Before The Gates Of Fornost III

We weren't going to invade the ruins of Fornost.  That was a task that would take an army and there just wasn't one handy anywhere in Bree-land, the North Downs, or anywhere in the west, right at the moment.  So what we had to do was both simpler and more difficult than that.
We were looking at destroying the enemy's ability to operate with impugnity in the North Downs.  They were shipping supplies and slaves through the land, a supply chain with tendrils reaching to Kheledul in Ered Luin, to Annunimas in Evendim and from there to Fornost and beyond, to it's hub located in Carn Dum within Angmar.
My niece, Lore, is part of the group tasked with operations in Kheledul against the Dourhands and their Morrovale allies.  We get to deal here with the orc's and Angmarim and whatever other little nasty surprises this lot have tucked up their sleeves.
I'd already met with Captain Cathnel Dynnys, who'd briefed me on what had already occurred before my own arrival at the frontlines.  Per Captain Dynnys' orders, Lieutenant Sharleyan Applebottom and several teams of fast moving troops and archers and been harrassing the enemy's activities and slowly forcing them back to the shelter of their fortifications at Fornost. 
Once that was accomplished, they'd stirred the pot, so to speak.  Night raids and constant ambushes with intermittent volleys of massed archers had served well to infuriate the already volatile mixture of the various tribes of orc's and their allies within the stronghold.
On my arrival the eve before the battle, I'd found the Lieutenant doing her own inspection of the troops who'd be leading off the first attack.  Looking at them, anyone who didn't know what to look for would not have been impressed.  A mixed bag of a crew if there ever was one and not that large that it would have seemed threatening.
I'd travelled to the front along the lines of the pre-stage camps set up by Captain Dynnys, though and had the advantage of reading the orders and plan of battle.  Lt. Applebottom had approximately thirty archers there, listening intently to her as she explained their duties. Standing mixed among the archers, were the more heavily armed and armored men and women who'd be keeping them healthy enough to ply their trade if the enemy was able to press close enough to put them at risk.
Sharleyan introduced me to the troops, some of whom I already knew from having served with them before.  I told those ones to fill the rest in later on who I was and where I'd served and let the Lieutenant finish giving her orders.  We were running short on time and needed to be in position before daylight.  With my arrival, she'd be taking command of the archers, leaving me in overall control of the movements of the troops and coordinating with the other elements of our forces waiting to do their part.
Quiet signals from the scouts stationed to watch the gates of Fornost signaled that the enemy were stirring as the sunlight begain painting the upper reaches of the tumbled stones of the ancient fortress.  I nodded to the halfling bounder Sharleyan and with a saucy grin and a tip of her cap, she turned and waved the archers to follow as she led them to their positions.
Following, I waved the melee troops to follow me and slid Archibolt, my two handed sword, from it's sheath across Traveller's saddle, resting it over my shoulders as I led the way to our position.  For all the iron and steel moving behind me as the troops fell in, it was still eerily quiet and I was thankful for having professionals with me.  This day, the sun's crimson rays were going to be greeted by the red of blood on the dirt and stones of the ground before the gates of Fornost.