"Now it shall be reborn,"

Sun glinted upon Márafea's armour as she spoke, making her appear more like a star than a woman. As she stood upon a rocky outcrop, Men and Elves looked up in admiration. "We must avoid the bounds of the Shire at all costs. King Elessar gave strict orders that the Shire and its residents must remain untroubled. We have a hard day's march ahead of us, though some of you look like you need it," she said, glancing at some of the more portly among them. To which one replied he could keep marching long after Márafea had grown weary. "You are probably right sir, but I will do my best to keep up the pace," she replied to which all present gave a hearty laugh. "The time has come, at last, no more shall the Dúnedain hide in the shadows and the tombs of our ancestors! It is time to go home, to take back the city of our forefathers, to live in the sun once again!" declared Márafea.

Those present cheered loudly, calling her name, King Elessar and even Elendil. Thranduil stood proudly at her side. The prickly princess found in his forest had become the queen she was born to be. Then, over the cheering men, he heard another sound. Far in the distance, rushing through his mind and flowing out of his ears. A sound he had long forgotten, the sound of the sea. With a shake of the head, he composed himself, burying the sea longing far within him again. "Are you well, Thurindaer, Mime Melda?" whispered Márafea.

Thranduil looked into her eyes and smiled. "Never felt better," he replied.

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A bird landed upon the King's tent, noisily waking Márafea from her slumber. It had not been the most comfortable night of sleep. They had arrived at the Baranduin a few days before, setting up a battle camp. Realising Thranduil was already up, she left her bedroll and went outside. There, she found a bowl of water to wash her face and hands. Having done so, she went back into her tent, dressing in her Elven travelling clothes before exiting again.

"Ah, my Lady Queen has deemed it fit to rise and join us," said Thranduil as he strode towards her.

"Mae Govannen my Lord King, The bird woke me, did it bring news from the advance party?" asked Márafea.

"All in good time, first breakfast," said Thranduil. The two of them joined the Huscarls, who served them each with a large bowl of porridge.

"The bird, what news?" asked Márafea.

Thranduil put his bowl down and smiled, "Your brothers are fine, they have been able to determine the numbers of Orcs and creatures still present in the ruins of the city. There are not too many in number, our army should make short work of them."

"That is good news indeed, when do we leave?" said Márafea.

"We will decide that once we have held counsel with the Elders," said Thranduil.

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One elder carefully laid out a map of Annúminas upon a central table as the council gathered. It was made from sheepskin, old and faded, yet lovingly maintained. "Been in my family for generations, never thought I'd ever see it used again. I doubt many of these buildings still stand, but perhaps it might help to get our bearings when we enter the city," he said.

"Do we know how many Orcs and creatures wander the ruins?" asked Márafea.

"Elladan's report says the advance party has contacted a small band of Rangers known as the Guardians of Annúminas. They have told him Orcs are few in number, but now that the Dark Lord has gone, madness has taken hold of many. They scavenge the city for what little prey they can find sometimes turning upon each other, they should be easy to dispatch. However, they speak of wild animals and flying creatures that have taken up residence and will need to be cleared in order to secure the city. Elladan and his company have set up camp on the shores of Lake Evendim near the King's house about here," said Thranduil. He pointed to the place on the map labelled King's summer house. He then placed stones at various points on the map. "We are here, the camp is approximately here, hills surround the south side of the city, but there is the old city road it follows the Baraduin, then tails off into the city. We could always follow the route of the advance party and go upstream along the Baraduin," he said.

"I do not think we should send all our troops at once, perhaps some take the road into the city," suggested Márafea.

"The girl might well be right," said an Elder, others nodded with approval.

"The Vice Regent has an excellent point," said Thranduil, giving him a slight glare.

"My apologies my Lady, I mean Vice Regent," said the Elder. Thranduil still glared.

"So are we agreed, my Lords?" said Márafea.

"We are not Lords yet Vice Regent, we must take back the city first and rebuild at," said first Elder.

"But yes, we are agreed," said another. "Then may I suggest that Gurunam and the Knights lead a force along the river and my Queen and I lead our force along the road," said Thranduil.

"That would seem agreeable," said the first Elder, and the others nodded.

"We will meet at the King's house and secure its perimeter. Tell the men to get plenty of rest, we leave at dawn," said Márafea.

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They had bid farewell to the river forces two days before. Now, in the mists of the morning, Márafea and Thranduil led their forces along the final approach to Annúminas. The road became more cracked and damaged as they marched, barely existing in some places, but it did not stem the resolve of the Dúnedain. The first sight of the city came into view at the noon of the day as the road veered away from the river. Its great stone walls smothered in green ivy. The road led them to an enormous gap in the wall where once the great gates of the city had stood, its watchtowers had long since crumbled away.

"The once-great city of Annúminas, it only seems like yesterday this was a thriving city, now it is little more than ruin," said Thranduil.

"You have been here before?" asked Márafea.

"I visited on occasion when Elendil's city was young and new," said Thranduil.

"Now it shall be reborn, in the name of King Elessar," said Márafea.

