RP 🎲 RP 36: Redemption

At least that is what he thought. He did not realise just how many orcs were at the command of the Goblin King or how well they could see all that moved on the mountains. Soon news was being taken to the king of movements approaching the foothills.

Magnus flew low over the encroaching forest and as he flew, he thought he detected movement below. Lower he flew, scenting the wind. His evil heart lejoiced as he scented Elves, Men and horses. obviously travelling together. Knowing that orcs were issuing from the mountain-side at his back, Magnus swooped low and set the woods alight in an attempt to drive them into the open.

'How the wind blows!' the brigand grumbled. 'Do you hear it?'

The rushing of wind could be heard in the treetops above, it was almost as if some fell spirit was swooping unseen over their heads. Turig was uneasy, feeling a fear the like of which...

'The Dragon! Get down!' Somebody yelled. 'No, run, run... the woods are aflame do you not smell their burning!?!' Cried another.

Turig looked around, the company seemed in some disarray; spurring his horse forward the brigand rode towards Nildadari, drawing spear and shield as he did so. 'We must flee!' He yelled. 'Or die like rats caught in trap... Come on! Ride! Ride!'

If there was any hope left in her that her heart had been wrong, that it was just the tension in the air that made her fear the mountains so, it left her the moment they reached the foothills. O! how she had tried to warn Maedhros! But he was as stubborn as ever, and waved her worries aside. But now, the dragon was upon them, and, if her heart was right again, orcs were soon to come. 'How foul these mountains can be!' she thought to herself.

But, alas, for the moment had come, and they had been discovered by that foul worm. Her horse quivered underneath her, shaking with fear of the horrible creature its sensitive nose detected. 'Fly! Nora-lim!' she cried. Flying behind Turig, she followed.

Alfirin and Barahir followed Turig's example, drawing swords and urging all to follow. "Do not allow yourselves to be separated! I fear what evil's the dragon could think of should he have a prisoner." Barahir circled around and positioned himself behind the rest of the company.

If Magnus wants someone, then by Manwë upon Taniquetil, he shall have me then. Careful, we have to stay together. Is that a cave that I see in the mountain. We might take refuge inside of it, but we must be careful for orks.

Maedhros and Barahir stood guard at the mouth of the cave while the rest checked the inside. The cave seemed to be about 30 yards long and 10 yards at its widest with no other openings visible.

Just as Turig reported this to Maedhros there came a hail of black arrows aimed at the cave-mouth. One shattered on the rock beside Maedhros' head and the three of them dived for cover within the cave.

We seem to have been spotted said Maedhros. I could not see how many there are, I do not think it is a large band but we are traped in here for the moment.

Nildadari heard Turig shouting as he rode toward her and as she turned her horse, she felt a burning pain in her thigh as one of the orc-arrows grazed her. She felt a surge of anger that blinded her to all reason. Pulling her bow from where it hung at her back, she nocked an arrow and let fly at the first orc that showed itself. In her rage she failed to notice how many of the stealthy creatures there were creeping slowly through the trees, encircling her. Turig however, realized her plight and called to her, trying to bring her to her senses.

High above, Magnus watched gleefully as the orcs harried Maedhros and his companions. Swooping close to the earth, he goaded Maedhros, saying, "What will you do now, Elf of the West? I have discovered the hiding place of your kinsmen. How much longer will they be safe from me think you? One day? Two?" he rumbled deep in his chest, knowing the hatred he fueled in the Elf. "Enjoy these playmates while you can, my ancient enemy, for soon come the time for all dalliance to end!" So saying, he soared higher on his enormous wings, then headed into the East.

"Do not believe the dragon. If he indeed knew of these kinsmen you seek, would the still be unharmed? Would he not wish to bring them to you, to show you the torments they suffered? The words of a dragon are not to be believed. Come! One of our own is about to be captured if we do not come to her aid! Go, vent your fury on the orcs, and return with our companions. I will hold this entrance." Barahir watched briefly as Maedhros strove with himself before returning to the task at hand. Alfirin and Barahir stood one either side of the cave entrance, behind twin boulders, swords drawn. No orc would enter that cave.

