Eliad had walked to lead the two outside of Bree from the Prancing Pony before…
“Oi,” said Styrk.
“What?” asked Eliad.
“Joah,” said Forstrang. “Good spot… No need to go far! Pfeheh!”
“Would you rather want to have the fight seeing how the two can come back out and who knows who else?” asked Eliad, sighing.
Apparently, these two are idiots…, Eliad thought.
“Forst!” exclaimed Styrk. “Shield. It’s good here, lad! A fair duel is against no law.”
They mean to use actual weapons in this duel?! Eliad thought.
Eliad turned towards the two once again before moving his hand to his blade hilt, unsheathing it slowly. Forstrang, however, looked upon himself, bearing no such thing. He seemed to hopping in front of Styrk and knelt down.
“Blurgh…,” said Forstrang. “Where is Ox when you need him?”
“Is there a problem?” asked Eliad.
“No shield then…,” said Styrk, shoving his comrade away.
“Umff!” shrugged Forstrang. “Hrmff…” He flicked out his long-knife when he saw the drawing of Eliad’s sword. “Huerarghh!”
“This is my fight, friend!” exclaimed Styrk.
“Joah..?” asked Forstrang. “Good…”
Eliad took in a deep breath before exhaling slowly, keeping himself focused.
“Very well,” said Eliad. “Have the first move.”
Styrk pulled his axe loose from the loop on his belt and walked up to Eliad, slowly moving into a high guard. Forstrang stayed in place, grunting some inaudible nonsense to himself as he watched the duel.
“May the spirits favour me!” shouted Styrk. “Wroaaagh!”
He threw himself at his opponent, axe moving from a pendulum, swinging overhead.
“Wraarooaaorghh!” cheered Forstrang. “Get him, Styrk!”
A lone man in armor hummed merrily to himself as he took a stroll. Eliad staggered back from the strike, gritting his teeth. He winced as the ax had hit his shoulder. He then used his blade in order to strike the man’s left arm.
“Ooh, an honorable duel!” exclaimed the lone man, stopping towards Forstrang. “How exciting!”
Forstrang was too tense by watching the ongoing duel. The brute did not hear the merry walker come by to address him. Styrk stumbled after all the weight he threw into his strike, too unsteady to keep a distance and paid for it. The cut opened on his arm and started to gush with blood, making the man groan in pain. Angered, he attempted to hook the blade with his axe and, if successful, elbowed Eliad in the face.
“Argh!” shouted Styrk.
“Oh, my!” exclaimed the man. “Spilled blood!”
Forstrang swung his fist around as if it were a flail. He flinched as he saw droplets of blood fly from his brother’s arm and a flush appeared on his face. Eliad gritted his teeth as he used his blade and strength to push the axe away. He then used one of his feet to kick Styrk in order to push him back.
“Tell me, friend,” said the man. “Is this duel to the death?”
“HUAR-HRerh?!” asked Forstrang, turning to the merry walker. “I do not know… GHHARGH!”
“Hmm,” frowned the man. “Then is it at least for honorable reasons?”
“The man in the red shirt…,” said Forstrang. “He scared away pretty women! So we could not take them with us! Bahrgh!”
“Take them with you?” repeated the man, looking confused.
“Joah!” replied Forstrang. “Ran off! Bleh!”
Styrk stumbled backwards from the kick, though did not lose balance. He bared his teeth and immediately returned with a swift strike, aiming for the neck. The woman from earlier looked so irritated with the gross men who have insulted her and Dazelia as she looked at them.
“Now, just wait a moment…,” said the man.
Eliad seemed to be rather focused on his blade, using what he had learned during the course of his time in Angmar. He pushed back the axe once again, tilting his sword just enough to hit Styrk’s chin with the pummel.
The woman approached from a distance and brought light onto the subject the two men were talking about.
“Come on!” shouted Forstrang. “Take him out! Make him eat mud! Bwuehehe!”
The man took out his own axe and sword, about ready to interrupt this fight of questionable honor. The woman stood back.
“Oh, my word!” exclaimed the woman.
Styrk flung his axe up just in time to parry the strike aside, fixing his focus on not getting his unprotected fingers cut off.
“Quick work…,”grumbled Styrk. “Hr… Hraaagh!”
He countered trying to hook an elbow and tear something apart with brute-pulling force.
“Really?” asked the woman. “Daisy and I did not want to go with these two ruffians, so we left. They’re nasty and hurtful.”
