Well that’s just great, I mused to myself as I looked up into the dark, rainy sky. It wasn't an ideal time to fight in the middle of the night when all was darkened, but it was even worse now with the rain. It started as a light sprinkle, but now it was simply pouring. At least the moon was full and exceptionally bright. Though it was hidden half of the time by the shadowy clouds. I shifted my tired gaze back towards the broken wall that marked the entrance to the fields of Foronost. I had been looking there, behind the dead tree, for almost a half an hour now. Watching for any of the orcs to show up again. I found it somewhat difficult to keep my focus for so long. They were certainly there... somewhere. For we had spotted one of them glancing out from behind the broken wall or gate. Why haven’t they attacked yet? I continued to think to myself. Indeed, it was a good question. The only reason I could think of was... perhaps they were waiting for something. Reinforcements? Maybe there were more coming from behind us. In that case, we should attack them while we have the advantage--
Twang-thwish-whoosh!
I jumped back, perhaps at the very last second. I heard the soar of the arrow so closely that I believe the arrow shot only inches past my face. The battle had begun. I readied my bow while hiding behind the large trunk of the tree. I could hear others firing their bows. Once ready, I slowly and barely glanced towards the orc's direction. I could see two of the archers behind the wall, and about three coming towards Kaiell and Torogethir, with their wide shields raised up, crouching next to the side of the steep hill or small cliff. I took a step to the side and quickly loosed my arrow towards them. I couldn't quite see where it landed, but I almost certainly missed. At once, I dashed completely behind the tree again and loaded another arrow. Looking behind the other side of the tree, I shot it. I faintly saw the landing this time, and I actually got fairly close to one of the orcs. This went on for just a little while longer, with all my shots missing. I saw Kaiell strike one in the chest, but he failed to actually kill it. Hopefully this proved that he was on our side, but again... we couldn't be too sure. Torogethir said he was prepared to face Kaiell should he be on the orc’s side, and all I could do was trust him.
I assumed there were more archers on the other side of the wall that I couldn't see from my angle or position based on the number of arrows there were. The three by the wall of the cliff were now very near the ruins. Kaiell and Torogethir had to fully focus on them now. And as for Edhelfaron, his plan was apparently to leave us to make the enemy think he was continuing his search for Calagand and the rest when he was actually quite close to us. Then the orcs may attack us now that there was one missing from our small group. This of course made no sense to me as how exactly could the orcs realize or know that the elf left us? There must have be something about it I hadn't thought of.
The archers were advancing now and Torogethir managed to kill one, and then a heartbeat later, one of the very near shield men as well. The other two shield or sword men were now just several feet away from him, where he stood, halfway up the steep hill. He managed to defend for a moment before sliding down a slope in retreat towards the archers. Kaiell received a nick near the shoulder by an arrow but was able to strike the orc back in return, resulting in only a low growl of pain from the thing. It once again did not fall. It barely even stumbled. These orcs were not the average kind it seemed. They were elite.
After studying the whereabouts of my allies and enemies and aiming for quite some time, I shot my arrow. I got ‘em! Wait no- I barely missed. They were just too far away. I had to get closer somehow to make up for my lack of skill in archery. And now was the time to do so. For the orcs were now much more distracted it seemed. Torogethir amazingly shot another orc as he slid down the steep slope of the hill away from the orcs with shields and swords. Though one of them was not an orc I later saw. His armor and great sword both were of a different kind.
They both now continued down the slope, after the ranger who was now finishing off the orc he had already struck with an arrow yet failed to kill. Kaiell dashed from behind his tree, with sword ready, towards the orc that managed to cut him earlier. He fought it as I came closer with my bow ready to fire, and it soon fell to the ground from a stab to the stomach. Torogethir was now defending himself against the last two opponents left...and it was not going well for him. I was very close now, but I didn't want to shoot yet in fear of hitting the ranger or Kaiell, because they were all currently very close to the orcs. With Kaiell’s help, Torogethir managed to regain the slight advantage again. But it didn't last for long. Kaiell was just about to kill the last orc when the orc he stabbed only several moments ago suddenly dashed back up from the ground towards him. Surprisingly, Kaiell noticed in the nick of time and spun around to block the attack. And immediately after that, he was somehow able to twist, jump, and dodge the swing from the other. A skillful move indeed. Or perhaps it was just luck.
“Agromnir!” Kaiell growled, glancing at me with the spare moment he had before turning and sprinting out of the way of the orcs and seemingly switching opponents with the ranger. I was standing there with bow ready but not shooting anything. And Kaiell needed help. As good as he was, even fighting just two of these elite orcs at the same time by himself was tough work.
Right. I had done my aiming and now was the exact time to shoot before the orc did anything.
Twang-thunk-crack!
Yes! I had finally managed to get one straight in its side- What? The orc was still not dead. With a dark fire in its eyes, it struggled to get up after stumbling to the ground. NOPE. This thing is going down. With a fire of my own, I unleashed my spear and jabbed towards the heart of my enemy. Oh, but the orc was just lucky enough to have a shield from another orc next to him on the ground. And he of course managed to block my attack just in time. I struck again, but the shield was too wide. Finally, I was able to strike him just above the knee. As I did so, it let out another orcish growl like it had done before. That’s when the elf Edhelfaron came back, sprinting towards the others. As he passed by me though, he smoothly swung his right blade downwards and neatly sliced through the orc’s neck. Well… that’s one way to steal a kill, I thought as I turned my gaze and focus once more to the others. My only kill!
A lot had happened since I shot my last arrow. The last orc was now dead, and Kaiell was... motionless on the ground. I raced over to see if he still lived. Their fight had ended up some little ways from where it had started and the elf and ranger were now dealing with the very last enemy, the man, which didn't take long. As he couldn't possibly stand against two such warriors as both the elf and ranger for long. Once I reached Kaiell, I found that he was fortunately only unconscious from a hard hit to the head. Indeed, he was no spy of the enemy, otherwise he would have turned around and attacked us. I looked around, at the camp, the ruins, and down the road both ways before returning my eyes to Edhelfaron and Torogethir. The battle was over.
