Wainriders

Lonely Mountain

Tiberius POV

Looking at the distance Tiberius can see the burning town under the mountain as the dragon swoops down and burn more of the town into ashes. He felt anger rise within him and wanted to blame someone for their current situation.

"Damn it, Bilbo, why did you wake up the dragon!"

"I.. I'm sorry I just saw something and didn't realize the dragon would smell me."

"What did you see that you have to wake up the dragon, because of you I lost my guards and now Darius is critically injured!"

Bilbo touched something in his bulging pocket and was about to reply when he suddenly saw Thorin arriving and changed his mind.

"No... Nothing I just saw some jewels that I liked."

"You!"

Just as Tiberius was about to lash out Thorin came between him and Bilbo.

"Enough, we can't change something that already happened."

He looked at Thorin and Bilbo before looking back again at the burning town before finally making a decision.

"I'm going back, my legions needs me, are you coming, Thorin?"

Thorin looked at Tiberius before looking at the golden light inside the mountain, he stared at the throne room and the golden floor in the hall.

"No, I finally took back my home and won't leave it again, I would be staying here with my company.

The other dwarves we're about to complain when suddenly Thorin glared at them before finally bowing their heads in silence. Bilbo looked in disappointment at Thorin before finally making a decision.

"I'm sorry for alerting the dragon so I will join you back to the town even if I have to fight the dragon to the death."

Nodding his head in approval he prepared to go back to the legions camp, he checked Darius wounds and the other Praetorian before finally leaving.

"Thorin I'll leave the injured here, for now, I would be back after dealing with the situation, I hope you remembered our deal."

"Don't worry, half of the wealth is yours and after my people return to Erebor I will forge you the best steel and armor. I'll be here fortifying the mountain, if that dragon ever plans to return again I'll make sure he won't even get inside, I will be blocking the main entrance after you leave.

Nodding his head he started the journey going back down the mountain along with the hobbit and some Praetorians who have light injuries. A few hours later they arrived on their boats and started to paddle towards the direction of the burning town. As time passed they heard a loud roar and saw the dragon leaving in a hurry towards the forest as they got closer.

Tiberius looked at the fleeing dragon: "What happened to make that giant lizard retreat?"

They continued to paddle their boats as they looked at the burning town.

"The town is ruined."

One of the praetorians whispered and they agreed, the fire was already too big and uncontrollable, there was no hope to put it out. As they got closer the screaming and clash of steels inside the town slowly subside as daybreak came.

"Were here"

Everyone jumped off the boat and started to walk towards the camp, they already saw the destroyed town as the fire consumed it overnight. Arriving near the camp they saw Garen and the others near the bridge and hurriedly runs towards them.

"It's good that you guys survived."

Turning their heads they see the prince along with the Praetorians and a hobbit arriving.

"Your majesty you're safe!"

Garen rushes towards the prince and hugged him in joy as he thought Legolas words might have been true.

"Yea I'm fine stop hugging me in front of everyone."

Garen embarrassingly let go of the prince and explained the situation on what occurred, Tiberius' frowned when hearing they were attacked by a Nazgûl and the Easterlings.

"Why would they attack us, we never came in contact with them nor offended them also aren't the Nazgûl gone since Sauron fell?"

Everyone looked at Tiberius, the return of the Nazgûl is a bad omen, they were servants of the dark lord and only followed him, if they have returned there was only one possible answer.

"He has returned"

Looking at the person who said that Melody's grim expression meant she also reached the same conclusion as them, everyone looked worried except for the Romans who had not experience Sauron's wrath.

"I don't care about the dark lord, but his servants attacking us meant declaring war upon us, this won't go unpunished, once a war against Sauron occurs my legions will be there for revenge."

Tiberius looked at everyone with determination, as the heir of the Roman Empire any offense towards them is an act of crime, Rome did not conquer the Mediterranean by being scared of great foes, Carthage was wealthier than Rome before they fell, Greece was the home of many powerful and ancient kingdoms yet they were conquered and the barbarians of the north with their larger physique we're no match for Rome military. They won't be scared of someone who claims to be a dark lord, as Rome has conquered too many adversaries already.

"I hope he cleans his neck when the time comes."

Everyone looked impressed especially the elves and the Northmen, they knew how powerful Sauron and his armies are and looking at the confident looks of the Romans meant they must have a way to back it up.

Legolas looked at Tiberius: "Your bravery is admirable but we have to leave, we will go to Dale along with the townspeople, the Nazgul are weak to light and won't be attacking during the day so it's a good time for us to leave, are you sure you won't join us?"

"We will stay, for now, the wounded can not move and our army is too large to march towards Dale before sundown, we can't let them attack us in the open, only with the defenses of the camp we can hold them off. Bilbo, you go with them along with Fili and Kili, Thorin would be expecting them."

They nodded before preparing to leave with the elves and townspeople, they took what they can salvage from the town before leaving.

Tiberius looked at Melody who was forbidden to talk to him as punishment for running away again, They looked at each other with their eyes and can tell each other thoughts, he watched her figure disappears from the distance and now more determined to quickly establish himself in this world faster.

Looking at the departing elves and Northmen, Tiberius and his officers went back to the camp to prepare for the battle after sundown, judging by the scout's reports the wainriders would attack once more during the night but this time they would be prepared, they dug ditches, set up sharpened stakes and barricades, spread caltrops on the field and cut down trees near the camp.

Tiberius watched the sunset as darkness once more consume the world, looking at the legionnaires they can be seen holding their shields and steel, ready to face the incoming enemies. Torches we're lightening up inside and outside the camp, men ate their dinner which was delivered to them by the cooks, they eat their dinner sitting on the ground with their shields and steel in arms reach ready to fight the moment they heard the alarm.

After midnight when the men started to get tired and fall asleep they finally heard the sound of a galloping horse, the ground shakes showing how large their numbers are. Scouts returned confirming the incoming charge.

"Barricade the entrance!"

The soldiers pushed the sharpened stakes they prepared and pushed them towards the entrance blocking anyone from entering or leaving the camp. Looking at the dark forest they see once more the charging blade chariots and cavalry led by the Nazgûl who is fully healed from its injuries. They heard the sharp scream of the Nazgûl sounding the beginning of another battle.

"SHIELD WALL!"