Seeing the Elf-maid in trouble, Turig rushed from the cave mouth, bounding from rock to rock as he desended the slope towards the tree line. 'Stay on guard!' he yelled to the rangers as he darted passed them. 'We have nothing to fear from this vermin!'

A cold fire burned in Turig's eyes, his hatred for the soldiers of darkness went beyond all reason. Memories of his dead wife came back to him now, driving him to a fury even the most savage of the orcs would have quaked to look upon. For they had twisted his mind, as surely as the Dark Lord had twisted their foul bodies.

Nildadari was slowly being cut off from her companions, he could see shadows beneath the trees circling round the her horse. Yet the Elf-maid was fighting valiantly, her bow singing as she shot arrow upon arrow into the goblin ranks. It would not be long though until her quiver was emptied.

With a mighty leap the Brigand launched himself from a rock just above the uruk position, crashing like a thunderbolt into their rear. Thrusting his black spear deep into the belly the nearest orc, he drew an axe from his belt and readied his shield.

'Come on you filthy maggots!' He growled, his voice deep with hatred. 'I am Turig Blackheart; do you dare stand against me?' The goblins jeered at this, but Turig payed them no heed, rushing forward with a cry of vengance upon his lips, using his shield like a battering-ram to break through the uruk line - his axe flashing this way and that, felling goblins like they were so many trees. He would make it through to Nildadari... this time he would not fail.

No orc would enter that cave.

So they thought. But little they knew of the ways of the Orc. About half-way down the right side of the cave a hidden door quietly opened and out came six Orcs. They made their way silently to the opening of the cave and dived upon Alfirin and Barahir. Alfirin was taken by surprise and stunned by a blow to the back of his head. He was then dragged back through the door by two the Orcs leaving Barahir to battle the other four.

Nildadari Loosed her last arrow she was dragged from her horse and pulled towards another small opening in the mountain. As Turig forced his way to her three very large Orcs stood in front of him. His shield knocked one of them to the ground but his charge was halted. He struck at the closest of the two remaining Orcs and opened a large wound in its side but the third closed with him and struck a mighty blow with its crooked sword and split his shield. But Turig discarded the wreckage and returned a two-handed blow that split the Orc from crown to waist. As he took the axe from the body the Orc he had knocked down first was rising just in time to meet the sharp blade. Looking around for Nildadari he saw her being pulled into a cave. With a scream of rage he made for the opening after her.

Nildadari fought like a mad thing as the orcs carrying her along a dark passageway. Ahead she could see Alfirin, apparently unconscious, being dragged roughly along by the filthy creatures. The passageway opened out onto a large room from which several tunnels exited. Oily torches burned in cressets set in the walls and she coughed, finding it hard to catch her breath. The nearest orc dug her in the ribs and she jerked her arm free and elbowed it in the face. It snarled, fangs dripping yellow gobbets onto the cave-floor. Recoiling in revulsion, she again struggled wildly but they held her with more strength than she would have ever given them credit for.

They took one of the tunnels to the right and became to run faster, the reason becoming obvious to her keen ears. Someone was following.

The remaining companions set about looking for a way to follow, hoping to reclaim their friends. Maedhros saw where Turig had just managed to slip inside as the door had closed and they began searching for anyway to gain entrance into the mountain.

Eäritila put a soft hand on Turig's mouth, as she slipped out of the shadows. She seemed to shimmer ever so slightly, now he could see her at all: her elven beauty was ethereal: he blinked, as if trying to awaken. His eyes widened in surprise, for he had not seen her for some time, but he could not recall that she had ever been away. How did she appear here, now?

She spoke so quietly, it was like the merest breath of wind on a still grey day. 'You move too loudly, you will be found. These foul creature can hear and smell you even if it is too dark to see. I will go first! Guard the way behind me, and follow as quietly as you can. Fear not! I will not lose them.'

She removed her hand from his mouth.

'But how...' he began, but the echoes of his hoarse whisper stopped him.

'Later!' he thought he heard her reply with amusement. But in that instant, she was gone, and the darkness closed in about him again so deep he wasn't sure he hadnt imagined it.

He continued more cautiously and carefully, making no sound. Then he came upon a slain orc, killed with by a single knife wound to the neck. Then another. A third was a little further on. Eäritila's blade was sharp! he thought...

