Elves surround them, but the humans keep on their futile defense. All around, the battle raged. Man and elf alike fell to bolts and arrows. Occasionally, the elves would pull back from their assault to regroup and survey the castle with envy once more. It is during one of these periods that one elf breaks away with three of his comrades. In the last attack, they had found a hidden hatch beneath some stout shrubs hiding beneath an overhang. Hoping that it would lead inside the keep, the four sneaked back to the battlefield.
They successfully passed under the human sentries' seeking eyes, and opened the old hatch. Peering inside revealed little aside from a rickety ladder leading down to the floor below. Leading, Elron climbed down the ladder. As soon as he touched down, he moved off into the dark. Moments later the room was illuminated with the flare of a now-lit torch. The others joined him, and took stock of the room. It appeared to be an abandoned armory - rusted swords and axes lined the walls and barrels of arrows with the wood of the shafts rotted. A few misshapen bows lay on a table, the strings snapped and the wood in the same condition of the arrows. A single wooden door, nearly completely fallen apart with decay, was easily brought down by Carimbor's axe. The next room was not in much better condition. Once more a decayed wooden door posed a slight obstacle in their path. And once more, Carimbor's axe was used. It continued on like this until the group came across a strong metal door that seemed to be in excellent condition.
Seemingly stuck, the band searched the room to no avail. Systematically, they went back and searched every room until Finwe found a hidden passage in the third room.
The passage was thin, and not tall enough for Elron to pass. Together they decided that the three would press on while Elron would wait for their return. If they did not come back by nightfall than Elron was to inform the elven commanders about the passage and try to get them to send help. As they shook on it, a loud rumbling shook the room. The newest elven attack had begun.
Carimbor, Finwe, and Lorodor went through the passage and were greeted on the other side by a well lit room filled with various salted meats and vegetables. The door out of the pantry led, expectedly, into a kitchen. Inside were two cooks whom Lorodor and Carimbor finished quickly. Peering out to the main dining area, Finwe is met with the sight of around 20 men and women - nearly all of them servants. After informing the other two, they make a plan to ambush whoever comes through. After about four minutes, a couple porters came through and were quickly dispatched. Quietly, however, not so. Three human soldiers rushed into the kitchen. Finwe killed one with her bow, and killed the one that was attacking Carimbor. Lorodor kept up the deadly dance with the remaining soldier, who was a cut above the others, while Finwe and Carimbor held the advancing soldiers and servants - who were armed with whatever was at hand - at bay.
The soldier swung his sword at Lorodor's head; then was blocked by his shield. Responding in kind, Lorodor tried to stab the warrior in the arm but was parried by the other's weapon. Another clash, another block; another swing, another dodge. Suddenly, he grabbed Lorodor's arm with his free hand and pulled him in close - spitting him on his sword. Enraged, Carimbor jumped on the enemy soldier and hacked away at his life - only stopping when what was left of the human was chunks of meat and shredded armor. Turning around, he finds that Finwe has survived the assault, but a few of the humans escaped. Undoubtedly, they were going to warn whoever was in charge of the defense that elves had slipped in.
Now, they retreated. Carimbor carried Lorodor's body through the passage. Upon exiting, they are met with sword and spear! Elron's corpse lay at their feet, pierced by a human blade. The ten well-armed humans surrounding them parted slightly to admit a tall woman wearing impressive armor and an even more impressive sword at her hip.
"Well. What do we have here? Two mongrel elves, crawling about the dungeons like the rats they are! And look! They even had the courtesy to bring us the body
of their fallen brother. Now they can all burn together! Bind them."
Finwe rapidly draws her dagger, and jams it into one of the approaching human's shoulder. In nearly the same moment, Finwe's head separates from her body. The commander then wipes her blade clean on the leather of the wounded soldier's tunic.
"Now, would you like to try anything?"
Fear overwhelming and adrenaline on overdrive, Carimbor reacts as fast as a snake. His axe is sailing through the air as she brings her weapon back for a killing strike. Minutes seem to pass as Carimbor finishes his strike; the commander's arm severed at the shoulder falls to the floor, her cry of agony piercing the otherwise silent air. However, despite the pain and the shock, she pulls through with her strike - another head hits the floor.
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Topic: ___/The Writer's Apprenticeship\___ (Read 313996 times)