The sound of wood cracking and splintering is heard, and the first axe-head is seen slipping through part of the gate!
Cynebur looks to fyrds and points at the long and heavy trunks set aside of the short stone walls "Support the gates! Every man on the gates!"
A red sunrise breached trough rainy clouds, Banners of easterlings and Eorlingas flutter at the wind. A great host of Easterling tribes advanced toward most northern burgh of RIddermark. Fifty riders were last defense against minions of the great chief Kargi.
Enemy advanced, covering the pallisades of eastern walls and gates like red ants the dieing host.
Shieldmaiden, tall as pines of mountains cold, firm as iron of deep, shouted and pointed at the long and heavy trunks set aside of the short stone walls "Support the gates! Every man on the gates!"
Ceolswith tossed away a bird, scratched on her arms from fighting them. She shouted again, trying to get a few archers to attack those at the gates.
Niehstu stood for a moment, in the middle of people running around, lost in the heat of the moment. Out of instict she closes to Cynebur, so stick by her side.
Bold rider Randric rushes forward along with the fyrds. "Hold it sons of Eorl! Hold Strong!" They all brace with all their might.
Arrows fell upon the necks of some of the men, making them slide down against the Cynebur shouted to outrule the screams and shouting, 'Go up and say to Shieldmaiden Ceolswith its time to prerelease the cages with stones!"'
Niehstu says, 'Cages stonesm right!'
Niehstu takes a moment to understand where the Quartermaster is then flies like an arrow towards her direction and climbs up the wall, storming up in the tower. Few words come out her mouth, only the needed out whichs she shouts with urgency. "Cynebur said, cages with stones now"
Ceolswith nods as she fights off another bird, looking for the rope towards the kennels of stone above the gate. She'd fight another off before swinging her sword against the rope.
Langhund runs through the gaps of men, in his hand a burning torch. Following behind him was Ruscbald and a few other friends, carrying haybales and animal fats. They all climbed up into one of the towers.
Randric strains against the door. Shouting inspirations and calling upon all to display the strength of all the past generations. "Hold or insult their legacy!"
The first line of men crumpled against the stones, falling down with bone and armour cracking. The men behind stopped, looking up to the sky.
Niehstu picks out her spear, to fight away the birds that come near the Quartermaster, hoping to let her do her word in peace. Little space for thought is left in her mind, overwhelmed in the heat of the assault.
Inspired, the men of the fyrds shout their own cries. Calling upon fore fathers and cursing foes in defiance. They hold once more.
Ceolswith pats Niehstu's shoulder, smiling her thanks, "Go down there. They might need help with the gate."
Langhund appears in one of the towers, and with the help of those that ran with him, they started to cover the bales in fats and oils after unwrapping the hay from the cloths and cloaks they were kept in to keep dry. "Throw it right there, Ruscbald! You have a strong arm!" After setting the bale on fire, over the top it was thrown, onto the easterlings by the gate.
Cynebur lined up few archers on the ground behind the fifty men she had at ready here "We will hold this gates till one breathes!!! For the Mark!"
Niehstu gulps looking down at the gate. Uncertainty is obvious in her eyes, but she nods and rushes back, her fingers tightening around the strap of her shield, not having any intention of letting it go, even when climbing down the stair.
Cynebur eyes stare at the gates that was rounding up, shaking and moving under the force of the east "Dig that trunks into the road, it will hold better!" she points out at weak spot at the one side that held reinforced part of the doors.
A dim long horn is heard coming from the Western gates, arrows had started to fly in over the top from the Cuthstan's slopes. Arrows with dark feathers and long black ash shafts. An orkish horn it seemed..
Ceolswith glances in panic towards the West Gate. She curses as she moves to the other side of the tower, "Cynebur! The West Gate!"
Langhund looks towards the horn, frowning before hurying back down the tower and running to the West.
Men run to obey the orders as they are given. All with the haste of men ready to die for the ground upon which they stand.
Cynebur shouted with raised sword high calling the might of the ancestors with her voice filled with vigour and courage. "Hold this gates! Remember your wives and children! Remember your oath, men of Rohan. HOLD THIS GATES!"
Easterlings fell and fell, though more took their place soon enough. The crebain were now thin in number, around fourteen remained as they now would simply circle the town.
Caelia draws her sword, moves to raise it above her head and fumbles it.
Cynebur points in the air as swaying one of cursed birds with her blade, 'Shoot the birds!!!'
Niehstu stands for a moment idle, thankfully the lady's voice sets her straight, she turns without thought to dash towards the west gate and spots the blonde head of Cynebur from afar, she gets all the air in her lungs to shout for her to hear.