The Orcs had no wish to meet the mad-man who followed them in to the caves. They had already seen enough of his axe. They traveled through the tunnels as swiftly as they could taking many turnings to try to throw their pursuer off of the trail. Deep inside the mountain they came to anouther cavern with several openings, they split into four groups and used different routes from there to confuse the one following them.

They were all heading for the throne-room where thier King was waiting for them. Once they got there the Orcs would be safe and it would be time to start having some fun with the captives.

Turig made his way though the inky blackness of the Orc-warren, crouching low as he went - though the tunnel was more than large enough to accomodate him. It was almost as if the the weight of the mountains were pressing down on him, and it made him uneasy. As he struggled on through the darkness his sense of hearing and smell became sharper, and yet he dearly wished he could blot them out. The smell of decay was all-purvading, and every now and then a cry of torment would rip through the darkness making him start, becoming louder and more frequent as he drew further into the darkness.

He silently cursed the Elf-maid for leaving him alone, just when an elf's sight would prove useful too. Still there was nothing to do put press on, Nildadari was in desperate peril, and he doubted Eäritila could do much to help her. A knife in the dark was one thing - but a whole nest of orcs was quite something else. What was she thinking?

Three of the groups of Orcs had made it to the throne-room but only one of the captives was amongst them. The Goblin King laughted delightedly thinking of how this one would scream over the next couple of days. Even while he enjoyed his thoughts he demanded to know where the other 'guest' was!!

The last group of Orcs was at that moment running down the last passage to the throne-room. They were but minutes from the entrance with the second captive. Not far behind them came the sounds of a man following them. They could see the light from the entrance to the cavern now.

Damn those orcs, that pathway is now closed to us. They have taken Nildadari now, by the Valar, they will not harm her. Our company has been divided.
Eäritila and Turig are ahead of us. We must move fast Caimarë, your sister need us.
Wait, is does that shadow hides an entrance or do my eyes deceive me. Come, we have no time to waste.

Earitila watched and waited. Turig was near... and loud. What was it about the mortal kind that in their fleeting presence in Arda they were compelled to make so much noise? The orcs would hear him... if he could not be stealthy, he would have to be a distraction. She waited for the melee to unfold. Concealed in shadow she silently fitted an arrow to her bow.

'One, two, three... three orcs dead before they see the first fall to the floor. Four five six... another three will fall before they can react. Then move! Seven eight nine, perhap ten before they see me. I must make them each arrow count! After that they will be upon me!' She was perfectly poised, with little hope in her plan, yet having no fear either.

'Elbereth A Gilthoniel' she ran the words through her mind. 'Though I am far out of reach of all starlight, send me your grace and strength!'

The moment approached.

The brigand could see torchlight up ahead. Dim and distant at first - but as he drew closer to the source, it became clear that a great fire was roaring. Clearly some Uruk settlement. He had heard that the Orcs of the Misty Mountains made their dwelling in deep delved caverns beneath the earth - if the raucous clamour echoing about the tunnels wasn't enough to signal their presence.

Coming to a halt a few feet from the cave mouth, Turig hefted the axe in his hands, and readied himself for the battle ahead. Tactics were of no use here. Besides, the brigand had ever been an advocate of simple force, why change now? And so with a quick prayer to whatever powers those damnable elves believed in, Turig charged.

And 'Filthy, pot-bellied, pig-stickers!' was his battle-cry.

As Turig charged in to the cavern he saw that it was not 'some Uruk settlement' that he had found. It was the Throne-Room of the Great Goblin himself and furthermore....It was Full of Orcs!!!

He could also see just ahead of him the group of orcs he had been following and at last could identify their captive. Nildadari! With no thought of his own fate he charged straight at them. His battle cry caused the orcs to laugh and jeer, one called back "Hello Pig". And with that Battle was joined.

Far back in the cavern on a raised platform, the Great Goblin watched the fight from his throne with the other captive Alfirin by his side, with many orcs preventing his escape. Alfirin recognised the one charging in and despite his capters shouted "Save her! Get her out of here Turig", though he was beaten harshly for this.