Chapter 28: I am not a coward
[General POV]
The party was ambushed by orcs in the dead of night. They fled from another group of orcs until dawn, resting briefly before facing three trolls. Their frustration was understandable as they heard the familiar howl.
"Damn, at what point did it become night?" said Kili to himself, as he watched the bright sky turn into a dark blanket, illuminated only by the pale moonlight bathing the cold forest.
"We took too long looking for the cave," Gandalf said with a frown. He was not happy with the stubbornness of the dwarves. A few hours ago he had suggested to Thorin that it was better to keep moving forward to distance themselves from the orcs, but the stubborn dwarf insisted that his party deserved to find the troll treasures.
"Quickly, to the camp! Gather all you can," Thorin ordered with a grim face. He felt the wizard's piercing gaze, as if to say "I told you so," but being the arrogant dwarf that he was, he would not admit that Gandalf was right.
Everyone understood the seriousness of the matter, without delay they sped towards the camp, hoping not to meet any orcs along the way.
"Owuu!" "Owuu!"
The howls were getting closer and closer, causing palpable nervousness in the group. They knew how dangerous the wargs were, and their exhaustion only increased that danger. More howls echoed around them, revealing that this time the group of orcs was larger than the previous night.
"Quickly!!!" Thorin urged the group, he knew they were tired and a confrontation would be disadvantageous.
[A few minutes later]
The group looked off into the distance at the camp, relieved that it was still undiscovered by the orcs, however, that relief didn't last long, they watched as Shadow Star shot off like an arrow leading the other horses into the forest.
Puzzled at the behavior of Aldril's horse, they watched as a warg came out of the abandoned house, who looked vehemently at the horses, as if they were a delicious piece of meat to be devoured.
"Damn, they made it to the camp what do we do now?" said Dwalin tightening his grip on his axe.
As if on cue at his question, the warg rider, his eyes blazing with a, turned his gaze towards Dwalin and his companions. With a shrill cry that echoed like thunder in the night, he announced to the other orcs "The dwarves!!!"
Immediately after, several orcs mounted on wargs came running out of the hillside, their dark and menacing silhouettes illuminated by the light of the crescent moon. A trumpeting sound echoed in the night, alerting them to their location.
The air was charged with the tension of impending battle, and the forest seemed to shudder at the presence of the gathering evil forces. The dwarves, with determination forged in a thousand battles, tightened their grip on their weapons and prepared to meet the onslaught of darkness that loomed over them.
"Into the forest, do not fight on open ground!" shouted Gandalf in a firm, commanding voice. It was clear that it would be suicide to face the number of wargs approaching in the open. The forest would allow them to hide and attack by surprise, giving them a better chance of survival.
Heeding Gandalf's words, the party moved deeper into the forest, hiding among the towering trees. The darkness of the forest enveloped them, providing a veil of protection from the sharp eyes of the orcs.
Not long after, more than a dozen Wargs moved deeper into the forest, in search of the dwarves, perhaps the orcs would not see very well in the dark, but the Warg's evolved sense of smell compensated for that weakness.
The group tensed as they heard the slow footsteps of the wargs approaching. They waited patiently behind the trees, waiting for the perfect opportunity to counterattack. Every muscle in their bodies was tense, ready for the impending confrontation.
Watching as the group of Warg passed them, Thorin shouted with fury and determination "Now!"
"Slashh" "Spash" "Squash" "Slash!"
At Thorin's command, the group attacked, taking the wargs by surprise. The sound of flesh being cut and shrieks of pain echoed through the silent forest, filling the air with a cacophony of battle.
The fight had begun. Despite their fatigue, the dwarves demonstrated why they were selected by Thorin Oakenshield, moving nimbly and in coordination. Their axes gleamed in the darkness, finding their target with precision as they slew the wargs.
[Bilbo POV]
Frightened, nervous and motivated, my mood fluctuated wildly, not long ago the group of orcs had found us, seeing the large group of Wargs as Gandalf called them, caused my heart to race.
A subtle current flowed through my body, calming all my chaotic emotions, taking a look at the sword Aldril gave me, a feeling of bravery arose "No! This time I will not cower, I will fight bravely with my companions".
I will give my best, not knowing how to wield the sword will not be an impediment to help, I will show them what a Baggins is made of. My small size was a great advantage, it allowed me to hide next to Bofur and Bombur, the three of us were waiting patiently to attack the Wargs.
"Now!" I heard Thorin shout.
His shout was the spark that sparked the fire brewing inside everyone. Without hesitation, we attacked the wargs. Bofur brought down the orc rider with an accurate blow, and Bombur finished off the warg with a precise axe to its head. I, on the other hand, buried my sword in the downed orc.
Looking at the inert body of the Orc my body went numb for a few moments. "I killed for the first time" Were my thoughts, my hands trembled, reflecting how I felt. The feeling of having taken a life, albeit in self-defense, shook me to my core.
I thought I had fainted, for I could only see darkness all around me. Despair overcame me, unable to distinguish anything in the midst of the blackness, until a figure manifested itself, being the only light illuminating the darkness.
That figure was Aldril. I was bewildered and frightened. As I was about to ask what was wrong, the glowing figure of Aldril looked at me and spoke words that caused a change in me. "You are capable, Bilbo. You have only to trust yourself," he said in a voice serene but full of conviction.
"Trust myself," I whispered. I could feel something inside me stir in resonance at those words, memories of the dwarves ridiculing me flashed before me, I no longer wanted to be that fearful, weak-willed Hobbit "I am Bilbo Baggins, and I will not allow anyone else to call me a coward," I declared with determination.
At my declaration, the dark space began to slowly crumble. "Small things can sometimes bring about great change, just as a simple word can change a man," I heard in a whisper as the space returned to normal.
"What just happened?", I wondered, puzzled, only to be brought back to reality by Bofur's strong voice.
"Don't get distracted, Bilbo," he reminded me firmly.
"Oh right, we're still in a fight" I said to myself, nodding towards Bofur in thanks, with new vigor, I accompanied Bofur and Bombur to kill another approaching Warg.
"I am Bilbo Baggins and I am not coward."
****
Small development for our little hobbit, Sting may have influenced Bilbo a bit? Who knows haha
Another news, I managed to kill mesmer with No damage!
What build are you using? I'm wearing the armor and filler swords Rellana with mylady.
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"P@treon/Mrnevercry"