[Mithadan]

As they rushed through the streets, what had begun as chaos attained a degree of order. While there could still be heard the wailing of children and the cries of maidens, from all sides the warriors of Gondolin rushed to their musters. Mithadan saw the insignias of many houses as he ran towards the north; the emblem of Turgon's knights, the moon, sun and scarlet heart; the white wing; the swallow; the bright arch; the pillar; the white tower; the rayed sun; and others besides. The warriors bore swords, axes, bows and other weapons of dread. All were grim but calm and many seemed confident of the strength of their arms and the walls of the city.

Mithadan and Piosenniel were forced to dodge and detour around the gathering soldiery of the city, at times going far out of their way so that the journey took far longer than they expected. At last they approached the north gate and again their progress was slowed for the knights of the Houses of the Swallow and the Heavenly Arch were rushing to the walls carrying bows and quivers with many arrows. The tops of the walls now glowed red and they could hear the bellows and roars of the dragons which had rushed across Tumladen to the foot of Amon Gwareth.

Struggling through the crowd, Pio and Mithadan reached the streets leading to the dwellings of the Hobbits, and here Bird, who had flown ahead, joined them. "The doors of the holes are closed and re-enforced with such barriers as the Hobbits could find," she said. "There is no sign of Rose or Child, but many Hobbit bowman are on the walls."

[ August 08, 2002: Message edited by: Mithadan ]