Herein I faithfully present what survives of
the last words of Noldi, Mage of Belegost before the fall.
Llwyd ap Ifor
So they were quite affected by the appearance of Aldalgrim. It was a costly mistake, but we cannot have many more victories like this one. The Father of Battles had his hand in this one, for we were steadily gaining ground on the hill until they brought that accursed clan into the center.
How lucky we are that Adalgrim's folk came out of the woods then! The
"Bloodheads" were already counting the heads of the folk when
their flank was suddenly shattered by the axes of Adalgrim's best.
We They drove them from the field, but they did not
break, they did not scatter, and now we count the fallen. Too many.
Thangadrim swears that we still can hold the fords, but I can see the
doubt in his eyes. We cannot even bury them fallen
yet.
They will not succeed. They must not. To hang together, so many tribes as one is a mystery that will bury many of us before
our scouts can find their leaders. We had thought that killing the three chieftains would have done it, and many sacrificed bodies attest to the ferocity of that wedge, that noble and doomed thrust into their center that slew them and their shield bearers as they stood. But no, they recalled the wings, the shattered center fell back and the god cursed wargs held us away long enough for them to cross the far river into the woods, where we dare not go.
They left many wounded. I feel we have only thrown back their van. We have taken 2 score and 7 clan totems from the battlefield, and the Master of Scouts counted at least that many leaving the field.
We have nowhere to go, and no place we would rather be, then here fighting for our homes. Our numbers are riven by a fifth.
it was Uxthen's loss. After he was cut down there was a faltering among them. It was too late for many, and despite the berzerk effort, oh and my heart breaks at the cost - oh my folk, oh my home, despite the mighty blow we were too weakened by the counter-thrust to stand. I saw it, I saw it from the upper face. I saw her fall, broken headed and trampled underfoot. Her guard the <Arokdrim> stood over her and fought like demons, and died where they stood. The Bloodheads swarmed them.
It was only when I was sure, when I was certain that the knoll was only inhabited by the enemy, that I released the glyph. They fell like rye before a sickle. It was horrible, and worse because I broke my vows and a part of me exulted.
Kheled Khatai came after that, and I was there, I saw this happen. Thangadrim will not know, and his story is different, but that is
mountain! I have done all I will, at least our children have a chance. Oi, oi, oi so much wasted, so much ruin so much misery. I can hear the fighting in the halls. I am so afraid. So I am a craven coward. Always the books my father said. Now he is dead, and soon all of us. I used the awl, and I have hidden them. They will not find my special armature either. If only I had made something for battle, if only I had time to finish the armature, so close. I told the master to throw the parts into the ash pits. I hope he had time. He must have, he must!
That was a big crash just now, I think the doors are forced, down there. I must do it, it is the last thing. I Noldi, son of IDRAFANG do freely unmake myself, and to unmake Tragnorg Uxthen with me. May Moraddin keep my children.
