I cant believe it , were finally here- Let the battle begin! Thank you guys for all your reviews of the last few chapters! Im kinda nervous about this chapter, I've never written a battle scene before so I'm not sure how its going to be..
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Rowan stood next to Bard as they looked over the valley. She shifted nervously as they waited. The only sound that could be heard was the distant booming voice of Thorin's cousin Dain who had marched over into the valley a few hours ago.
"How are you feeling?" Bard asked
"To be honest...Scared" She breathed
"It will be fine just trust your instincts"
Rowan made one last glance up at the overlook where Elira and the other archers stood waiting. She did not like the idea of not being able to keep and eye on Elira during the battle.. she had a bad feeling in the pit of her stomach about it. She constantly reminded herself that Elira was safeer up there than down in the city and that she had a guard with her along with many armed elves at her command.
As they waited, the seconds dragged on for what seemed an eternity. Then she heard it- drums. The rhythmic pounding of drums echoed in the distance followed by a horn blast.
"Courage Rowan" Bard said placing a hand on her shoulder as the drums neared "Get ready"
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From up on the overlook Elira's heart sped up as she heard another horn sound, the drums drawing nearer.
"Tangado haid!" She ordered drawing her own bow as well.
The moments ticked by at an unbearable pace, all the while the drums drew nearer. Then finally she saw them. They spilled over the ridge opposite them, filling the valley with grotesque yells.
"Leithio i philinn!"Elira shouted, not flinching as arrows whizzed past her, filling the sky in front of her.
From below her she heard a great war cry erupted as the army of men and elves rushe forward. From the other side of the valley she could hear Dain's army rushing at the Orcs.
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Rowan felt her heart beat faster as she saw the orcs spill into the valley
Bard stood in front of all of them "Men! Today we take on the darkness that has plagued our realm for far too long.. Today we will fight the darkness and we will win!"
Bard shouted "By all that we hold dear we fight!"
Bard raised his sword "Death!" he roared turning to to charge at the orcs
Rowan raised her sword with them men around her as they began surging forward "Death!" they cried
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"Fire!" Elira called out again letting out another wave of arrows. she watched as the armies neared each other her heart thumping in her chest. Just then she heard a loud crash from the she looked through the dust billowing around the mountain gate her heart leapt as she saw the company Led by Thorin charging on to the battlefield.
"Back archers! supply cover fire for those dwarfs until they can reach their kin" Elira ordered
A defining cland echoed through the valley as the armies met, the sides becoming mixed with each other as they fought. "Refocus the arrows on the ones still coming into the valley!" Elira shouted as she watched the stream of orcs begin to ebb.
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Rowan turned towards the mountain as a crash echoed around her. her heart leaping in her chest as the company rushed out of the mountain and onto the field.
Her happiness however only lasted a few seconds before she refocused on the army of orcs rushing at her. She held her breath as the two side met, watching as the first wave of soldiers attacked the first orcs. Soon more came flooding through their ranks. She dodged the first orc that charged at her managing to kill it without much difficulty. She grimaced as she began to notice that some of the orcs wore thick steel armour.
"Can nothing be easy?" she groaned as one of the armored orcs took notice of her
It swung its ax at her, which she barely managed to avoid. As the orc came at her again, Rowan readied herself to dodge the blow, but just as it swung, a sword plunged through its chest.
Rowan Blinked at the dead orc at her feet for a moment before nodding her thanks to the elf behind the corpse, before continuing her way through the battle field.
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Elira gritted her teeth as she watched the stream of orcs stop. She groaned as she realized that she couldn't risk having her men fire into the field any longer or else she risked hitting her own people.
"Forgive me Rowan" she thought
Elira turned to face the archers . "Prepare to relocate!" she ordered
"My lady?" Haldir said giving her a questioning look
Elira shook her head "We can no longer do any good up here. We must relocate to a lower level so we can be able to hit specific targets on the battlefield" She said firmly
Haldir only smiled "A wise move my lady"
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Rowan had no idea how long she had been fighting for, but judging by the shadows she would guess it to have been a while now.
She begun to feel the wear of battle. She could feel cuts stinging all over her body as sweat and dirt rubbed into them every time she moved. Her tired body protesting with every movement.
She tensed as she felt something brush up against her back. Quickly she spun around ready to stab whatever it was. She stopped mid swing as she saw a familiar face staring back at her.
"Bofur?" she said looking at his dirt smudged face
"Lass!" he said happily, turning to stab at an orc "How are you?"
"Oh you know.." Rowan said as she dodged a blow parrying it with her sword "just dandy" she said stabbing the orc through the chest.
"Have you seen anyone else?" she asked as they pressed together back to back
"Aye." He grunted "Saw Gloin and Dori not too long ago"
"Thank goodness I...' she began, turning to look at him for a second. When she looked back she saw a sword swinging towards her. Unable to block it in time, she threw her self to the ground, rolling away from the orc. As she hoisted herself to her feet ,she looked around for Bofur, but the hatted dwarf had been swallowed up in the sea of people.
As she looked around, she saw an orc swinging a large scythe at a dark haired dwarf. She watched as the orc hit the dwarf in the arm, knocking him backwards. "Oye!" Rowan called to the Orc Swinging her sword as she ran at it. The orc dodged the blow easily, thrusting its scythe at her in return. she hissed as she felt the tip of the orcs blade graze her shoulder. The orc laughed as it approached her. Rowan heard a loud shout as the dark haired dwarf charged at the orc, the beads in his beard swinging wildly .The orc growled at the dwarf,turning away from Rowan to swing at him, the blade nearly grazing the dwarf's beard. Rowan took the opportunity while it was distracted to bring her sword down across the orcs back. It let out a howl of pain as it fell to the ground with a thump.
