Scouting Ahead, Part 6: The Road to Rivendell

[Indis]

Meren:

Seeing that most of the action was from the boat, which she could not reach without entering the river herself and adding to the problem, Meren returned to her herbs and made them ready to administer, putting away everything else in case she needed to leave in haste. Then she went back to the horses, where she murmured soothing words even though she knew that with orcs in the vicinity her words would have but limited effect.

She also made her weapons ready, in case she had to fight while the others were busy with the rescue. Shivering at the idea of fighting orcs alone, she thought, "Well, I did want to come on the journey, but this? Frankly, I'm scared....very scared." Nevertheless, she stilled her trembling hand, aware that she must put her fear aside and remain hopeful that she could do what was needed long enough for others to join her. Then she thought of the horses and whispered, "Duroch, help me defend our party if we're attacked!"

[Varda]

Fainan:

The weight change as Estarion released Frali made pulling the pole onto shore much easier. Fainan found herself rushing back with Calion and the pole, Frali sliding full length along the wet turf. To human sight, Fainan and Calion would have appeared to quickly adjust with graceful hops. To them, however, it was nearly the equivalent of flopping on their backs on the ground, and Fainan laughed through the wet hair now loose across her face.

[Indis]

Meren:

The action at the riverbank caught Meren's attention again, and she ran over to retrieve Frali before he could slip back into the water. She put her hands under his arms and started to drag him to the waiting herbs. Ooooff! The waterlogged dwarf was heavy! He might be small, but he was dense, and there was nothing lightweight about his armor, either. Adjusting for the unexpected weight, she quickly got him in place and rolled him over prone so any remaining water could drain out. It did not take long for her to be satisfied that he was ready to flip onto his back, and so over he went. The next step was to prop his head up on his pack, and now for the medicine...."Nothing like trying to get things down a semiconscious dwarf," she thought.

Finally the dosing was done, and she could leave the herbs to do their work. The remainder of her preparations were ready for Estarion, and it looked as though it would not be long before he was ready for them.

While she waited for her next 'patient,' she returned to check on the horses. Nothing had changed for them, though the scent of orc seemed somehow fainter. This was not necessarily good news--a scout might well be bringing reinforcements and some very big trouble.

[Eonwë]

Auros:

Fighting against the current, the Noldo drew Estarion toward the boat slowly, the clasp of the Avar's cloak digging into his neck. Using the boat to buffer against the current, Auros drew him nearer the shore, until finally he could grab the Avar's arm. Stepping from the boat onto shore, he dragged the second victim from the water and left him laying next to the Dwarf. Auros took a few steps away and sat down, his back against a tree, as he waited for the sleepers to awaken. The area was no longer safe, but they did not have much choice.

We cannot flee from orcs and ensure the sleepers don't fall from their steeds at the same time.

[Indis]

Meren

Meren smiled at Auros as he delivered her second 'patient' and nodded her thanks. Then she dosed Estarion as she had Frali, though with slightly lower quantities to account for his natural elven resistances to noxious substances--including enchanted water! Over both of them, she sang "Sleepers Awake," to a lovely complicated Doriathrin melody she had found in the archives. She didn't know if it would have any special effect, but she enjoyed singing and hearing it, and it couldn't do any harm. It was well known that music could be the vehicle for healing.

What to do next? Pack up her gear... check the horses again....test the air for orc...see if any of the others needed attention after their exertions.... ready her weapons just in case....

[Varda]

Fainan:

Fainan took the pole back to the ferryboat, looking worriedly back towards the horses. They were used to battles and their sounds were of angry puffing and whinnies; some of them were plunging as if after something. The rain, although less heavy than earlier, still obscured Fainan's vision.

Then something dark and leather-armored, propelled by kicking hind hooves, flew through the air and landed with an exhalation of every bit of its breath, right next to Frali. It looked like a skinny, orc scout. Fainan dropped the pole onto the ferry and grabbed for her bow.

[arienv]

Frali:

The young dwarf slowly woke up to reality , an uncomfortably wet and damp forest floor with angry neighing and whinning coming from the horses not too far from him.

Even though still confused Frali's first reflex was to check the state of his weapons - such was his training as warrior. To his fast focussing eyes now the weapon seemed in the same good state as ever, and good thing that it was!

He was still in a sitting position with his hand on the axe handle when a most surprising but not unwelcome object landed at his feet. The stench and grunts quickly brought the warrior to his senses and lunging at the orc he swung his axe in a slightly clumsy but mighty upright arch.

The orc scout had barely time for a last inarticulate noise before his head cleanly seperated from its usual place.

Frali scrambled to his feet and said sheepishly: "That's what i call a rude awakening.", while looking slightly embarassed and confused at the elves.

[ArPharazon]

Calion:

Gathering himself from pulling the pole back to shore, Calion looked around him while putting his hand on a concealed dagger. The Yrch could not be far away now, and the commotion would not have gone unnoticed.

