[Nuranar]

When fighting trolls, speed and agility is key. Useless though her arm was, Luinien had lost none of her balance or nimbleness. She lead the trolls on a lumbering dance, dodging around and between and occasionally crashing them into each other. Without the advantage of surprise, the trolls could not hope to catch her.

Quickness be as it might, it still takes time to wear down brute strength. Luinien's own strength was draining. The viciously serrated orc sword had scored jaggedly through troll scales numerous times, inflicting jagged wounds her dirk could not have equaled. But the blade was unwieldly and unbalanced, and Luinien knew she was only playing for time.

Suddenly Osric was at her side, hacking at one of the trolls. Beyond him Aidwain appeared and drew off the other. Luinien fell back for a moment, gasping; then as Osric's troll lunged at him she sidestepped and slashed at the massive leg. The sword ripped a ragged, shallow cut, but as the troll's blow went wide Osric's blade slipped inside and gashed its belly. With a roar the creature stumbled back, kept staggering away. It had had enough.

In the respite Luinien scanned the hilltop. On the far side Thoronmir was dueling fiercely with a hook-handed Orc; near him Menecar was keeping off two more. There was a cowering pile of clothes huddled off to one side, surrounded by bodies of Orcs. Veryadan was lying motionless near a heap of rubble.

Even as she looked she sprinted back to where she had dropped her dirk. Abandoning the vile orc sword, useful though it had been, she grabbed her accustomed weapon. "Hurry! We need to help Aidwain!" she cried to Osric, who was still menacing off the retreating troll.

The other Elf was on his feet - barely. His troll was slow and bleeding, but even as she ran to his assistance its heavy club began to descend.

Out of nowhere a golden-feathered arrow pierced the creature's forearm. For a second it stared stupidly. Then dropping the club, it took off after its companion, bellowing in pain and surprise.

Silrûth appeared over the crest of the hill, Tarondo right behind her. As she sent more arrows after the retreating pair, he dashed to the aid of the Rangers, who were decidedly getting the worst of it against the Orcs.