[Child of the 7th Age]

Nitir and Pearl had worked swiftly and quietly with group after group. They found their task enormously satisfying. They had watched as the elderly, the infirm, and the youngsters all made their way to the safety of the ships. Mithadan's air bladders and the small rafts woven by the hobbrim had enabled many to reach their goal who could not otherwise have done so. As soon as the main cavern was secure, the more general exodus of able bodied hobbits would begin.

Only a handful of children remained at the mouth of the tunnel waiting for safe escort down the river. But, just as the hobbits were starting the final group into the tunnel, something happened which no one had anticipated. Milo came racing down to Nitir. Azra was with him. She'd stripped off her skirts to reveal a sword and leggings underneath.

Gasping for breath, she leaned against Nitir's shoulder and blurted out, "The battle for the caverns is still going on. But some of the guards broke loose and headed toward the mouth of the tunnel. We've got children trapped there. About six of the older ones. Hobbits are trying to rescue them, but we need help."

"How many guards?" Nitir asked, her heart pounding furiously.

Azra shook her head. "It's hard to say. You can't see much. But I'd say at least eight."

Eight guards, thought Nitir. That was no small thing. "Go ahead, both of you, get back to the children, and start harrying the Men. I'll get the hobbrim to come up the tunnel and help.

Nitir turned and sprinted back to the water, where Andril was waiting. Within a moment of telling her story, five hobbrim had raced onto land and were running up the passageway, with lances in hand.

The children were penned in at the mouth of the tunnel, the Men completely surrounding them. Several hobbits attempting to assault the guards were armed only with swords and sharpened vizers. They swiftly darted in and out, striking blows. They had managed to divert the Men's attention from the children, but couldn't bring the guards down for a mortal blow.

Andril cried out, "Go in with the lances, the lances and the bows. Hobbits clear out." Six hobbits scattered to the corners.

Andril ran in and drew back her arm to hurl her lance forward, as she had done so many times when hunting the great fish of the sea. Then as now, her weapon found its mark. A guard was pinned against the ground, a lance pierced through his side. Blood flowed out onto the floor of the cavern.

The remaining guards raced forward against the hobbrim. Four other lances instantly shot through the air. Each was quick to find its target. Those hobbits armed with swords and other smaller weapons sprinted in to finish off the victims lying on the ground. Still, three guards remained.

Nitir strung her bow and cocked an arrow. It sped through the air and buried itself in the shoulder of a guard. He staggered about to retreat up the cavern, but was met by hobbrim who had now retrieved their lances.

Nitir pulled Andril over. "The rest can take care of the few guards who are left. Go in and get the children, and take them down the tunnel. I know they can swim. Just keep an eye on them in the water."

She nodded her head, "But where are you going?"

"We're missing children, four small children." Nitir explained. "I know exactly who they are, and I have a good idea where they went to. I've got to get outside and find them."

She started heading to the left, planning on inching her way along the wall of the main cavern until she came to the graveyard exit. But, before she could leave, Azra ran up to her. "I'm coming. It's Gamba's brood, isn't it?"

Nitir shook her head yes, but then bellowed, "Azra, stay here. I think I can make it back in time, but I'm not sure. It only takes one to go haul in lost children."

"And what do you think you'll find out there? A welcoming party? You could run into anything! Stop talking, and start moving. We're going together."

Nitir muttered something indiscernible under her breath. Out loud, she only said, "Stay close then. It's pitch black in here."

The two women felt their way in the dark towards the graveyard exit. Once they reached the passage, they had to crawl along the ground. The smoke and fumes were making it impossible to breath. There were only a few Elves still fighting in this area. They paid scant attention to the two small hobbits.

Nitir wondered if she should tell someone where she was going. But then, she didn't really know, and who could she tell? Anyways, it might be better if they said nothing. She and Azra were doing this by their own free choice. No use to endanger others by having them come search for her. Hopefully, they'd make it back. But there was no way she'd board the ship without trying to find the children. Gamba had seen enough misery for a lifetime. She pushed back the little voice in her head which whispered that it wasn't only Gamba who had feelings for these boys.

There was still a single torch burning at the entrance to the graveyards. Nitir grabbed it in her hand and brought it along. The two women ran into the field of death looking for any hint that the children had been there. It was then that Nitir spied the imprint of a shovel which was being dragged erratically on the ground in the direction of the horse pens. They quickly moved in that direction.

[ November 01, 2002: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]