A sudden movement caught his eye and he noticed a shape flying through the air, after being discovered by one of the horses. What landed before the waking Frali, he recognized immediately as a small Orc scout.

Calion immediately threw the dagger at the Orc and started a short sprint to reach him, but was too late. The dagger hit the ground fruitlessly beside the top of the Orc's neck, for by Frali's quick reflexes, his head was already not where it used to be.

[Indis]

Meren:

Suddenly there were--so it seemed--orcs and weapons flying about. Meren prudently stepped out of the way of the action, drawing her dagger as she moved. But by the time she had the business end of it pointed orc-wards, the creature was already a pincushion, a headless one! So she focused instead on ensuring that Estarion was out of harm's way, and then went to soothe the horses.

[Varda]

Fainan:

Fainan's bow tracked the changing arc of the orc scout and shot as quickly as it could be reloaded. Fainan looked around and listened for the behavior of the horses. The horses seemed to be watching something else scurry away and appeared pleased with themselves. The orc sentry they had kicked into the midst of the warriors was...very dead.

[Eonwë]

Auros:

Auros stood above the waterfall in the vales of Imladris, looking out over one of the last Noldorin realms. Even as he beheld the majesty of this realm, he knew it would not long remain so untouched by time once Lord Elrond departed. The scent of niphredil and elanor began to surround him. A hand rested upon his shoulder, and again he was in Mirkwood.

Standing and drawing his sword almost reflexively, he had risen in time to see an orc body thrown to the ground by one of the horses. No one was within arms' reachof him. Assessing the situation, it seemed that Frali was awake, but Estarion was still dreaming.

"We will fight until Estarion awakens, if we can. Be ready to ride if the numbers turn against us."

[Varda]

Fainan:

Fainan saw no sign of any other scout that might have disturbed the horses. Either this orc had been alone, or his companion was well away into underbrush on the far side of the horses.

"I'm returning the ferry so the yrch can't use it easily, and I'll return as quickly as possible. Please be ready to go, and be wary for the rest of its party."

She put her bow back over her shoulder and untied the pull ropes on this shore. Then she picked up the pushpole and started working the boat across - again. Fighting the current without the aid of the rope, she felt certain that she would be very glad to be done with this crossing.

[arienv]

Frali:

The young warrior nodded appreciatingly to the Elves and bowed to them as graceful as he could.

Then his glance fell on the orc again and after a bit of hesitation Frali searched for the head which he found a small distance away from the body. Grimly satisfied the dwarf picked up the grizzly trophy and found a stick with a sharp end not far from it.

"This should tell them not to come too close to us." With these words he firmly drove the sharp end of the stick into where the head should be attached to the body, and planted it as a land mark next to the fallen body.

This done, Frali wiped his sullied hands first on the wet grass to clean them and then on his clothes to dry of some of the humidity. Then he looked towards the Elves and asked with some grim satisfaction: "Are we ready to leave soon?"

[Shelob]

Estarion:

Estarion was still asleep, but had now degenerated into a nightmare.
He was helpless as orcs dragged him off by his cape, dumping him unceremoniously in their camp. He partly opened his eyes and could see as an Orc came closer, holding a vial of what he must know was poison to him. The Orc seemed to have some Elvish features, but he knew the old folk tales his people used to tell at home: Elves being dragged off by Morgoth's creatures to be turned into the hideous orcs.
He tried to struggle, but his limbs simply wouldn't work. The liquid was poored into him with ease, but he wouldn't give up so easily. Internally, he struggled mightily against the workings of the poison, but still he could feel its effects taking root.

When suddenly an Orc was thrown down and decapitated in front of him, he figured that was just how Orcs behaved, and didn't think much of it. With a mighty struggle, he managed to get to his feet, unknowing that it was the liquid taking the sleep of the enchanted river from him.
As his limbs started to work again, he quickly assessed his situation and figured he was lost, but still he would not give up. Quickly he dove for the now abandoned Orc and drew it's sword,yelling "I will not succumb! You will not take me alive!" and then turned the sword towards himself.

[Indis]

Meren:

Meren had been with the horses and thus was probably the nearest to Estarion as he woke, and though she could not know why he was delusional, it was clear that in his mind he was elsewhere than among his friends. 'Oh Elbereth, we don't need this now!

Grabbing a fallen tree limb, she ran to him, shouting to the others to restrain him before he did damage to himself and his companions. She knew that he was unstable on his feet still and probably slower to react than usual, though it was still a risk to interfere with him. Nevertheless, there was no time to spare, so even a clumsy, risky intervention was better than none.

Makeshift cudgel in one hand, she bent down to seize the nearest portable object, which happened to be the Avar's pack. With a heave, she threw it at Estarion's head, and as he ducked, she whacked with the branch at the sword he was pointing at himself.

"Please hurry," she shouted to the others present.