While Kaen struck like lightning upon Gundabad at the northernmost edge of the Misty Mountains, another battle raged fiercely at the High Pass.
The High Pass, rising hundreds of meters above the world, was among the few natural gaps in the Misty Mountains wide enough for hosts to march through. The pass itself had been carved by glaciers, its cliffs sheer and towering hundreds of meters, and only a narrow cart-road wound through its heart.
Previously, an Orc-town had burrowed here, fashioning a web of tunnels: fore-hall, main gate, and rear gate,the Goblin town. These three strong points formed a triangle of defense, allowing the creatures to swiftly muster and assail any caravan daring to cross.
A year past, the Orcs of Sauron seized this place. They did not only inherit the defenses already wrought, but after the Dwarf Balin and his folk forced their way through, they raised a fortress upon the road itself.
The fortress rose upon a broad ledge where the pass widened, two square walls standing as east and west bulwarks. Each wall was ten meters tall and thick, without gates, and the space between them spanned twenty meters. From their flanks, the walls sank into the mountain-rock and joined to Orc-tunnels within. Thus, if ever the walls were assailed, Orcs could pour forth unceasingly.
Before Kaen led his riders north, he had through the Arkenstone sent word to Yenagath, bidding him lead two thousand Elves and at dawn upon the fifth day strike the eastern side of the pass.
At that same hour, Lord Elrond himself would march with one thousand Noldorin warriors, one thousand heavy infantry of Eowenría, and four thousand bowmen. Together they would fall suddenly upon the fortress of the Orcs at the High Pass.
So it was that, with dawn's first light, the battle for the High Pass began.
For victory's sake, Elrond wielded one of the Three Rings of the Elves, the Ring of Air. With its power he summoned a great wind that blew away the mist shrouding the heights.
Then, as the sun rose in the east, its beams fell upon the pass. At that light the Orcs faltered, for the sun pierced their hearts with dread and their eyes with pain, and many scuttled into the caves beside the walls.
Elrond seized the moment. He sent Zakri with two companies of bowmen, carrying siege ladders, to creep beneath the walls unseen.
The ladders were raised, and soldiers began to climb. The foremost bore a shield in one hand, hauling himself upward, ready to leap into battle with his own body as shield. Behind him another drew a bow, arrow nocked and aimed at the dark mouths of the caves above. Should an Orc show itself, his shaft would strike.
Stealthily they climbed, nearing the battlements. From the cave-mouths Orcs suddenly spied them.
"Enemies—" one cried, but the word was cut short by an arrow in his throat.
The soldier at the front gained the wall, drew his spear, and stood ready. Others hastened upward after him.
The Orc horns brayed. From both sides of the walls poured the defenders.
A roar shook the air, yet those Orcs in the lead faltered, for the rising sun seared their skin and they dared not rush forward. But behind them, pressed by their fellows, they were shoved into the fray.
Thus the bowmen upon the wall met the Orcs in desperate combat.
From afar, Elrond beheld the clash. At once he gave command. The Noldorin warriors leapt forward. Compared to the soldiers of Eowenría, they were swifter, nimbler; they bounded up the ladders almost as if they climbed with leaps alone. They gained the wall in moments, their swords flashing to aid the embattled bowmen.
But the pass was narrow, and to open the way swiftly, Elrond cried:
"Send in the heavy infantry! All climb the wall, drive the Orcs into their holes, and we shall take the fight into their tunnels!"
High upon the cliff of the east wall, a hundred Caladhîn Elves had already scaled the heights, unseen. With ropes a hundred meters long they descended upon the battlements.
In the astonishment of the Orcs they unsheathed their long Elven blades and slew the guards. Then they cast down the ropes and blew upon silver horns.
At the call, thousands of Caladhîn rushed from the bend of the eastern road. Led by Yenagath himself, they clambered swiftly up the ropes, flowing onto the wall like a tide.
Yenagath exchanged only a brief glance with his allies. Without words the Elves pressed on, swords ready, storming into the tunnels.
Compared to the assault upon walls, the battle within tunnels was darker, fiercer, and crueler. In the narrow ways, there was no retreat, only death or victory.
The Men of Eowenría,the Caladhîn of the Anduin, the Noldor of Rivendell—all fought without fear, their courage burning like fire. In their eyes was no dread of death, only the grim resolve to fight unto the end.
From dawn till sunset the slaughter raged. In the end, Men and Elves triumphed. Not one Orc remained alive within the High Pass.
Yet victory was bought dearly.
One thousand bowmen lay dead.
Five hundred heavy infantry had fallen.
Five hundred Noldorin Elves lay still.
Five hundred Caladhîn likewise gave their lives.
At last the hosts gathered together.
Yenagath bowed and spoke: "I am Yenagath, chieftain of the Caladhîn of the Anduin Valley. By command of the High King, I have come to war."
"I am Elrond, Lord of Rivendell," came the answer. "I lead the armies of Rivendell and Eowenría against the High Pass, and to the aid of the city of Tusgar."
Bloodied and weary, there was no time for courtesy.
"The High King has sent command through me," said Yenagath. "I am to heed your orders. From now, I will do as you say."
Elrond nodded. "If I am not mistaken, the Orc hosts are already pressing hard upon Tusgar. We must march with all speed to its aid."
He thought a moment, then added: "The heavy infantry cannot march swiftly. Let Reger command them, and hold this fortress until the war is won."
Reger bowed. "It shall be so."
That night they rested in the captured stronghold.
At dawn, Elrond departed with three thousand bowmen, five hundred Noldorin warriors, and fifteen hundred Caladhîn—five thousand in all.
If their pace did not falter, they would reach the city of Tusgar in six days' time.