Cynebur turns to young woman, pulling her hand ",Caelia! Right? When We sound horn three times, i want you gather all from Mead hall at the yard, women and children, elders on carts, use all spare horses we have, Alright? We need to flee Stangard, go toward western gates. Go now!.'
Kargi now moved forward, sword in hand as he pointed at the gates. "Molva doraz! Molva Doraz!!"
Niehstu shouts, 'Orcs and Goblins approaching west gate, we lost the hills!'
Caelia looks at Cynebur, eyes wide.
'Now Caelia, go!" - ushered the young one with stern voice.
Caelia says, 'Understood. I understand.'
Randric hears some of what is being said amongst the noise of battle and his exertion.
'Archers hold the position!!! Shoot them down!' 'Riders Hold the doors! 'Rand, Niehstu to the West gates, ten men stay here to hold the gates!' - Cynebur ordered them to move.
Niehstu was about to move to the door, it seems, the only thing getting her going anywhere is a command given, otherwise appearing lost as of what to do. Her eyes search in the crowd for the said man, to walk alongside him.
Randric calls back to the men who have been chosen to stay. "The strength of Bema be with you all!" He then turns and runs to the captain.
Dozen of men held the gates secure while archers shot out volleys to the easterling army. But that was battle of the children against the giants. Cynebur stood on the tower, taking the bow herself, sending volley after volley, but tide of crimson was relentless. With heavy heart, she turns to archer, not older then fourteen that had tears in his eyes.
Shouts spread through the town, 'The East Gates have broken! The East Gates are falling! Swarthy men are coming in!!". Horn blasts echoed from the east, and were returned from those on the Cuthstan, were black arrows were raining in!
Cynebur fought with dozen of men and few archers that assembled after the fall of the gates, holding the patch of road so ceorlfolc can pass over to the western gates. "Keep the line!" as they clashed their shields with power of easterlings army.
Caelia shouts above the din: "People are assembled in the yard, with as many horses as I could find. But it is near hysteria there; they will be difficult to move in an organised fashion."
Niehstu turns to Caelia, to look at her with eyes wide. Fear started to grow in her mind and heart, turning her young face pale, before she moved on to the gate to hold along with other men and to stop thinking.
Ceolswith calls out, "Cynebur, I need to get them out of here!"
Cynebur ducks as arrow passes her helm just for a lenght of hair, that came from one of her own archers. "We will hold!' Carefull!" but there was no time, barricades where into breaking, and men were falling one by one.
Orcs started to shout outside the walls, chanting the name, "Murzol! Murzol!" Their leader, Murzol, a short broad orc with large arms and thick armour raised his axe, hearing word of the gates broke. He shouted out in the harsh crude tongue of orkish, and more than half of the forces moved then towards the other gate, swiftly running the path to try and break in the same gate the easterlings were currently breaking through. Now at the western gate only remained about thirty five orc warriors, though archers still lined up on the hillside.
.
Riders lead by Regnwald line up, forming a wall of shields to hold the wave, before another group lead by Langhund leads out the folk, storing the orcs trough on horseback.
The orcs slowed their barrage of arrows, and the orcs at the gate stood there, not knowing what to do now their commander moved to the East Gate.
Cynebur and her company was halved as they were pushed to the west, not running backwardly as archers shoot out last arrows from the quiver! "Retreat!'To the western gates!'
Hund would ride ahead to the group, and upon Hrimfell along with a few other riders, broke into the orcs that were defending the gates! Spears slammed into bodies as a path was started to be made, arrows once again were fired down upon the riders that had left the gates!
Niehstu looks at the fearful bunch the Ceorlc make, she gulps and helps the men pull the gate open as Villagers approach the gates. A few stop, apparently confused, their fear beaten out by bewilderment at the prospect of abandoning their home.
Ceolswith shouts at the terrified Ceorlc, "Go! Follow the riders and seek safety!" while drawing her sword, knowing she was staying behind. She would watch them leave with dread in her eyes.
Up the slopes a few riders went ahead, and a few men on foot. From the saddle Langhund was knocked, though he was soon picked up though winded by his friend and on they fought the archers, giving the retreating ceorlfolc some covering!
Caelia shouts at the villagers: " MOVE! Run, ride."Jolted out of their confusion, people start streaming through the gate out of Stangard.
Cynebur was running back now follwed with eight men, six footmen and two archers, one wounded carried on. Riders meet at the gates "Are they left" shouts trough the melody of the war, with blood streaking down her armor from the close combat.
Niehstu stands to guard the gates until the vilagers around, the feeling on defeat weighting upon her heavier even than fear. She looks at Ceol, for the command to close the gate behind them and stay with the rest along with the enemy.
