In the year 3434 of the Second Age, the Swamp of Death. Pen & Fun & Pavilion www.biquge.info

Thranduil had never hated himself so much. He wanted to cut off his legs so that the swamp couldn't hold him back. In this case, he will rush to the left three steps away to save the elven warrior who has been pounced on by the wolf and torn to pieces. He could also reach a little longer and grab his retinue on his right, who was being swallowed up by the swamp. And behind him, those warriors who held their chests up until the death......

But he couldn't do anything.

More and more wolf cavalry, orcs and trolls who were hit by arrows, with blood-red eyes, dragged their broken bodies and rushed over desperately. Behind him, from time to time, several arrows unique to the woodland would fly. While they pierced the enemy's body with unerring accuracy, only a small number of arrows pierced into the heart killed the enemy, and many more only served to slow them down. Thranduil was almost desperate, and mechanically raised his sword, stabbed in, drawn, and thrust again.

I don't know how long it took, but the horn of withdrawal sounded one after another, and he realized that there seemed to be fewer enemies. Backhand stabbed the nearest wolf cavalryman with his sword, and he turned back and retreated, but he was stunned on the spot. The original gray-black swamp turned a dark red, and as far as the eye could see, the remains of woodland soldiers were strewn.

It's not that he hasn't experienced war. Nearly 100 years ago, he followed his father to clean up the evil creatures that had strayed into the woodland kingdom. Every few years, King Aurifel would also take him to hold military exercises with the King of the Lonely Mountain. But it was the first time he had seen such a tragic scene, and it felt like a knife was constantly stirring in his chest.

Just a few days ago, when the woodland army used up its first bows and arrows, he was full of confidence, believing that the woodland army was invincible and that Sauron's strength was ridiculous.

Thranduil struggled to step on one foot and received a blow to his back before he could get his feet. He slashed off the assailant's head with a swing of his knife and fell to his knees in the mud. At his feet, the corpses of two Sylvan elves were slowly sinking into the swamp at a speed invisible to the naked eye.

After being half-dragged and half-pulled back to the barracks by the soldiers, Thranduil dipped her head in cold water. Cold droplets of water ran down his hair and onto his face, slowly sobering him up. Waving his hand to refuse the towel offered by the soldier, he hurried to Orifer's royal tent.

There were many strange faces in the king's tent, many of them humans and dwarves. Judging by his appearance and dress, he should be a high-status official from other countries. Although they had seen many elves, these creatures were still stunned for a few seconds after Thranduil came in - and they couldn't be blamed for this, even if they had seen it before, and seeing Thranduil, whose face was still handsome and shiny, would have such a reaction.

It is not surprising that the final alliance was joined by humans and dwarves, who did not participate in the battle with all their might like the Elven Kingdom, but also sent small detachments of troops to show their support. This cross-racial hatred at least boosted morale, and no one cared about the strength of the fight.

Thranduil bowed slightly in response to their salute, ignoring Aurel's staring eyes at him, and sat down beside him without saying a word.

Orifer stopped talking a few times, trying to remind him to change his armor. After thinking about it, now is not the time to think about it. As his bloody hand landed somewhere on the map, the king of the woodland said word by word: "I will lead the army to attack the Black Gate according to the agreed plan after the war begins tomorrow." With the exception of the sneak attack troops, the command of the woodland army will be temporarily taken over by my son, Thrandil. ”

Ignoring Thrandil's panicked look, King Aurefel turned to face the crowd and announced majestically, "Just in case, please contact Thranduil directly for any movement of war from tomorrow until my return."

"I'm not going to take over the command of the army. Thranduil stood abruptly, his face full of vigor and resoluteness. "I'll lead the team for you, Father. You have to sit in the army for the forest elves to be united. ”

The officials of the non-woodland kingdom at the scene were in an uproar, gathering in twos and threes to discuss quietly. The officials of the woodland did not say a word, and did not even dare to raise their eyes at the father and son. Instead, Aurelel chuckled, easing his nervousness.

He reached out and patted Thranduil on the shoulder, as relaxed as if he were discussing what wine to prepare for the dinner. "The composition of the team to attack the Black Gate is a common decision of the 'Last Alliance'. Don't think of sneak attacks as dangerous, my kid. It seems to me that an army that will face the enemy head-on tomorrow is even more dangerous. Let's take on this responsibility as the prince of the Great Green Forest. ”

"Then please bring more soldiers with you. Thranduil nodded, and added.

The more soldiers I bring over, the more dangerous you will be. Aurifel didn't say this, but smiled and nodded to Thrandil.

The non-woodland officials saw that tomorrow's battle had been completed, and they all got up to say goodbye. As one of the dwarven officials left the king's tent, he glanced back at Thranduil before he hurried after his companion.

Only father and son were left in the tent. Orifer rushed straight in front of Thrandil and looked him up and down before smiling calmly, "My Thranduil is becoming more and more powerful as a king. ”

Pushing the sweet smell back in his throat, Thranduil endured the pain in his chest and caress his blood-stained robe, which was indistinctly colored. "Because I am the son of the king of the woodlands. ”

"I was going to tell you to stand tall in times of crisis. Now I'm going to tell you. The prerequisite for standing up is to keep you safe, my son. Aurifel looked in the direction of the Black Gate and said with great seriousness, "If the general is gone, all the soldiers will lose their spiritual leaders, and all that awaits them is death." Remember, when you become a general, your safety is the safety of all soldiers. ”

The moment King Aurifel left, Thranduil saw him off with all his soldiers.

The team of this sneak attack can be said to be exquisite. There were woodland soldiers led by Orifer himself, and there were also teams sent by Lorraine. The High King of the Noldor Elves and the King of the Northern Kingdom of Arnor, also came to see them off, and will each hand over two elites to Orifer. Looking at the sneak attack team that was not large in number, but the combat effectiveness was definitely super high, Thranduil was relieved.

He had learned about the Black Gate sneak attack plan last night, and it didn't sound dangerous at all. The purpose of their trip was only to attract the attention of the enemy and draw them away, without the need for a head-on confrontation with the enemy - given the terrain of the Black Gate, the cavalry brought by King Aurifel could not have a head-on confrontation with the enemy, all they could do was to see the enemy retreat quickly.