18 - Bravery doesn’t depend on height, part 3 (final)
(this fragment of my story is dated approximately 1 year prior to current Bar-en-Acharn's doings and adventures)
It was soon obvious, that the forgotten cache contained a true treasure. Smiths and weaponcrafters from the expedition had cleaned and sorted the weapons according to types.
“Careful, they are still sharp!” warned Wáfi, who was already cut on his finger.
It was a few decent piles. In the coming night, all of them were reflecting the lamp and campfire lights. Even more…
“Bori, do I see right or…” turned Kor to the dwarf leader, “or do the blades shine themselves?”
Many of the edges were emitting pale blueish or reddish light. They were glowing like strange embers.
Bori slowly nodded, thrilled by the extraordinary moment. “I think so. I have seen very special axes in Thorin’s Hall armoury, but none looked like these.“
“What do you think, Bósi? Should we return to the pool for retaliate in the morning?”
“Of course not, you hot heads! We will have our revenge and we will gain access, but we cannot afford to lose anyone to the monster anymore!”
He looked around the camp.
“Listen, all! We will prepare ourselves at hundred percent, and that means it will take time. Night watch, as usual. Furthest distance from the camp closer than fifty paces. The path to the pool will be watched by three persons minimum.”
He took a breath. “About the new weapons: We will distribute them in the morning. Four sentries will guard them, three shifts of three hours. Brogur, please select the most vigilant men.”
He overlooked his little regiment and paused to make sure everybody takes the order to the heart.
Bori coughed and added: “Everybody is granted three pints of beer for the next hour, but no more. We shall have a toast for our fallen comrades. After that, everybody except the watch will be off to sleep. Tomorrow will be a busy day.”
Bósi nodded in agreement. “Alright, lads. Done here.”
Then he looked aside and yelled: “And scouts, to me!”
*
Lazy sun awakened hazy morning, but most of the dwarves were already working hard. Also the human duo, because Kor went to fall some more trees for makeshift barricades. Three logs were roped and nailed together to form a spiky “hedgehog”. The wood was pointed on each end, so even rolling the thing over was not putting it out of the way.
“We should anchor it anyway. Imagine, if some tentacle used these on us as a mace…” warned Bori.
„Good point,“ agreed Brogur, checking the sharpness of the spikes. Then he smirked: „In both meanings…“
Preparations were ready about noon, but the rest of the day was consumed by talking about possible strategies and how the fight might evolve. Kor wondered, how much can dwarves talk.
Last but not least, the dwarf leaders checked all the ancient weapons. The bundles contained dozens of them. Many ended in the hands of dwarrow soldiers, smaller part was to be packed and prepared their loading on the expedition waggons.
Bósi came to Kor. „I bet you’d need a new blade, friend.“
Kor shrugged. „True. I can hardly manage only with my woodworker hatchet…“ And not to mention my old sledgehammer, which is too clumsy anyway.
„Obviously. Come with me.“
He lead him to the few remaining ancient weapons dwarves couldn’t use.
“Pick something. You will need it.”
Kor looked over the collection and whistled in a low voice. Three large swords caught his eyes. He haven’t thought long until his hand reached one of them and grasped its hilt.
“This one looks that will fit.”
The dwarf nodded and slapped him over his back. “May it serve well and slay many!”
Then he beckoned over to Sheila. “Come here, pretty lass! The shop is still open!”
Sheila came reluctantly, aware of the rarity and value of the weapons. Bósi handed her a shining dagger with a golden crossguard.
“You may need this. In case of…”
She blushed and then hugged the dwarf.
A few minutes later, Kor went a bit sideways to train with the gift. To get feel of its weight and balance.
It was hand-and-a-halfer, bearing elf runes. If it was truly wielded by an elf, it was rather big for him, guessed Kor.
He swung it again in a few circles and looked at the faintly glowing blade.
What’s your story, mighty tool?
Swish, swish.
Shall we fight the evil together? He imagined the tentacled Watcher being cut by this sharp edge.
An answer came to him. Neither by eyes, nor by ears and nor by touch. But the old spell in the blade somehow expressed consent, maybe agreement. Kor made a double swing ended with a lunge.
Galad. That was the word for Light.
Many dozens of swings, swipes and thrusts later, Kor began to feel that the sword is slowly becoming a prolongation of his arms.
It was just a part of new name. It had to come yet.
*
The murky pool was still, but they were prepared. Pointy barricades were set and fastened, siege ballista loaded, crossbow springs strained in tightened position. The dwarf warriors of the little battalion were located in proper places.
Brogur came nearer to the water and threw a stone.
“Come and swallow, so you can sink deeper!”
Several soldiers had the orders to follow him. After two dozens of stones the water began to churn up.
The crossbow strings echoed a chord of swiftness and pain. A few from the emerging snake-like tentacles whirled, as dwarrow steel penetrated them. The rest reached the shore, precisely aiming for the bearded soldiers.
When first one caught a victim, two near dwarves came to help. Their eager axes attacked it and penetrated it deep.
The monster roared, not ready for such resistance. Several more tentacles came out and started to whip the shore, but did no damage to the warriors.
The ancient weapons truly proved effective. Kor contributed to victory too, when he successfully cut one tentacle utterly off. Kor noticed, that even by sunlight, the sword intensified shortly its glow with the attack. The flash was clearly visible.
Yes, Galad.
Very soon after, the body of the abomination appeared. The siege ballista awaited this moment and now its string ringed another sharp chord.
The terrible monster sounded a high-pitched shriek and just as suddenly as appeared before, it plunged again to the turbid depths of the dark pool.
“Yeah! Victory!”
“Khazad ai-menu!“
*
“Would you join us for the expedition inside Moria? You have more than earned the right to come with us.” said Bósi.
Sheila looked at Kor.
“At first I thought not,“ said Kor. “But yes. We will. If we get a small piece of the treasure…”
“Of course!” Bósi’s eyebrows met in slightly frowned expression.
Kor apologized for the unwanted insult.
“I also know you may be afraid of the underground,” turned Kor to Plusheila.
She shook head.
„Good. ‘Cause with our payment from Moria, we can buy a house, after the war. Or a f-”
She took his breath away, when she hugged him with bear embrace and kissed.
Bósi grinned.
When they finished, Bósi said:
“This expedition will take long. We expect of months, maybe years of hard work. So, tend to your other businesses first, Kor. Take your time. But we’d love to see you soon.“
“Deal. But we shall return just in a few days. Gotta meet a few Eregion elves.“ I must ask about the word I don’t know.
*
“You hinted something about your new sword name?” asked Plusheila later on the road. They were walking side by side, Brownie loosely following them.
Also she was rejoicing from her new dagger, she could not let her eyes off of it.
“Yes. Finally I know it in Sindarin.”
He unsheathed the mighty sword and held it up.
“You are Galadruth - Wrath of Light.”
