The Tramp of mailed feet echoed through the Encircling Mountains.The host that had come through the Mountains three days before had been well stocked and provisioned and full of the valiant people of Gondolin The seven walled city.Now the army had lost a quarter of it's strength due to Morgoth's demon army that had clashed with The banner of Fingon and the Seven sons of Feanor.What resulted was the Nirnaeth Arnoediad,The Middle earth's worst battle ever,and ecthelion knew it too

"With you shall be the captain of the guard, Ecthelion.He is brave and true,gifted in foresight and in many virtues .Also  Nalchar, Floi,and a few others who showed  their strength in the Nirnaeth.The quest is this:The pass of Anach is holding now a large host from Dorthonion. The orcs have joined with the cursed brood of Ungoliant,and yes from the Ered Gorgoroth .You shall waylay a large company of these. Their plan:to find and map out our dwellings. You my trusted servant must stop them with Ecthelion and the select others,or we will be in peril!"

"I should be not hard to find," said a voice behind Gildor.It was Ecthelion. I will break the news to the guard,then i will find Floi and Nalchar so  we can get started."       Gildor  was silent for a moment then spoke up:"Lord Turgon needs this to be done and it shall be done,Ecthelion my captain and kinsman i shall be at your side wherever you face danger."

That night,as Gildor was wandering in the dreams of Lorien,Ecthelion and Turgon were having  a council of war. Sothey talked deep into the night until they decided what would be done with the probing fell beasts of Morgoth."My lord Turgon we must go in secrecy or our strength shall be found out,we must employ our ways of victory through swift arrows and bright swords,but only in secrecy shall we be able to beat the dark lord,maybe."                                                                                                                                                      "Yet you say maybe,but you are my captain of the guard,and you know best in matters of arms,we shall beset our foes with the steel of Gondolin!"  Ecthelion looked thoughtful as he headed through the doors of the hall.

"We shall never ambush spiders, for their webs will already be about the land, and they shall ensnare any who venture to close." Spoke Gildor.

"Then what would you have us do?" Replied Ecthelion.

"We may make a loose ring about them, and thusly encircle them with fire. None would move towards the flames, and the circle would close tighter as the fire grew. None would be unscathed, and the survivors slain before help could come. First, however, we must search the lands about them that no foe, orc or spider, could come upon us from the outside. For if any report to Morgoth we will share the fate of the Mormegil."

Suddenly Nalchar stood fast, and his face was grim  "You council for the burning of an entire countryside, which is hardly more than that host shall itself shall do? How then can we call ourselves the protectors of Middle Earth?" 

Ecthelion looked at the elf with a face bright and terrible. "A pasture is worth a chance to smite our foes. We are no longer the protectors of Middle Earth, we are now the lone survivors."

"You are not going anywhere without us," called a voice from behind." I bring news from Glorfindel,who was worried that too few had been sent.Eight score he commanded us to go in,and we shall be needed before the end i deem."                                                                                                                                                              "Your warriors might endanger our mission,but i do not grudge you to come with us.We have many leagues to travel yet,and we are going light,so come,quick and fear no darkness," said Ecthelion. They picked up their weapons and followed Floi,who knew the lay of the land better than any.Soon they darkness was laid upon Arda like a thick heavy fog and the elves even with their eyes could find it hard to see three feet in front of them.They made camp that night in a hollow next to a twisted old beech tree.They did not use a fire for Gildor said it would attract the very creatures they were hunting for.Days and nights followed and still Floi read the path.With out notice,he raised his hand for a stop and said:" We have picked up their trail,for we have turned around to their flank soon we will be upon them,and they will rue the moment the spread their hideous webs in our Mountains!"    " I can even smell spider from this distance," said Gildor.  "Oh but their is no distance,i have keener hearing than any of you and can hear their foul sounds here," murmered Ecthelion." Their close."

" Run for your lives,try to backtrack behind them!" yelled Ecthelion.The elves faltered and glanced behind,some shooting ill marked arrows and then ran off.Some the orcs and spiders overtook,leaving the body's of foes and friends alike.The balrog caught more than a few with it's large scimitar,incinerating them into ashes.The orcs next to the demon went mad around it,and they became fiercer than ever.Gildor swung around behind a slag of a rock,and hurried off a few missiles.They found their mark in the eyes of a spider and it screeched and then crumpelled to the ground,dead.The Elves were soon outdistancing their enemy's and they hid in the Lair of Ecthelion.So named because he found it outside of Gondolin for hunting parties.They pulled a large rock over the entrance and laid down to  recover.Gildor looke around,the company had lost a fourth of it's strength,and many others were hurt.All ready the company seemed ready for disaster.