"Now we must make our way to the King's house, look out for Orcs and other fell creatures. They are not all accounted for as yet. Tonight we shall feast in the King's house, tomorrow we shall root out all evil creatures from the city and secure it for the return of its people," called Thranduil. A cheer went up from all present and the Dúnedain sang songs of old as they entered the city.

Márafea looked about the ruins uneasily, "I sense a shadow is still upon this place. We have entered all too easily," she whispered.

"I share your concern, Mime Melda, but we shall remain vigilant," replied Thranduil.

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"Bring the prisoner to me," said Glorfindel. Borion pulled the prisoner from the cellar "this is the one."

"An outlaw, I presume," said Glorfindel.

"Aye, says he has information he wishes to trade for his freedom," said Borion.

Glorfindel looked at the prisoner with disdain, "I see the crimes you have committed against your people, what makes you seek repentance now?"

"Aye, I admit, I have done ill to my people and yet if I keep silent, I shall commit a crime far greater. You say King Elessar will grant pardon to those who repent and swear fealty to him," said the prisoner.

"That is true, but what has prompted such a change of heart?" said Glorfindel.

"As much as I have done wrong, I would not see my kinfolk slaughtered. They are marching into a trap," said the prisoner.

"A trap, you say?" asked Borion.

"Some of our number were spies in Bree. They knew of the Regents' plan to take Annúminas and so some of the outlaws went to the Hillmen of Evendim. They plan to ambush the Dúnedain once they are in the city," said the prisoner.

"We did not know anyone still lived in the hills," said Gurunam. "They have a hidden fortress, where they have imprisoned many creatures, Wargs, Orcs even a troll. They plan to release them upon the city come nightfall," said the prisoner.

"And how have you come by this information?" asked Glorfindel.

"I came from there, as messenger to Haldar, the night the Elves came. You know I speak true," said the prisoner.

"Yes, I know you speak true, an Elf will always know if you are false, but now you must affirm yourself. Swear fealty to King Elessar to receive pardon," said Glorfindel.

The prisoner nodded, Borion brought the prisoner his shield with the Arnorian sceptre upon it for him to make his oath.

"Then in the name of King Elessar, I grant you pardon of your crimes, but you not dismissed. You will now spend of your life in the service of the High King and his regents and if you betray them, your life will be forfeit," said Glorfindel. He looked at Borion. "Dress and arm him, we are going to need all the help we can muster and hope we are not too late."

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It was Thranduil who noticed first, as they feasted in the courtyard of the King's summer house on the shores of Lake Evendim. Even in its decaying state, the building dwarfed all others with its crumbling towers shrouded in their green Ivy cloaks. Men, Elves and Dwarves all sat, laughing, and feasting together. Márafea and Thranduil observed the festivities from the window of an upper room. His keen eyes observed the hilltops around the city as they drank wine together. Suddenly, he frowned. "Do you hear that?"

"Hear what?" asked Márafea.

"INCOMING!" he shouted suddenly, pushing Márafea to the floor as arrows whizzed past them, hitting the wall. Suddenly the music died and the pleasant chatter turns to shouts and a call to arms. Elladan and Elrohir rushed into the room.

"Orcs are coming down from the hills," said Elladan. As they looked out again towards the hills, a dark shadow slowly moved down the hill and into the city.

Elrohir pointed in horror, "look a troll, thought we had seen the last of them." In the distance, they could all now see the creature striding towards the city. Throwing Orcs out of its way as it descended from the hills.

More arrows landed in the room missing Thranduil by inches, he picked one up and examined it. "definitely Orcs, we should take cover and prepare to defend ourselves." The four of them retreated to the lower level of the King's house. Corwen and Ronil came running up to meet them, "What news?" asked Thranduil.

"Orcs have come down from the hills, but they have a madness attacking both us and each other. We have secured the King's house, but we are fending off the Orcs in the courtyard," she said.

"We'll have them mopped up in no time, by sunrise they will no longer be a problem," said Ronil.

"What about the Troll?" asked Thranduil.

"Troll? we were not aware of no Troll!" replied Ronil in alarm.

"We must secure the courtyard before it gets here, we do not have long," said Elladan. They heard a loud crash from outside.

"It may be too late," said Elrohir. They all made their way to the entrance, passing the dead and wounded who were being brought into the King's house. Arrows were now raining down upon the courtyard, but the combined forces of the Elven and Dúnedain archers were holding their own. Then, just as the forces had beaten the Orcs back from the courtyard. They could hear the booming footsteps of the Troll making its way towards the makeshift barricade. Its face then loomed over the walls, an upturned tree in its hand, it smashed its way through the barricade. Tossing Men and Elves aside like toys.

The Dwarves thrust themselves forward, allowing the wounded to retreat to the safety of the King's house. Several dwarves, including young Fimas, launched themselves onto the creature, but eventually, they were thrown off or swatted like flies. The creature had now broken the lines of defence, allowing even Orcs to enter the courtyard. "We must do something," said Márafea.