Elves 3

The following battle was long and arduous, and King Caranmír, with his son Cardol and but a few of his household guards, were cut off from the main host - and bitter was their end. For it is said that Cardol was slain by many arrows, and Caranmír fought toe to toe with the great beast Drulmorg (whom the elves name Dúraug - the 'night demon').

In that battle the iron spear of Caranmír (that itself was called 'Angecthel' by the elves and 'Irengâr' by men) was broken - and the enchanted gem set into it was cast away …though the king fought valiantly until the last, drawing his short sword that he had named Gondang (that men have later called Stânisen) and dealt a vicious blow to his enemy before he ended.

And so it came to pass that with great losses the elven host was driven back, and with them they carried the body of their king. And on returning to their homeland, a great council was called and swift riders were sent to Orodmír.

Upon learning of his father and brother's death, Orodmír returned to his people - though Deore, his wife, remained behind for she had but newly given birth to their daughter Díerra. Soon after, Orodmír himself was crowned king - and he sent messengers to bring his wife and child to him (if they would come), despite the disapproval of many elf elders, who did not accept the validity of the marriage.

However, the riders never arrived, for they were ambushed by orcs (and not a few suspected treachery from within the elven kingdom itself - for many had no love for the humans - and to have one sitting next to their king was deemed an insult). Though when no word came to Deore, she herself undertook the journey to the elven lands wishing to see her husband once again, and due to Orodmír's friendship with an old half-elf druid of the Gylden Wood (who himself was considered an outcast by many - due to his own mixed parentage), she left their daughter in this druid's care (deeming the journey unsuitable for one so young, and indeed not knowing what kind of welcome she or her child could expect). With her went the elven ranger Belegil and a few of his followers (who had from a child been friends with Orodmír) - who happened, at this time, to be a guest in the halls of the druid.

A few years later Deore was with child, but during this time the wood-elf king (accompanied by his eldest son and heir Cardol) marched to war against the orc armies in the south (with little aid from men it is said - due to his increasing dislike for the race to whom he had lost his youngest son). However, he underestimated the strength of the orcs, and they came upon him at a time of night, and trolls were with them.