"Thanks lass" the dwarf said gruffly, nodding to her before charging into the throng.
She picked up her small shield from where it had slipped off her arm and plunged back into the battle.
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Elira loosed another arrow, watching as it hit its mark- dropping the orc where it stood.
Slowly she turned her attention from the battle as one of the elves came rushing towards her.
"My lady orcs are headed this way" He called pointing down below
Elira followed his gesture to where a small band of orcs were headed towards them.
"Front archers continue your shots. The rest of you prepare for battle" she said drawing her swords, breathing deeply
Haldir drew his sword as well "Stay behind me my lady" He said standing in front of her.
The orcs snarled as they charged at them, weapons drawn.
Elira stayed close to Hildar as he fought off the incoming orcs.
A flash of movement caught Eliras eye. Turning, she could see a few orcs approaching the front archers who were still firing into the valley.
Without a moments thought she rushed at them stabbing the closest orc. It let out a shriek as it fell, alerting the others to her presence. She was knocked back a bit as she blocked a blow from another orc,recovering as she kicked it in the chest, pushing it back.
"My lady behind you!" she heard Haldir call out
She spun around too late, watching wide eyed as the orc plunged its sword into her gasped for air as she fell to the ground, all the air seemingly gone from her lungs. Haldir called out as he rushed to her, killing the orc before pulling her away from the others .
"Lady Elira! Are you hurt?... please answer me" He said urgently as he propped her up.
Elira coughed violently as she waved a hand at him "Im fine,... just the wind knocked out of me. Mithril corset remember?" she wheezed
Haldir sighed "no wonder your friend seems to be so worried about you! you just go charging head first into danger"
Elira shrugged "I get it from Rowan"
around them the elves had finished dispatching the last of the orcs and were returning to their posts
"You are hurt" he noted nodding to the blood soaking her shirt sleeve
Elira lifted the fabric gently to reveal a short jagged cut along her arm
"Great" she said
"Sir Haldir, Lady Elira more orcs are coming this way." one of the elves called
Hildar helped her to her feet, tying a loose piece of cloth around her arm.
Elira turned to them "shoot as many as you can before they reach us. keep the same positions a before"
She picked up her swords preparing for another wave
Haldir sighed "please stay with me this time"
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Rowan was nearing the edge of the battlefield as Raven hill loomed overhead. As she approached she stopped. Up on the hill she could see Thorin, she gasped as she saw Azog lung at him, the two of them locked in battle.
As she watched, she caught sight of movement from the corner of her she spotted two large orcs headed toward the hill. Rowan gritted her teeth as she charged at them. One of the orcs took notice of her and grinned as it rushed to meet her. The orc was faster than most she had encountered, swinging wildly at her as she dodged. She fought back, swinging forward at its exposed chest. There was a loud clang as their blades met
Rowan could feel her arms giving way under the orcs strength as it pushed down on the blade harder, her tired body screaming in protest. Quickly she side stepped, charging as it stumbled to recover it's balance.
They came at eachother again and again, Rowan could feel her body wearing thin. She stumbled to the ground as she dodged another blow, her sword dropping from her hand as she fell. The orc loomed over her as she grasped for her sword, its dagger poised over her heart. Rowan gritted her teeth, mustering the last burst of strength she had, she kicked out at the orc -drawing her dagger as she did.
She gasped as she felt pain sear into her chest. She opened her eyes to see the orcs blade stuck in the far side of her chest . The orc recovered from the kick, angry that his strike had missed. Rowan yelled in pain as it reached over and pulled the blade from her side. It leaned close to her growling something to her in a language she did not understand. She smiled Through gritted teeth as she felt a satisfying squelch as her dagger embedded itself in the orcs chest. It howled in pain, rising up off of her for a moment. It was all she needed, scrambling to retrieve her sword, she plunged it into the orcs throat.
She sat panting for a moment, before pulling her sword from the orc, wiping it clean on her leg.
Her victory was short lived how ever as she looked around for the second orc. Her blood ran cold as she saw it, a large black bow in its hands, its eyes trained on where Thorin was fighting.
She quickly reached for her bow, pulling it from her back. She felt her heart sink as she looked at it- Her bow lay broken in half in her hands, snapped from her encounter with the first orc.
She cursed, throwing the broken bow aside , watching in panic as the orc nocked an arrow and drew back.
Her blood surged through her veins as she stumbled forward, racing up to the orc. She let out a yell as she leapt at the orc, startling it . She heard the bow twang and seconds later she collided with the orc, sending it and her toppling to the ground.
She stabbed at it blindly, her hands shaking with panic, only stopping when its movements ceased beneath her. She rolled off of the orc and onto the ground, laying on her back as she panted.
It was then that she saw the arrow- Its long dark shaft protruding from her stomach.
She winced as she sat up, cringing as she felt warm blood seeping through her shirt.
Rowan could feel herself beginning to slip out of consciousness, as the world began to swim around her.
"Safe... somewhere safe.." she muttered propping herself up on her sword. She half walked half crawled to a nearby alcove in the hill. She lay there, watching the blood soak her shirt, feeling the life draining from her. Tears began to streak down her blood and dirt caked cheeks
"I'm sorry Eli...I tried"
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A/N; Dun Dun Dunnnnnnnnn