View Single Post
Old 01-18-2004, 01:32 PM   #200
Ealasaide
Shadow of Tyrn Gorthad
 
Ealasaide's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: The Fencing Lyst
Posts: 810
Ealasaide has just left Hobbiton.
Sting

Benia

As the sounds of nearby battle echoed through the camp, Benia rose to her feet. She could see Kaldir and Dulrain engaged in serious discussion near where the horses were tied. She was unable to hear most of what passed between them, but Dulrain seemed anxious to go, while Kaldir appeared to be arguing against it. Stepping around the fire, she took a few steps in their direction, her fingers closing around the carved wooden whistle, her only token of Dulrain. She had yet to return it to his hands and still wore it on a leather thong around her neck.

Suddenly, Dulrain looked over Kaldir's shoulder in her direction and, for a brief instant, their eyes locked. The ranger went very still. Then, just as abruptly, he broke away, his attention returning to Kaldir. The two men spoke softly for a moment more, then the two of them began to work quickly at saddling the remaining horses. Benia turned to Gilly and the other much-bedraggled hobbit that Kaldir had just dragged out of the woods and dumped by the fireside. In a strange sort of way, she sympathized with the new hobbit, having been hauled out of the Forsaken Inn and dumped on the dirt floor of a deserted blacksmith's shop by Kaldir in much the same fashion, herself. Kaldir's threat to the hobbit not to move an inch also rang familiar to her, but she did not doubt for an instant that the bounty hunter would make good on his threat if the hobbit was to give him any trouble. Even she had to admit, the new fellow had an extremely shady air about him.

She turned to Gilly. "It seems we are leaving," she said, barely loudly enough to be heard over the din of the not-too-distant battle. Gilly nodded, rising herself. Ignoring the presence of Kaldir's new prisoner, who continued to sit quietly on the edge of the fire circle, the two of them returned to their packs the few things they had taken out in preparation for the evening in camp. Benia buckled her father's sword into place. She was just reaching for her lapis inlaid dagger to return to Gilly, should she need a weapon, when she saw Dulrain had already approached Gilly, his jeweled side sword in his hand. She watched as the hobbit lady and the Ranger exchanged a few words, and Dulrain buckled the sword around Gilly's waist.

When he had finished speaking with Gilly, Dulrain turned to Benia, his face grim. "We ride for Imladris at once," he said calmly. "We may have to fight our way through, so be prepared. Kaldir and I will do our best to shield you -" he turned to Gilly "-both of you! But you must be prepared to fight."

Benia nodded, exchanging a nervous glance with Gilly as the two of them followed Dulrain to their mounts. Within seconds, they rode out of camp at a quick pace, with Dulrain leading the way, followed by herself, then Gilly, with Kaldir bringing up the rear. Looking back, Benia saw that Kaldir rode with the newcomer balanced precariously on the back of his saddle. The gray horse half-reared and surged forward as Kaldir shouted, "Go! Quickly now!"

Benia turned and faced front again, urging her horse to stay closely on the flank of Dulrain's mount. Noticing that Dulrain rode with his sword drawn, she drew hers as well.

They had not gone far when they encountered the first orcs, three of them. They leaped out of the woods from the left. Letting Dulrain pass, one grabbed the bridle of Benia's horse. The other two closed in on Kaldir in the rear. Benia swung her sword fiercely in the direction of the chink in the orc's armor between the shoulder and helm, but she missed her mark and the blade glanced harmlessly off the orc’s plate armor. Ahead of her, Dulrain wheeled his horse and came back, his sword raised. He did not miss his mark and the orc crumpled headless to the ground in front of her.

Looking back, she saw that Kaldir had dispatched his two as well. His face sprayed with black orc’s blood, he had a hellish appearance. She saw nothing but death in his pale eyes.

“Ride!” barked Kaldir, and the company moved forward again. Benia could already hear the sound of the river ahead of her.

The next group of orcs came at them from both sides, striking first at Dulrain in the lead. She saw him feint to one side to avoid the swing of an orc’s axe. Then his blade flashed out. A different orc fell dead. She kicked her horse forward and swung her sword at the orc who had aimed the axe at Dulrain. As the blow severed the orc’s arm below the shoulder, he turned on her shrieking. With a grimace, she ran him through the throat.

“For Harad,” she whispered. Behind her, she could hear Gilly shout out, “For the Shire!”

In a matter of seconds, seven more orcs lay dead. Dulrain, again, turned his horse in the direction of the river. They rode swiftly now, at a full gallop toward the deep, swift waters of the Bruinen.

<font size=1 color=339966>[ 9:30 PM January 20, 2004: Message edited by: Ealasaide ]
Ealasaide is offline