Chp. 28 Iron Tide(3)

Many days later on a cliff, Bilbo cannot sleep well as he is now in unfamiliar lands. So he stood up then stretched a bit to walk towards his Pony.

"Hello, girl. Who's a good girl?" Bilbo looked behind him and pulled out an apple in his pockets then fed the pony. "It's our little secret, Myrtle. You must tell no one, shh… Shh…"

*SHRIEK!!!*

Bilbo was spooked and looked up to the dark, he turned and looked at the dwarves by the fire, Kili and Fili. "What was that?"

"Orcs" Kili said in a somber tone.

"Orcs?" Bilbo skipped back to the camp fire in alert as he heard what Kili said. His voice awakened Thorin who was taking nap into alert.

"Throat-cutters. There'll be dozens of them out there. The lone lands are crawling with them." Fili talked while he smoked from a pipe.

"They strike in the wee small hours when everyone's asleep. Quick and quite, no screams, just lots of blood." Kili added making Bilbo look to the dark night in fear. But slowly the two brothers chuckled as they saw the abject horror within the hobbit's eyes.

"You think that's funny?" Thorin's voice sounded out making the two quiet in a second. "You think a night raid by orcs is a joke?"

"W-we didn't mean anything by it." Kili said in an apologetic tome looking like a child being scolded by his parents. Which is quite true since Thorin is their Uncle.

"No, you didn't. You know nothing of the world." Thorin walked dramatically to the edge of the cliff they were staying on while Gandalf smokes on the side.

"Don't mind him, laddie." Balin walked near the fire and consoled the young dwarf. " Thorin has more cause than most to hate orcs."

The young dwarves frowned and looked in worry to their leader who was now dramatically leaning on a rock near the ponies. Paul was above them watching all of this as he wanted to make sure nothing goes wrong with the journey of the group.

'Damn, that pose really looks good on him. Maybe I should also make some dramatic moments like this from time to time.' Paul thought.

"After the dragon took the lonely mountain…" Balin then started to talk about the past of Thorin while Paul listens in the shadows. Making sure to hide fully in case Gandalf might sense him, but still he looked at how the wind acted like paid actors for Thorin whose hair now flowed back of his head.

'Ughh, such a diva!' Paul thought as he watched them go on about a flashback on how Thorin' grandpa wanted to reclaim the Dwarf Kingdom of Moria.

Moments go by he noticed the dwarves were waking up listening to the story along with Bilbo. Paul could swear he could hear BGM during Balin's recount of what happened, he looked around and found nothing but somehow his ears tickled a bit.

It came to the part where Thorin picked up a branch of Oak and using it a shield against Azog the Defiler. Paul's gotta admit, this old guy knows how to tell a story… he too listened with rapt attention as the rest of the dwarves woke up and listened.

"…we few had survived." The tone of the story seemed grim but they all listened well.

"And I thought to myself then…" Balin smiled a bit as he looked at Thorin's back view. "…there is one I could follow…"

"There is one, I could call King." As soon as he said those words Thorin turned in a emo boy way looking at the dwarves looking at him in awe and respect.

'Damn, I should take notes.' Paul thought as he looked at this scene, looking at Thorin walking back emotionally.

"And the Pale Orc?" Bilbo asked in curiosity. "What happened to him?"

"He slunk back to the hole whence he came." Thorin said. "That filth died of his wounds long ago." His words made Balin and Gandalf glance at each other.

'Well newsflash, he still is walking well dude… look even Gandalf doubts it.' Paul thought to himself then looked towards the cliff on the other side seeing warg scouts and orc riders looking at the company of dwarves.

'Should I or no?' Paul thought of helping out a bit but that'll make the story boring so he kept watch.

But Paul thought otherwise, from what he can remember this part of the journey is essential for Bilbo to gain the trust of the company. So he watched, he watch over them for days until they arrived near the Trollshaws.

Gandalf himself noticed what was wrong since there used to be a family of farmers there, which were already part of Paul's group. One thing led to another Gandalf left in anger as Thorin kept on his stubborn ways. But he did leave behind some sheep to bait in the three idiot trolls that were destined to meet the group.