Ecthelion glanced behind himself after slaying this man:The Balrog was tossing Elves left and right with it's scimitar,and his company were fleeing in all directions.Except a few.Floi was hewing many orcs down with his battle ax and Nalchar was coolly shooting down spiders.Other Elvesrallied around these two and the enemy started to flee except the Balrog.It roared and Gildor quailed and wonderd where Ecthelion was when he crashed out of the forest,breathless."Lord", said Gildor:" Flee for your life we can hold them here,for a little while longer,go back to Turgon so it can be known to him that a Balrog is in the mountains."        Ecthelion replied." May Mandos bring you back Gildor Inglorian,for you have just performed a noble deed.I am off," he said,and took running out of the forest like a rock out of a sling

Ecthelion,paused from running,looking out from behind him.Then he felt the pang of conscience,of killing that man.It had to be done,he thought.He would have given away my position to the Balrog.Ecthelion thought of Gildor and his sacrifice,and he thanked him.                                                                                                  The scimitar swung down.And the mangled and deformed head of Gildor rolled down the barren hill of rock.The Balrog kept swinging it's cruel sword,mashing Gildor into the quagmire of blood.The sound of the orcs died away and the Balrog rumbled it's hideous laugh."The Eldar have no hope,for the Mighty Lord shall crush thy Gods.If they are kings.He kicked the carcass of Gildor off the hill with his foot and watched it's fall.

Then slash!He knew no more. Meanwhile,not all the elves had been slain.Floi,Nalchar,and a handful of others had descended off the hill down the pass,and the Balrog heeded them not.Instead he sent orcs under his command,nearly 400.The elves were weary and hurt,but the orcs were fresh and agile.They fell upon them during the chase.The company shot their arrows till their arrows werre dry.More orcs came.They broke upon the elves like the sea against the rocks.Floi hewed the feet off one and smote another to the ground.Slowly the elves died. "There are too many," screamed Floi.     "Fight on Floi," cried Nalchar.They were finally overwhelmed with a pile of dead orcs at their feet,and they went to join their kin in the Halls of Mandos.

"You must not run from your fears Ecthelion."

Ecthelion turned slowly to find a man before him. Bleeding, he barley stood. Ecthelion knew by his face and by his wound that he was the one who acosted him before. "How can you stand?"

"I cannot" So saying he fell before the feat of Ecthelion, who looked with sudden pity upon him.

Oh, thanks, we will welcome you if you want to join, the more the merrier.

Oh well, if you ever feel like joining in, go right ahead. So what if your English is bad, I am sure it will be ok enough for you to make good contributions. Whatever you want to do is fine, but it would be nice if you could join in.

"You have dealt me my death blow, unless fate be otherwise. But you must not allow this Balrog to escape, for not even the blacksword can prevail over such a foe."

"You will find your courage before the end, Ecthelion, and then none shall stand before you."

So saying he stood fully and in his eyes was a strange spark, which had not been there before. Then he took a step forward, stumbled, and fell.

"What news do you bring to Gondolin, Ecthelion of the fountain?" Said the Eagle

"I bring news for Tugon, and he, first and alone, shall hear it."

"A shadow has crossed your heart, Ecthelion, I shall fly you to Gondolin, but you would be less of a burden without it."

The eyes of the eagle seamed to pierce into Ecthelion's very soul, and he felt as a looking glass. Always looked through, but seldom looked at.

