“This way, please don’t fall behind!” Marganil tried to keep the smile on her face and her voice light; the little hobbit girl was quiet in his grasp, as if trying to meld into nonexistence.
The troll had been distracted, he (she? Marganil had not asked for their pronouns) liked to sniff the air and look under other rocks for the promised food. “How far?” he demanded to know.
“Just a bit longer” Finnvi whispered under her teeth. The hunter had been grinding her teeth with anxiety, while testing the soil’s softness. She refrained from talking to the troll directly though.
“We are almost there! Can you not smell it on the air?” Marganil sniffed theatrically. The troll sped up. Now, Marganil started to panic, just a bit. How much longer? mouthed and the little girl just sniffed. Suddenly, Finnvi moved to the left, her deft feet moving with confidence. Marganil’s heart perked up, this was it. “This way, I can see it!” she called over her shoulder.
“I cannot!” the Troll despaired and stepped on the marsh… and the soil gave way under his/her weight. “Oi, what?” He tried to move forward, but the extra force just sank him even more. The little girl’s eyes were wide with fear, the tears pooling underneath.
“Oh my dear, what a predicament!” Marganil moved forward. “Let me pull you out, come on give me your hands”. And to everyone’s surprise, the troll extended his hands towards Marganil, seeking help. The little girl, forgotten, was let to fall to the ground to be caught by Finnvi and be carried swiftly to safety.
“On my mark!” Marganil said to the panicked troll. “One, two, three!” with a great feat of strength she pushed him deeper in the marsh. For a moment, she was surprised by the reserve of strength. For a moment, she was exuberant that she did it, she got him away. And then, she was out of breath. The now very angry troll’s shove made her fly a few meters back only to be crashed against some rocks.
Finnvi pulled out her bow and shot at the Troll. With its attention momentarily elsewhere, Marganil regrouped and charged. Thankfully, her sister was by her side. Between the two of them, they kept his attention divided.
But both felt like flies circling a bull; their stings were an annoyance and not real damage, their efforts enough to keep him swatting the flies away. Marganil’s breath was ragged and he moved too fast for Finnvi to have a clear shot.
Thurintos picked his moment carefully to come out of the shadows. He had been lingering behind, waiting for the best opportunity to strike. Once it was presented, he did not hesitate. He jumped forward and up the Troll’s back, it only took a swift, clean and deep cut to take him down.
“That went well”. Thurintos commented with his smile ever on. “Is everyone alright?”
“I think that I broke a rib or two” Marganil could feel the sharp pain on her chest now that the adrenaline left her body.
“I am alright” Finnvi was already by the little hobbit’s side. She knelt on her eye level and gently wiped the little girl's tears. “Come on little one. Time to get you back to Aunt Camri and the village”.
“And Hennes”. Marganil added the little unnecessary detail. “I also need boots” she remade the mental note to replace the ones that the goat Hennes had chewed on.
“Go ahead”. Thurintos said. “I will go back and check upon my kinsman. He is still alive and needs help”. He vanished in the shadows before the women could ask any questions.