And just like in the movie they realized two of their ponies were missing and had Bilbo try to release them only for it to fail. Then a battle ensued where the Dwarves caused great pain to the three but their hide proved too thick for their weapons to deal great lasting damage to the trolls.

Bilbo was captured and they were disarmed as they did not want to sacrifice the life of their Burglar. Paul watched as they were tied and being prepared to be roasted alive, he spread his senses and saw Gandalf was on his way back.

'Hmm… it'll be a pity if these trolls die but maybe that is necessary. I'll just make sure I can leave some sort of mark to their minds, might be useful in the future.' Paul then peeked in the brains of the trolls and found that they were already scared of the 'Iron Tide'.

It seems trolls have their own bit of community and those he captured were just the feral ones of their kind. Seeing as to which they seemed articulate enough even if they are dumb as rock, figuratively and literally.

Paul could also see Radagast coming towards Gandalf from afar riding the large rabbits he has, he did find some and tamed them too. In his opinion, they were indeed very fast reaching up to 50-60kmph in top speed once given a wide plain to run in.

It was then he thought of a plan, he popped out away for a bit then appeared on a hidden side of the troll shaws. Bringing with him fifty mounted robots in full armor with spears and shields, still his mind still watched over from afar the company as they were now being roasted by the trolls.

Leading his robots he rode towards Rivendell from the direction of the Fell peaks of Rhudaur. He can help a bit convincing the Guardians of middle earth even if future bad oldie Saruman will be there.

He did not mask his trail so he knew he'll be seen by the scouts of the Elves, he also made the route pass through where he saw Gandalf sneaking about. The secret passage towards the beautiful city, so he knew already where he'll lead them.

So while riding Paul looked towards the path he'll pass through, he saw too many Orc pack that what he had thought there would be. Thinking something was wrong he took a peek and understood why, it was his fault.

His group's actions made the Pale Orc wary so he deployed more than what was normally seen in the lone lands. But this seemed better for Paul because he needed a reason to seek audience with the Lord of Rivendell.

And like he learned, the orcs did try to stop him and his hundred robots, but they then learned why they were called the 'Iron Tide'. Because he did not stop at all and kept charging forward not caring for the arrows and spears as they were all rendered broken and useless.

He swung his large sword and bringing about waved of death to the beings that caused fear to the people of middle Earth. Even the Elven scouts watching from afar was appalled at the destruction caused by Paul's cavalry. Still he reported it to the lord of Rivendell who was alarmed of the nearing cavalry of Iron.

Meanwhile Gandalf returned to his company and just in time to save them thanks to Bilbo's nous to buy for time. They had just found the Troll hoard where Paul could also see some Elvish blade not taken by the group and left there.

Though unlikely to be anymore with names, he should try to see if the craft of high elves of Gondolin are just as legendary as his people said they were. Paul rode towards the Trollshaw and even encountered more Orc packs hunting them down.

He did not hide it at all, his actions was seen by many scouts of the elves. Few hours later, Radagast led the Orc packs hunting the dwarves away in his rabbits and Gandalf leading them to the secret entrance of Rivendell.

Paul then 'coincidentally' encountered the elven retinue hunting orcs too on his way and his prowess was seen by the elves as clear as day. Elrond himself was impressed at the 'man' who swung a large sword with great strength.

After making sure that some orcs escape including the pack leader he stopped his charge and faced towards the dozen elves that were now going closer towards his group.

"I greet the Lord of Rivendel, Elrond son of Earendil, bearer of Vilya. I have come bearing grave news…" Paul said as he took off his helmet and showed his face to the riders of Rivendell and bowed in respect to the bearer of one of the three rings.

"I assume you must be the Iron Lord of Ettenmoors, tales of your sigil of a chained dragon has graced my ears many times for the past moons. Come , if grave news is what you bring then it is better to hear it in quiet places…" Elrond then turned to lead Paul back towards Rivendell and when he saw only Paul follow he and his riders looked at each other.

