost, Azaghl. He was the one with the highest status and experience.
The most correct experience would be to give the command to Feladrias, because he was the one who had the most haos of the three, but he was a simple captain. Nothing more than status, he should already be below Aldarion who was the leader of a faction.
After the quick meeting, each of the leaders went to his position.
Aldarion arrived with his men and began to organize them. Rangers were formed along the palisade prepared for, as soon as they received the order, start shooting arrows.
Dwarves stationed on its flank were not idle. Many gathered the rocks for the catapult, while others were already trained and vigilant in front of the forest, prepared in case the enemy sent an army out there.
The tribal army also formed in front of them. The image in front of Aldarion impressed him. – ‘At first glance, they seem many more than they are’. – Thought.
Suddenly, the sound of a horn sounded throughout the field. The sound originated in the enemy camp and, in a certain area, the ranks of soldiers began to separate in two.
Among the tribal soldiers, a man stood out riding a horse. This man came forward. He came so close that anyone could have shot an arrow and killed him. But nobody did, because this man was a messenger and diplomatic rules said that they should not be harmed.
When the messenger approached, what he considered sufficient, he stopped and, with a powerful voice, spoke. – “In the name of Abrnu, Great leader of the Northern Tribes, I demand that you lay down your weapons and surrender. In his magnanimous clemency the Great Abrnu will forgive everyone’s life. The only thing he demands from this is his unconditional submission. In addition, you must pay a tribute as a sign of loyalty. Who among all of you is responsible for parliamentary?”
At that moment, from the center of the formation of the alliance, Azaghl advanced and asked. – “And what would that tribute?”
Upon hearing his question, the other two leaders, Aldarion and Feladrias, looked at him, thinking he was planning the dwarf lord. On the other hand, the messenger, thinking that the pressure of such a large army had frightened the alliance, answered arrogantly.
“Grand Adrnu demands that the strong men of your towns join the bulk of their army to continue the conquest towards the south; women will be handed over as slaves for their use; In addition, two thirds of your resources must be delivered every month”.
He had not finished talking yet and all the soldiers in the alliance were showing great signs of anger. And not just the soldiers, Azaghl had his face red with fury.
This did not escape the eyes of the messenger and he continued saying. – “Oh! You do not have to worry, dwarf lord… You can stay with your dwarfs women, they do not seem attractive to us. On the other hand, elven women…”
He could not finish speaking, because at that moment an arrow pierced his throat.