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piosenniel · 07-17-2003, 06:48 PM

When it was completely dark, and the lights in the cottages scattered about the plantation had dimmed and then gone out altogether, Pio crept closer to the fence line and waited. She reached out to listen to the men as they drifted off to sleep. Her mind reeled back from the contact, shielding itself from the writhing dreams that gripped them. Lorien had come through, and she was glad of it.

Mithadan reached out to tell her they had arrived, and were now going in. Cami, Merimac, Frodo-lad, Ruby and Buttercup had been sent with an extra horse for Gilly and should reach her soon. By the time they reach you, our attack should be well under way. And most of the men will have come north to fight against us. It should be safe for you to bring the children out and make your escape easily under cover of darkness.

Pio waited, her ears and eyes opened wide for any sight of her reinforcements.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Mithadan pulled the key he had taken from Ferny and slid it into the big iron lock on the gate. The tumblers creaked as he turned the shank and engaged the bit. He stopped and listened carefully for any signs of trouble before opening the gate wide. Halfred and his two deputies were the first through the gate, followed by Mithadan and Maura.

Stoatie had set two guards near the gate for the night, worried when Ferny had not returned home. But they had indulged in the new shipment of ale from the Pony, and they slumped in the chairs they had brought out for themselves, their chins resting on their chests, snoring. Their eyes, beneath their lids, darted furtively from left to right, and they whimpered at times and cried out, raising their arms to cover their faces as if to protect themselves.

Halfred, Milo, and Hugo made short work of the sleeping men, knocking them soundly on the backs of their heads with the stout cudgels they wielded. Truth be told, the Hobbits much preferred to lay low their foe with a good thwacking, rather than run them through with a blade.

Soon all of the Hobbits had poured through the gate, and dividing themselves into the little groups they had decided on earlier in the evening, swarmed through the northern section of the compound – making mischief, causing confusion and panic. Wreaking destruction where they could, killing when they must.

The men were slow to respond – groggy and muddled as they pulled themselves from their cots and went to see who was causing such a ruckus. And many of them believed that this was simply a waking part to their bad dreams and sought a way to escape from any encounter.

Those who did pull themselves together for the fight were met with force. The Boffin Brothers bows were put to good use as their arrows flew with deadly accuracy to their intended targets. Sam and Hob waded in grimly with their thick, blackthorn walking sticks, and soon there were many men hobbling about whose heads and shins bore the lumps and bruises where the sticks had connected.

Maura led five of the local shire lads along one side of the compound, his sword driving back any who dared come against him. The five had pulled the oil-soaked-rag wrapped pitchy torches from their holders, and were now using the flints they’d brought to relight them. The sound of breaking glass and the panicked yelps of those who tried to stay hidden in the dormitories rang out in the darkness as the torches set bedding, and curtains, and wooden furniture ablaze. Rose and her Greenwood contingent led the assault on the opposite side of the yard, their blades and bows laying low many of those who crossed their path.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

He was aware that the others had fanned out as they had planned. But the greater part of Mithadan’s attention was focused elsewhere. Blade held in the ready position, he made his way carefully round to the east side of the plantation, to Stoatie’s cottage. Mistaking him for one of them, the harried men nodded to him as he approached and let him pass. Several he stopped, asking for the whereabouts of Stoatie. ‘Haven’t seen him,’ they all told him.

The ruffians seemed in a state of panic. Something other than the surprise of the armed Hobbits must have put the wind up them. Many were unarmed, their eyes wild. And many had no heart it seemed to join the fight. Escape drove them instead.

‘Just like that cowardly weasel to desert his ‘comrades’,’ snorted Mithadan, as he pushed his way past the fleeing throng, searching . . .

[ July 19, 2003: Message edited by: piosenniel ]

07-17-2003, 06:48 PM	#24
piosenniel Desultory Dwimmerlaik Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Pickin' flowers with Bill the Cat..... Posts: 7,779	When it was completely dark, and the lights in the cottages scattered about the plantation had dimmed and then gone out altogether, Pio crept closer to the fence line and waited. She reached out to listen to the men as they drifted off to sleep. Her mind reeled back from the contact, shielding itself from the writhing dreams that gripped them. Lorien had come through, and she was glad of it. Mithadan reached out to tell her they had arrived, and were now going in. Cami, Merimac, Frodo-lad, Ruby and Buttercup had been sent with an extra horse for Gilly and should reach her soon. By the time they reach you, our attack should be well under way. And most of the men will have come north to fight against us. It should be safe for you to bring the children out and make your escape easily under cover of darkness. Pio waited, her ears and eyes opened wide for any sight of her reinforcements. ~~~~~~~~ Mithadan pulled the key he had taken from Ferny and slid it into the big iron lock on the gate. The tumblers creaked as he turned the shank and engaged the bit. He stopped and listened carefully for any signs of trouble before opening the gate wide. Halfred and his two deputies were the first through the gate, followed by Mithadan and Maura. Stoatie had set two guards near the gate for the night, worried when Ferny had not returned home. But they had indulged in the new shipment of ale from the Pony, and they slumped in the chairs they had brought out for themselves, their chins resting on their chests, snoring. Their eyes, beneath their lids, darted furtively from left to right, and they whimpered at times and cried out, raising their arms to cover their faces as if to protect themselves. Halfred, Milo, and Hugo made short work of the sleeping men, knocking them soundly on the backs of their heads with the stout cudgels they wielded. Truth be told, the Hobbits much preferred to lay low their foe with a good thwacking, rather than run them through with a blade. Soon all of the Hobbits had poured through the gate, and dividing themselves into the little groups they had decided on earlier in the evening, swarmed through the northern section of the compound – making mischief, causing confusion and panic. Wreaking destruction where they could, killing when they must. The men were slow to respond – groggy and muddled as they pulled themselves from their cots and went to see who was causing such a ruckus. And many of them believed that this was simply a waking part to their bad dreams and sought a way to escape from any encounter. Those who did pull themselves together for the fight were met with force. The Boffin Brothers bows were put to good use as their arrows flew with deadly accuracy to their intended targets. Sam and Hob waded in grimly with their thick, blackthorn walking sticks, and soon there were many men hobbling about whose heads and shins bore the lumps and bruises where the sticks had connected. Maura led five of the local shire lads along one side of the compound, his sword driving back any who dared come against him. The five had pulled the oil-soaked-rag wrapped pitchy torches from their holders, and were now using the flints they’d brought to relight them. The sound of breaking glass and the panicked yelps of those who tried to stay hidden in the dormitories rang out in the darkness as the torches set bedding, and curtains, and wooden furniture ablaze. Rose and her Greenwood contingent led the assault on the opposite side of the yard, their blades and bows laying low many of those who crossed their path. ~~~~~~~~ He was aware that the others had fanned out as they had planned. But the greater part of Mithadan’s attention was focused elsewhere. Blade held in the ready position, he made his way carefully round to the east side of the plantation, to Stoatie’s cottage. Mistaking him for one of them, the harried men nodded to him as he approached and let him pass. Several he stopped, asking for the whereabouts of Stoatie. ‘Haven’t seen him,’ they all told him. The ruffians seemed in a state of panic. Something other than the surprise of the armed Hobbits must have put the wind up them. Many were unarmed, their eyes wild. And many had no heart it seemed to join the fight. Escape drove them instead. ‘Just like that cowardly weasel to desert his ‘comrades’,’ snorted Mithadan, as he pushed his way past the fleeing throng, searching . . . [ July 19, 2003: Message edited by: piosenniel ] __________________ Eldest, that’s what I am . . . I knew the dark under the stars when it was fearless - before the Dark Lord came from Outside.