"Will you be okay without your retinue Iron Lord?" asked a elven rider when Paul followed them back while the others left. But they were mostly going to that Troll-hoard Thorin found, to see if there is something of value left other than the gold.

"They are needed elsewhere, and here is not where it is…" Paul somehow got used to people here talking in a riddle like fashion but he still felt he was not as cool sounding like Gandalf or Elrond.

"Then who shall escort you back if need be Iron Lord?" asked an Elf.

"I have no need for escorts…" Paul said as he focused his mind on the various things happening to the company of Thorin.

[Thorin and Co.]

"Here lies the last homely house East of the Sea." Gandalf said as he and the others looked at the magnificence of Rivendell.

"This was your plan all along…" Thorin walked towards Gandalf with visible anger in his voice. "…to seek refuge with our enemy."

"You have no enemies here, Thorin Oakenshield. The only ill will to be found in this valley is that which you bring yourself." Gandalf said in reprimand as he looked at the dwarf prince while Bilbo listens nearby pursing his lips.

"You think the elves will give our quest their blessing?" Thorin looked at Gandalf in the eyes as he asked. "They will try to stop us."

"Of course they will. But we have questions that need to be answered." Gandalf said which made Thorin raise his brows a bit then give a sigh in agreement.

"If we are to be successful this will need to be handled with tact." Gandalf said then added. "And respect."

"And no small degree of charm." The wizards raised his chest in confidence and lastly said to the dwarf prince. "Which is why you will leave the talking to me."

Soon the company of Thorin can be seen walking slowly towards Rivendell while Bilbo and some dwarves admired the scenery they pass by. They stood in place in front of the entrance waiting for their host to welcome them in.

"Mithrandir." An Elf noble walked down to greet the wizard.

"Ah! Lindir." Gandalf greeted the elf with joy in his voice.

'Stay sharp' Thorin whispered towards Dwalin by his side.

"We heard you had crossed into the valley." Lindir said in Elven words.

"I must speak with Lord Elrond." Gandalf said in an urgent manner.

"My Lord Elrond is not here."

"Not here." Gandalf frowned but still asked. "Where is he?"

Then a blare of horns sounded out catching the attention of Thorin and the others, they looked back and saw the retinue of elves riding back to Rivendell. But their eyes were drawn to another rider who is caked with black orc blood all over him.

Dwarves were looking at the steed also since they had never seen Great Rams this side of the world and rather were only found in the iron hills.

"Close ranks!' Thorin said as he and his company enclosed together in alarm.

*Clip clop!!* (A/N: This is as close to horse hooves I can think off.)

"Grrrhh!!"

*neigh!*

"Gandalf!" Elrond smiled as he greeted his old friend.

"Lord Elrond." The wizard smiled as he walked towards his friend.

"My Friend. Where have you been?" Gandalf said in Sindarin, which Paul heard to sound like melons or something.

"We've been hunting a pack of orcs that came up south." Elrond dismounted and gave a Gandalf a hug. "We slew a number near hidden pass."

"Strange for Orcs to come so close to our borders. Something or someone has drawn them near." said Elrond.

"Ah, that may have been us." Gandalf said an Thorin walked forward to their host.

"Welcome, Thorin, son of Thrain." Elrond greeted the dwarf prince.

"I do not believe we have met." Thorin said.

"You have your grandfather's bearing. I knew Thror when he ruled under the mountain."

"Indeed? He made no mention of you." Thorin looked at the Elven lords eyes making Elrond take a deep breath and say.

"Light the fires, bring forth the wine. We must feed our guest." Said Elrond but the dwarves thought he meant something else since they did not understand.

"What is he saying?! Does he offer us insult?!" Gloin was quick to react and asked in anger.

"What he offers is food and wine master dwarf…" Paul said before Gandalf could speak and it made the others return their attention to him.

"Oh…" the dwarves then huddled together and whispered to each other seeing the amusement in Elrond's eyes as well as Gandalf's smile.

*whisper*

*Murmur*

"Ah, well. In that case lead on." Gloin said as he looked at Elrond then at Paul.