Chapter 14 War Parties


Sam awoke to find that his only company was the aged dwarf Grydore and Othmiel. The later had sunken into a deep revere, however Grydore was more accommodating.

"That was a fine speech you gave last night, Master Hobbit," Grydore acknowledged gruffly. "We are going into the mine with you. The others are trying to find weapons."

"Appen I don't feel brave this morning," Sam admitted sombrely. "Appen I don't want to go in any more."

"Hah!" Grydore snorted in derision. "Well we are following you."

Thirty minutes later eight dwarves, Sam and the two elves braved the portal to the mine. The remainder of the dwarves tasked with blocking and guarding the entrance.

The party had made barely covered twenty yards in the tunnel before they began to feel watched. Dwarf and Elf alike gripping their weapons, ill at ease as the first white statue appeared. "Dorric!" an anguished cry went up. "He was in shaft 3 when I saw him last!"

In the light of their torches the statue looked more than stone to Sam. Not that Malindron would allow them to loiter to investigate, pushing them onwards. A short distance further they were faced by a small gaggle of a half score statues that all but blocked their passage, forcing them to slide carefully between their ranks.

Sam passed through with no difficulty, and he turned to wait for the others to join him. Two of the dwarves also passed safely. Malindron who had been next in the line reached the last statue when it moved. Swinging an all too real axe it sent a swinging but clumsy blow towards the elf.

Behind them, the remaining statues also sent blows raining towards whoever was unfortunate enough to be passing them.

Seeing the elf fall, Sam dived forward with a cry of alarm, wielding his own torch like a club. He ducked under another swinging blow that was aimed at him, grabbed the elf by his collar and pulled hard.

The two dwarves that had been with him, a little slower to gain their wits, charged forward with a scream. The axe of the first parried a blow, the second struck the statue across the back. There was no scream, but the stone creature shattered under the blow.

Nor was their time to celebrate, a second statue, obviously unhappy with the blow it had struck on its target, brought its hammer down a second time on its foe. The dwarf screamed, briefly and the statue turned its attention to the two dwarves and hobbit. It's hammer caught Sam a glancing blow, sending him sprawling over Malindron. Winded and in pain, he struggled back to his feet and pulled hard again. Finally wrenching the fallen Elf away to comparative safety.

Only then did he look back on the battle. The statues movements were slow and clumsy, but the short battles had been costly. Apart from Malindron, three dwarves had been struck down. Two others were groaning in pain.

He turned his attention back to Malindron, the back of his jacket was wet with blood where the axe had sliced through the fine clothing and into his chest. A dull groan of pain showed that the Elf was alive. Sam guessed that the Elfs quick reactions had saved him from being split in two, but it was still a serious wound.

"My lady Othmiel! Malindron has been struck down!" Sam called desperately, not knowing what to do for the stricken Elf.

The reply came from Grydore. "She was also felled, Master Hobbit. She was found under Kalin and Mintor."

Sam's mind leapt at the worst possible scenario of the news. "Slain?" He quavered.

"Perhaps not," Grydore assured him gruffly. "We cannot stay here, yet we need to treat those that are injured."

"The entrance will be blocked by now," he added reflectively. "There are store rooms on the upper levels. We can defend them."

Without further word, Grydore hoisted Malindron onto his shoulder and set off at a quick shuffle. The remainder of the dwarves did likewise, leaving Sam to follow in their wake.