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Eregion Posted by Ethain on 04 Dec 2008

[Farfingon]

A warm summer breeze blew through the night.  Elieth sat with his back against the tree.  How long had it been since he had seen the valley of Rivendell.  At least 50 years he thought.  He had longed for the return but his duties in Lorien had prevented such arrangements until now.

Elyanth slept in her cot.  The past 50 years hadn’t been so bad he thought.  If he hadn’t have gone he never would have met her.  Their 5 year old daughter sleeping in her mothers warm arms had a smile on her face.

The trip so far had been uneventful.  The number of orcs had grown in recent months as villages and other towns had been over run with their filth.  He had been on several scouting patrols that had almost met their doom.  He had lived through them all.

Elieth had them banked up against a small outcropping as to hide the fire as much as possible.  Safety was still an issue.  Even in the wilds there were things to fear other than orcs.

He had laid several traps near some trees in order to sound an alarm if anything got remotely close. 

He smiled again as he walked over and kissed his wife. 

He whispered “Soon dear we will be there tomorrow evening.”

He had his 4 hours of rest that day already and was wide awake for that nights watch.

Another breeze blew through the field.  There was something different about this one.  It was cold unlike the one before.  It seemed to reach for his soul and took breathe from him.  The moment passed.  He couldn’t recall that feeling ever.  Something very evil had just crossed the plain and in a hurry. 

Hopefully it did not see the camp fire. 

The night progressed on shaking his head Elieth wondered again about the feeling he had just encountered. 

His ears perked at a sound.  It was still a ways off but it was not a forest or plains creature that part was obvious.  He continued to listen carefully.  He soon heard the guttural voices of orcs coming from the side.

They were coming down the ravine.  How many there were he did not know.  Hopefully there were five at the most.  He quickly moved to stamp out the fire.  Quietly waking his wife up, they moved back into the out cove a little more.  Hopefully this was not where the orcs came to settle it was still too late for that.

[Farfingon]

Elieth stringed his bow and knocked an arrow pointed at the first trap.  The traps were laid out so that he could hit anyone of them from here.  It was a nice configuration.  He felt a movement by his side.  Elyanth had knocked her bow as well.

“Please move back and stay safe.”  he asked.

“I could no more do that then you could.  I am your soul as well my husband and we defend our daughter together.”  she responded.

He slowly nodded his head.

The voices approached closer.

“that stupid black rider.  Ther’s notten here but trees and rocks.”
“I think that guy has looked at the master one to many times.”  responded another.
“I would be surprised if he didn’t see anything but flames anyway.”

“Hush you bloody maggots.  If there is someone out here you just gave them our location.” 

Gruk had not stayed alive this long by being stupid.  In fact he wasn’t stupid at all.  Unlike his kin he had learned the ways of warfare and tactics.  Why he was on this sniveling expedition because of some stupid fire was beyond him.

There were more pressing matters to attend to than some wayward traveler.  There were five orcs in all for a stupid scouting trip that so far had produced nothing.

“Well” Gruk bellowed.  “fan out and search the area for something.”

Elieth counted in his head.  At least six he showed his wife.  He had only placed about 3 snares but that was 3 less than before.  Once those were tripped they would have to move fast.

He breathed slowly.  Looking back to check on his daughter he sighed it was all for her.

“Well another stupid report and nothing heerrrrreeeeee.”
That had done it.  One of the orcs had found a trap and was now hanging upside down.

The other 2 orcs there began laughing. Until they as well stumbled into the traps that had been set.

The next noise they heard before they could scream was the thudding sound of arrows in their throat.

Gruk forced his way into the small knoll.

[Farfingon]

Elieth gave a quiet *sigh* this was a huge orc.  Metal plate covered most of his body and a large axe was at his hip.  This was someone that knew battle.  He glanced at his wife and she shook her head.

They both drew their bows and on release shot.

Gruk could hear it before he saw it.  He twisted slightly to the left just in time to catch one in the leg and the other was deflected by his armour although it did cut his arm on the bounce.

“YOU MAGGOTS GET DOWN HERE NOW”.  Two more orcs came running down the side of the mountain toward the little cove.

The screaming and yelling had awaking Elyanth’s daughter from her sleep.  She uttered a small wimper but it was enough for orc ears that close.

Stopping the two other orcs from running into their doom he bade them wait.  He squatted down finally seeing two outlines at the mouth of a small cave.  Both had arrows at the ready but were waiting for a better shot.

Grabbing the other two orcs down (out of the line of fire), Gruk pointed to their bows.
“Use these when I say and we should be able to hit them.  All three orcs leveled their bows toward the cave and let go.

There was a cry of pain as one hit Elyanth in the shoulder.  Gruk smiled poison was always his favorite.

Elyanth knew there was something wrong as a burning sensation ripped through her shoulder.  There wasn’t time she knew.  She grabbed her pack and pulled out some herbs and began crushing them quickly.  It wouldn’t stop this type but it would slow it down.

Elieth knew his wife was in danger and began firing rapidly now.  The smaller orcs caught off guard went down in a flurry of arrows.

Gruk knew better “MORONS” he roared again only this time charged.

The arrow snapped off in his leg was a minor set back.  He had suffered worse.

Elieth saw the charging orc and his axe out.  He drew his sword and hoped it would be enough.

This was a fight of speed over strength.  He couldn’t hope to parry that axe and he wasn’t wearing any kind of heavy armour just a light jerken for traveling.

The axe came rushing downward as the huge orc tried to get it over quickly.  Moving just as fast Elieth side stepped the massive swing and countered with a quick strike. 

[Farfingon]

Gruk was prepared for the action as his arm muscles knotted and he changed direction to a horizontal swing. 

Elieth was not prepared and jerked his stomach in to avoid the blade but could feel the axe make a small cut in his vest.  For his dodging effort it earned him a kick in the face which sent the elf flying into the ground.

Elieth sat dazed.  He had never seen an orc of this caliber before.  Not only was he fast but thought on his feet.

Elieth rolled out of the way of the next swing and seeing an opening swung his sword at the orcs legs.  The orc let out a roar of pain. 

Elieths daughter now fully awake started crying as her mother crawled to her.  The poison was working again but slower although she still felt weak.

Gruk looked at his leg.  There was a deep cut and he stung to walk as the Elf had scrambled to his feet again.  He was at a disadvantage and was bleeding horribly.

He looked at the mother and daughter and smiled.

“Now elf I rob you of the two things you hold dear.”

He leaped at the child and mother his mighty axe went up and was on it’s way down as a sword plunged through his skull.

“Not this day foul beast.”

Elieth looked over and saw his wife’s eye’s closing.  Her breathe was shallow.  He crushed more herbs and gave them to her.  Quickly they must move now.  Elyanth was ready to cross but not yet.  There was still a small chance.