n/b: This was also written about 3 years ago, detailing the final seige of anlec during the sundering.


In the last days of the Sundering, a final desperate tactic was employed by the followers of the Phoenix King. As word spread of the deaths of the High Princes loyal to Caledor I, and of the fall of kingdom after kingdom to the followers of the Witch King Malekith, despair spread in the hearts of the followers of the now shattered Council of Princes. Thus it was that insanity reigned, and folly seemed as wisdom, as the High Prince of Ellyrion led his armies north to besiege Tor Anlec itself. The Citadel of Aenarion was widely considered to be impregnable, but the armies of Malekith were absent from it, and it seemed to him a prize ripe for the taking. Caledor?s hand was forced now. He could not abandon one of the few lords loyal to him, and the holding action that he had been leading was only becoming a slow defeat for his followers. It was, also, true, that should he manage to seize the fortress-city, that many of the leading figures of the Loyalists would be present. In one decisive blow, he could win the war ? or lose it ultimately.
The armies of the Phoenix King moved into the lush lands of Nagarythe with all haste, and his supporters flocked to his banner, most especially the High Princes Anrol of Ellyrion and Shandiar of Tiranoc. Another entered the camp late at night, the infamous Alith Anar, already called the Shadow King for his exploits. Having just rescued his comrade Ashnari Doomsong from the Witch-King?s personal dungeons, and evading the trap set to kill him there, Alith Anar now led the army by the swiftest route to Anlec.
The Witch King knew of their coming. His own garrison was insufficient to defeat the forces of Caledor, but he had other weapons. Kithan, the Master Assassin, vanished into the shadows, with orders to return with Caledor the Conqueror?s heart in his hand. That night, as the camp slumbered outside the walls of Anlec, the slayer of the Anar family entered the camp. But the last scion of House Anar had expected such a plan, and when Kithan entered the tent of the Phoenix King, he found it empty ? save for Alith Anar. The two drew swords, but fighting was not on Alith Anar?s mind. Slashing open the side of the tent, he then seized a torch and set it on fire. The tent had been specially prepared, and so when Kithan tried to escape, he found the tent had collapsed on him, and that it had been doused with oil. The Master Assassin, a living torch, escaped screaming from the burning tent. Now Alith Anar engaged him, fending off increasingly desperate attacks until his nemesis collapsed in a smouldering pile. Alith Anar stood watching until only ashes remained. From the wall of Anlec, Malekith saw the blaze and knew that Kithan was dead.
The next day the siege began. Legions of mages from Saphery and ielthain-throwers attempted to breach the wall, but the massive defences stood intact. Caledor knew that he would have to break into the fortress soon, but days of assault passed as the walls held firm, and as scouts reported the arrival of another army from the south, led by Yssasuiltis Pendragon. As the second army moved into position to block off the retreat, the vast gates of Anlec opened wide and began vomiting forth the Black Guard, led by their captain Narkarthe, and the crack regiments of Nagarythe. Seeing his chances slip from his grasp, Caledor mounted his dragon and flew aloft, bellowing in a voice that could be heard across the battlefield for the pretender Malekith to face him if he dared. In response, an inky shadow burst from the walls of Nagarythe, a two-headed monstrosity with the Witch King upon it. Massive wings bore the two together in a bone-shattering collision, and massive talons tore at each other while the two master swordsmen upon them engaged in a final duel with the fate of Ulthuan hanging in the balance. Meanwhile Prince Shandiar took control of the vast armies that fought beneath the shadow of dragon wings, and engaged the Black Guard ? knowing if he managed to punch through their lines before Yssasuiltis?s forces reached him, he could use the defences of Anlec against her. The greatest battle ever fought on Ulthuan since the creation of the Vortex raged, as kin fought kin, brother slew brother, and husband cut down wife. No matter which side won, the scars of their victory would be doomed to remain forever. Shandiar forced his way into Anlec, as Yssasuiltis? forces struck the rear of the embattled army. The streets of Anlec ran awash with blood, soaking all who fought there. But it was overhead that the true battle raged, and with a single exchange of blows faster than the eye could follow, the outcome of the Sundering was decided. The two dragons were stiff beneath them now, as their blood was spilt like crimson rain, and as the two corpses plummeted meteorically to the earth Caledor unleashed a flurry of blows that left Malekith reeling, his defences open. With a single perfect move the sword of Caledor Dragontamer drove at Malekith?s heart. But the armour that Hotek had forged was impervious to weapons, and with a mighty scream of steel Caledor?s blade broke asunder, and the shards rained from the sky like teardrops. Howling in victory, the Witch King counter-attacked, and the deadly sword Destroyer tore open the Phoenix King?s armour and sent Caledor?s heart?s-blood flying into the air.
Then the dragons struck the ground, landing in the middle of the armies. Thousands of warriors from both sides were slain as the crimson and sable leviathans impacted into the walls, and Anlec?s unbreachable wall was torn asunder. As the devastation cleared, one form staggered to his feet ? Malekith, the Witch King, had survived. Immediately a great cry went up, a wail of anguish from the followers of the Phoenix King, and a roar of victory from the Black Guard, who tore into the enemy with renewed vigour. Taking stock of the situation, Prince Shandiar realised the battle was lost. Forming his household knights into a wedge about him, he drove through the Druchii lines southwards, and reached Yssasuiltis Pendragon herself. With a single blow of his sword he cleft the renegade Pendragon in twain, and trampled her corpse into the mud. Following in his wake, the shattered remnants of the army fled from the massacre. They were not pursued, for the fall of the dragons had broken the Naggarothi army as well. But now Malekith was the unchallengeable master of Ulthuan.
In the weeks that followed, the forces of Malekith spread swiftly. Save for a few remnants of loyalists to the fallen Phoenix King, the entire island swiftly belonged to him. But the war was not over, for still the leaders of Caledor?s armies survived ? Rythion Pendragon continued to hold the fortress-cities of Caledor, while Alith Anar?s band of guerilla warriors and Shandiar Aminaith escaped Nagarythe, bearing the body of Caledor ?the Conqueror? with them. The Phoenix King had not perished in the final battle, and his strength gradually returned. The battle was lost, and the last strongholds fell one by one into the hands of darkness ? but the war was not over yet.