Ecthelion wearily clambered onto the eagles back, pressed his face to the eagles mane and spoke softly, 

"Thank you"

END of part one

                                                                    MALICE OF MAEGLIN:PROLOGUE

Morgoth Bauglir,the  CURSED Vala of Angband was brooding on his dark throne. It had been a fortnight since the Battle of the Unumbered Tears, Nirnaeth Arnoediad,in which the flower of the Eldar withered. Morgoth had a few thoughts that troubled him severly. Turgon's host had escaped destruction from the battle,but how? He needed to find Gondolin at once In anger Morgoth stomped his scarred legs on the black coal floor. Angband rumbled,his monsters quailed and the sleeping werewolves at his side howled. The big black scars opened and the floor was coated in his evil blood. He began to think again. Nargothrond  he knew was also a menace,but Glaurung the golden dragon would destroy it. OH yes,he would. Doriath could nothing but defend its northern marches,but he feared Doriath for Melian the Maiar dwelt there. The Sons of Feanor were all still alive but there power was broken,and there people scattered or slain. Still he deemed that an assault on the Eldar would be to risky considering the wounds his armies had taken. Morgoth shifted painfully,the crown with the duo silmarils weighted down heavily on his head. The claw marks on his face started bleeding,"curse Thorondor," he said. The walls of Angband rumbled again. He remembered the day in which he fought Fingolfin high king of the Noldor.Fingolfin had given him seven great wounds on his legs. But Grond,his war mace had filled the earth with craters and Fingolfin had stumbled into one.The scene shifted back.Morgoth put his foot on the elf.With the last dying stroke Fingolfin stabbed him in the foot, crippling Morgoth for life. In wrath Melkor was about to smote him into the dust when Thorondor lord of the eagles clawed him in the face,bearing Fingolfin to his people. Morgoth wanted to crush the Eldar into the earth,but another thought came into his dark mind.He would assemble a large host of 80000 orcs,werewolves and one of his greatest servAnts, the dreaded fire demons."I will crush the hole hiders,i will decree this. I am the Master of Fates in Arda."His voice was terrible,like thousands of swords being broken and volcanoes erupting. His thirty foot frame stood up,and he thought once more.opposed him would be swept away by the easterlings. Morgoth got up,came through his dark black door,and went up a winding stair.At the end of the stair,at the base,he issued his host. On the plains of the Augfaulith,his army was gathered.600000 orcs,not to mention hundreds of dragons,Balrogs,and nameless things. Pointing to Gothmog captain and lord of Balrogs to get him one who would lead his troops.Gothmog yelled to another demon near him in a harsh powerful language.Then the Balrog gathered around him 100000 orcs and werewolves.Then with a great clamor of horns and trumpets they tramped out of the hideous gates of Angband.Morgoth watched as they turned towards the unkown direction to find the last hope of the Eldar in Beleriand:Gondolin.

Thee old merchant thought of the legend elven city called Gondolin. He remembered how they came to the aid of Maedhros, Son of Feanor. This city was one of the only known cities left of these wodrous folk. The Dark Lord was extending all his thought towards it, yet like at Doriath, could not pierce the mystery shrouding these hidden fortresses." We must go now, come my daughter, and this is too terrible of a answer to answer if you had a question why we must go."

Ecthelion breathed the sweet airs of his home, Gondolin. Glorfindel his second in command was in the halls of the King answering questions. The expedition had been a disaster. He the only one who was still alive, had come past terrible horrors. But most of all Maeglin troubled him deeply. The prideful elf had been a subject of esteem since his arrival, but since the coming of Tuor, he had been jealous of this fateful man ever since. Maelin was moody, often sticking to his tunnels, often of late too. "It's good to be back here," Ecthelion spoke aloud.

Ecthelion met on the way his Officer, Glorfindel, who noticed something was up. He wore a silver coat of armor. His helm was in the shape of a sickle with a large iron eagle on the top. He was carrying a large steel shod rod with a double curved blade at both ends. He caught up with his sprinting captain and talked as he ran. " My lord, Lord Turgon has felt the presence of another being in the district. And the Lady Idril's  escape shaft is finished, in secret. No one knows but you my lord, myself, and the Lady Idril and The Lord Tuor. The tunnel is as you know just under the guards' quarters and Maeglin will not be pawing around there hopefully. The time might be near for departing this great abode, and at least we have a secret route that the mole Maeglin does not know about. Have i done well my Lord?"                                          "Yes, thank you for the information on the tunnel, about Maeglin, well, i know that he is a dark and moody and curious elf. And yes, this miner of Maeglin's company has just brought those new's to, so  come and keep your weapon ready!"

Glorfindel was Ecthelion's questioner. "What were you doing in our tunnels, our secret shafts in which only our people know about. Speak or be slain!"                       

