Durin's Day, year 2894 of the Third Age, Hammersmith Hall,
This day was a day I would remember forever. The day promised to be a normal Durin's Day in Hammersmith Hall. The Ale Association was here, selling their ales and meads, and minstrels singing the songs of our forefathers.
I was sitting at a table with my father, Kurus Hammersmith, lord of these halls, and other dwarves of high stature. The doors suddenly burst open, "Orcs! Orcs in Drúadan Forest!" roared Bâlin, our guard-captian. He ran up to my father, "Lord, a party of Orcs has been spotted in Drúadan Forest not a thousand yards outside the walls. I have sent word to the Drúedain. They are marshalling a force of their warriors to meet them, and request our assistance."
The Drúedain had been our allies for many generations, providing us with furs and meat, while in turn we provided them with armors and weapons.
My father turned to the inhabitants of the hall. Every dwarf stepped forward, Hammersmith and Ale Association alike, weapons in hand, awaiting his word. He looked back at Bâlin, "Ready our forces!"
The forges burst to life. Hammers rung and fires hissed.
Our force was gathered. I walked up to my father's side, "Where are we meeting the Drúedain?"
"We aren't meeting them anywhere. You are staying here to protect these halls. Am I understood?"
I was thinking of replying, when better judgment took hold of me. My father was notorious for his rage, which was quick to come.
My father's impassioned band of dwarves marched out through the gates of Hammersmith Hall to join the war party of Drúedain waiting outside. I hurried up to the ramparts to watch the battle, when I saw an image that haunts me to this day. From my vantage point, as far as the eye could see across the forest, spread a vast army of Orcs and Trolls. Trolls the likes of which I had never seen before, out in the daylight, were joined by a multitude of Orcs bearing the White Hand. My father, unaware of the unimaginable size of the enemy, was marching to his doom. It was too late for me to warn him. I frantically tried to think of something I could do, when I remembered our allies Clan Mystguard. We had built tunnels to connect our halls years ago. Yes! I must get to them for help! I turned and ran for the tunnels.
I arrived in Storm Hall, home of Clan Mystguard, and made my way to the throne room. Sitting on the throne was Jorkir Mystguard, Lord of Storm Hall. "Welcome to my halls young Hrothgurd, what brings you here?" Lord Jorkir asked.
"My father requires your aid my lord." He asked what had happened, and I tell him of what know.
"By Durin's beard! I will gather my warriors and join you to help your father, Hammersmith. This will be a day to remember." Minutes later, hundreds of Mystguard warriors were marching down the tunnels towards Hammersmith Hall.
We arrived at the entrance to my home and heard Orcish war drums inside. "Do you hear that? They're inside!" I charged through the doors and entered the forge, and found the remnants of my father's and the Drúedain forces.
"Hrothgurd, we thought we lost you, and look, you brought friends!" Yelled Bâlin, who was bloody head-to-toes, mostly Orcish.
"Hail guard-captain, where is Lord Kurus?" Jorkir asked, looking to the remaining Dwarves.
Bâlin looked at his feet, "He fell at the gates, holding back the Orcs so we could retreat. There were so many, we exited the forests and saw... thousands of Orcs." Bâlin described what took place. The enemy charged them head on, running right into their arrows and spears. Their first line fell to the onslaught in a matter of seconds, the second and third lines held on for but a few minutes more until falling to the Orcish swords. My father, surviving the fall of the first line, sounded a retreat and held the front gates with a handful of Dwarves and Drúedain. The remaining forces fell back and fortified the inner gates, and when those gave way, were forced into our forges.
Lord Jorkir formed his men into a shield wall and opened the gates. The Orcs hesitated a second, unsure, then charged. The Mystguards advanced in formation, stabbing and hacking their way through the dark masses, trampling all underfoot. The remaining Hammersmiths and Drúedain, too tired or weak to press on, stayed to secure the forge. I went with Lord Jorkir, at the head of the shield wall, furiously bashing in the head of any Orc in front of me with my warhammer.
It took hours, but we cleared Hammersmith Hall, and pushed the Orcs and their ilk back into their caves beyond Drúadan Forest. After the fighting, we took account of our loses, Clan Mystguard suffered relitively light loses, Clan Hammersmith was devestated, more than a third of my kin we killed, and the Drúedain lost all but eight. Later, I met with Jorkir and Ghân-buri-Ghân, Chief of the Drúedain, in the Great Hall. "The last of the Orcs have been pushed back to their caves, and our wounded are being treated. I am sorry for your loses, Hrothgurd." Lord Jorkir said, stained in the blood of Orcs.
"My people will search the forest and make sure it is clear," said Ghân-buri-Ghân, left hand reduced to a stub.
"My thanks, the both of you, Clan Hammersmith has suffered greatly this day, but we will rebuild. I am indebted to you."
During the night, while most of my people slept, I wandered the halls, thinking of what was to come. When I heard the sound of clashing swords coming from the forge-works. I ran to the forges and saw a party of Goblins engaged with Guard-captain Bâlin and his guards. I rushed the closest Goblin, not caring that I was unarmed, and tackled him. We wrestled and I knocked the spear from his hands, grabbed his head, and beat it against an anvil.
"Where did this lot come from?" I asked Bâlin after the skirmish.
"Looks like a raiding party, probably thought that after the fight they could find some easy pickings. Doesn't look like they'll be bringing back anything this time."
We found the hole where they popped up out of and sealed it shut. "Get some sleep, brother, big day tomorrow." said Bâlin, preparing the guard shifts for the night. I agreed, and went to my bunk to get some shut eye.
~Signed, Hrothgurd Hammersmith, Lord of Hammersmith Hall