The man jumped into the fray, attempting to drive both man’s weapons back with his own.
“Halt!” ordered the man. “Cease this needless violence!”
Eliad cursed under his breath, doing his best to move his blade to his free hand. He moved to plunge his blade into the man’s arm before stopping it just in time, breathing heavily. Styrk turned to the man who meddled with the duel, halting in place while panting.
“Get away!” ordered Styrk. “This is a fair fight.”
The woman, tired of this bout, watched anyhow after he walked to the fence. The man heard the woman’s explanation. It provided just enough to convince him to intercede.
“What?” asked Forstrang.
“I doubt that very much,” said the man.
“Stupid man, go away!” shouted Forstrang. “Let them fight!”
The woman watched, hoping justice was done, and held her hand on her dagger.
“Begone,” commanded Styrk. “We agreed to this!”
“I cannot allow an honorless fight to continue!” argued the man.
“Wruargh!” yelled Forstrang.
Styrk looked at his opponent briefly, frowning confusedly. The man’s stance was wide, with one blade still pointed at each man.
“Erh?” asked Styrk.
The woman just watched, ready to plunge her own dagger, showing no fear. Eliad closed his eyes before moving to sheathe his blade, turning to walk away.
“Shed blood upon the battlefield!” exclaimed the man. “Not upon the roads of a peaceful city!”
The woman only nodded in agreement with the man. Styrk grunted and forced his axe back into its ring, then looked at the bleeding arm.
“It’s not…a peaceful city,” said Eliad. “Not while someone that I know still lurks around here.”
The woman wondered who he was talking about but was too reclusive to ask.
“This place is worse than Lake-town,” said Styrk.
“Pfeheh!” chuckled Forstrang.
“Our fight is done here…for now,” said Eliad, opening his eyes.
The man blinked in confusion at Eliad’s ambiguous words, but lowered his blades.
“Hrnn…,” mumbled Forstrang.
“But don’t let me catch you harassing Miss Daisy or her friend ever again,” finished Eliad.
“We’ll do as we like,” said Styrk. “And this fight isn’t over.”
The woman approached Eliad, not accustomed to gratitude, but decided to speak her mind anyhow.
“Hueheh…,” chuckled Forstrang.
“Very well,” replied Eliad.
“I’ll find you soon,” promised Styrk.
The man grumbled at Styrk.
“I’ll be looking forward to that,” said Eliad. “And that’s a promise.”
Forstrang grumbled back at the man. The woman looked at Eliad squarely with a firmly set jaw.
“Now!” exclaimed the man. “Be gone! Take your violent ways elsewhere!”
Styrk snorted and turned around, jaunting away to patch himself up. The man shooed the two men away.
“Hrgrmf…,” grumbled Forstrang, following Styrk.
Eliad watched the two men walk away before rubbing his shoulder, wincing.
“Thank you…for…,” said the woman quietly. “Ummm, defending Daisy, the red haired lady, okay?”
“Miss Daisy is my friend,” smiled Eliad, glancing over towards the woman. “You’re a friend of hers as well, no?”
The man sheathed both of his blades, catching the woman’s comment.
“So, you were fighting in defense of a lady?” asked the man. “That is indeed a worthy fight!”
“I don’t have what people call friends…,” shrugged the woman. “I just look out for those who are in danger. But on behalf of Daisy, I just say thanks. That’s all.”
“You’re welcome,” said Eliad, nodding. He glanced towards the man, hearing his words, before looking down. “I just…did what was right.”
The man walked up and clapped his hand on Eliad’s unhurt shoulder.
“And for that, you are to be praised!” exclaimed the man. “Well done, good sir!”
“I have something to do now,” said the woman, holding her bag close to her. “G’Night.”
She then walked around melancholy down the road. Eliad glanced towards the woman and bowed his head in farewell to her. He then glanced back at the man, flushing at his words before looking away.
“Fare thee well, fair maiden!” exclaimed the man, bowing low. “May your deeds be as magnificent as you are beautiful!” He grinned broadly at the man before him. “A deed such as yours deserves a drink! Alas, but I’ve already had my fair share, and must be away. But be assured that you will have a drink on me as soon as our paths cross again!”
“V-Very well,” said Eliad. “Take care, sir.”
“Huzzah!” cheered the man, walking away afterwards.
Eliad sighed softly before making his way inside of the inn once again, desperately wanting tea.