     "Patience Glorfindel," said Ecthelion." Now, Dwarf, where did you come from and where are you going? Be ye spy of Morgoth or escaped thrall? Or are you a refuge from some kingdom hidden from our eyes?" The dwarf spoke in the language of Quenya, though it sounded course and  cumbersome to the Elves."I was in the land the Elves call Hithlum, and when it was overrun our people were forced to flee from their deep mines and seek new dwellings in the Ered Luin. I was separted by a sudden ambush of orcs near these Mountains and stumbled across the works of this elf." He pointed to Maeglin. So Ecthelion still had his throat under cover by his sword but he released it after a while." Take him to the king, he will know what to do. And Maeglin, you have no right to act on your own accord for justice, that is my job."

Ecthelion stately walked to the front of the throne of Turgon, king of Gondolin. "What do you desire, my lord?" 

    "Ecthelion, my captain of the guard, why did you not slay this intruder, i will not sya that he deserved it, but the sanctity and secrecy of this guarded realm should not be disturbed."

     "i did not slay him because i thought back on the rule about dispatching anyone who is not a citizen. But this poor creature even though he is a dwarf, and a irritable at that, was fleeing from his land like our people. He may even be talented in the skill of the forge or tunneling." Maeglin gave a look of hate to Ecthelion then snorted his rage and left the hall. " He should under second thought be put under a small close watch at all times, if that is fine with my lords," said Glorfindel.

"You are wise, Glorfindel, that is what i was going to do, first put him in the cells, first. Ecthelion you will question him further," spoke Turgon.

"Now lead dim to the  cells, Glorfindel."

Ecthelion sat on a stool before the dungeons of king Turgon."Whence did you come and why, dwarf? I saved your life out of a rare pity and you are speechless?"

 "I give thee rare thanks for not slaying me, for that cub of a miner almost got me beyond furious. Thankyou indeed! As i said i come from Hithlum, and i took refuge in these mountains."

Suddenly a red light came into the dwarfs face, and he slurred his speech, his lips contorting and his body shuddering with every word. His voice seemed to grow louder, and darkened greatly.

"Turgon is looking for you"

"How do you know?"

"Because it is happening."

With those words he fell on the floor and writhed in pain.

Ecthelion hasted to the tower, as he came close to the steps he saw Glorfindel approaching. His face was grim, and set. No words passed between them, they strode up the steps and to the tower.

"My lord, the horizon is red"

"The dwarf has spoken, saying you looked for me"

"Indeed, summon the lords of the city. Morgoth is coming"

Guards raced out of the hall and to the 5 other lords of the city. Within half an hour they were gathered in the tower of the king.

"We are faced with utter annihilation, we shall run to the hills and survive, and perhaps the girdle of Melian will shield us, for Morgoth cannot be overcome with force."

Maeglins face was afire, and he seemed for the first time to smile truly.

"Nay, my lord, for Thingol is dead, the dwarves killed him not long ago, and I have just received word myself. But be not afraid, for this is a chance for victory. Our high walls will foil their soldiers, and our countless arrows shall be death."

"If Melian has fallen then none can stand. We shall die with glory! To arms!"

The lords all left his hall, Maeglin hastened to the tower of Tuor. He waited until the men had left, and then walked to the door.

Idril stood from her chair.

"Stay still Ëarendil, I will be back soon"

She walked into the armory, and put on a shirt of mail. It was heavy, and she stood with effort. She grabbed a short sword and walked to Ëarendil. The door was open and Maeglin stood before her. The sky glowed red.

Duilin was crushed in the side, flinging him to the wall of the tower,senseless. But Idril, at that moment had rushed towards Maeglin and swung her sword on his throat guard. The guard held, but Maeglin lost his balance, and fell into the open window. He landed on a tree far below before the guards were alerted  by Idril.

             The Forces of Gondolin passed through the path of the Dry River, with the king and the princes of Great power. With them were the knights on horseback, and behind were many thousands of Elven foot soldiers and archers. Already a secret company of archers had placed themselves at the entrance of the secret way. And they waited. Still Turgon road on, his Golden armor and Helm glittering in the dying sun. Ecthelion beside him wore a silver breastplate, and at his side was his sword, Romnaur. Glorfindel, his cohort behind him wore the armor of the guard, with the helm of the Eagle King. Then the archers forerunning the host were alerted, and a cry passed up.