Ceolswith nods at Cynebur before shouting to close the gate after the fleeing group. - 'Aye... they left with Langhund...'
Cynebur shouts "No wait!"
Niehstu starts pushing the doors shut, along with the rest of the guards of the gate, until Cynebur objects. She looks to her, pausing for a moment.
Shieldmaiden continues - , 'Oil the gates! Rucbald i hope you have more oil! All out, its the order of Regnwald! Oil them well!'
Ceolswith sighs, taking off with the miner towards the tavern.
Cynebur helps with NIehstu to get lumber to bar the gates after the two return with oil "To leave oil in tavern, that is only what Rusc would do!" she curses as working. - 'Be ready to bar the gates from outside when they come!!!' Archers secure their path back! -' then took one of spears on the ground and as easterlings filled the streets and ran toward them, she with others offered offense of spears, javelins and arrows "Make every hit!" her guts turn as she sees none of Rusc and Ceolswith yet, and easterlings are already at the Taverns line.
Niehstu took a look at the road behind them, the one for the rest of the folk took refretfully. She continued her work though, to nail the wood needed from the outside, so it would hold the bars
Ceolswith comes running back with Ruscbald. The miner looks slightly beat shouting something about blowing the town sky high. Ceolswith comes running, holding her left hand against her right with her sword. She is cursing the miner out, "Damn you, you fool! You should have left the ale!"
'Close the gates!!!' - Regnwald shouted boldly as holding the shield line with Cynebur and few more riders.
Ceolswith gets out of the gate before dropping her sword and slowly taking off her left glove. She would slowly tear her sleeve, wrapping her hand up as tight as she can.
Cynebur together with others they pull the heavy battered gates and they push the two long logs across it from the inside. The rope was waiting for few of them from tht tower.
Niehstu pulled the gate along with the rest, losing sight of those few left behind, sealing the gate and their fate with it.
Cynebur opens doors and waits all go up " All up!!! Use the rope to go down!!"
Ceolswith goes to pick up her sword with a shaking hand. Someone else wraps her hand before grabbing her and taking her along down the path. The rest of the remaining fighter start blockading the gate the best they can.
Cynebur would pull over the bar over the shaft so one following woul dhave hard time to come. "Go down! Go down!"
Niehstu falls in the line of the fighters, once her turn is up she climbs down the rope to the other side, not really sure of how even she landed on her feet.
Cynebur looks to the Stangard, with moment that will last forever. Few lost women were sarrounded at tavern, pushed around and sliced with crooked blades of easterlings. She saw one under the weight of a man already screaming and calling for help while other two held her hands and legs. Cynebur knew there was no way she could reach her, save her. Without thought she took bow from the ground and aimed at womans face. She knocked arrow and pierced womans side of the head, releasing her from torment. She also turned took another arrow and seeked for more. Shooting to death, anyone she could see, saving with quick death. She let it go shaken, lost and with blood dropping in her eyes finds the way to the rope and lets herself down, jumping and rolling down.
Niehstu turned her back the moment the lady landed, eager to leave Stangard behind. Though for a moment she froze on her steps to turn and ask without breath.
Cynebur gets up and with last reserves runs toward the path where she saw Ceolswith "Come, archer light the doors, they are at gates!"
Niehstu says, 'Is the Aethelwigend out?'
- Aye! Look!' - Cynebur points at Regnwald following with few men Ceolswith.
Ceolswith is being helped up the hill. Her sword is in her hand still but her left hand is bound by cloth from her sleeve. The folawigend helping her is convincing her everything is fine.
Caelia says, 'You made it! I thought you were dead.'
Langhund was still a bit ahead, his spear driving into the chest of an orc archer as he panted. He was exhausted, this heavy armour on him dragging him down each time he swung his blade. His hair was wet from sweat and red with blood.
Niehstu looked at the figure of the tall man from afar, with doubt in her eyes, that dims the previous shine of his tall figure. Once reaching up the hill she stops to catch her breath.
Cynebur breathed hard and fast, taking off her helmet as she barely coud see anything from blood. Whiping her forhead where she recived a dent into the helm it made mark on her head, and blood was runing down. Cursing she throws the helm on the ground, and then again picks up and start hitting it again.
Langhund breathed heavily as throwing his last javelin, falling onto his knee from exhaustion. He had recieved a fair amount of wounds, though most archers were now gone or fleeing to Stangard.
Ceolswith struggles getting her sword back into its sheath as her right hand shakes. She seems stuck, staring at her left hand.
Words of Regnwald were as distant noise "Get all to the Waterbank hideout."
Ceorlfolc and riders, hidden under the ridge of the mountains flee toward old mine shaft hidden in deep dell of Limlight.
