_The Battle of Bywater_
Author: Banazir (or AfroKen, depending on where this is archived.)
Disclaimer: Yeah, I think it goes without saying these aren't my characters (well, maybe the ones that bite it are), and I'm certainly not profiting from this little waste of time. Honestly! ^_^
Summary: Blood and Hobbits
Rating: PG-13 for battle sequences.
Author's Note: This is obviously just the battle scene, as there's no explanation here whatsoever. I'm fairly lazy, really. I admit this vignette is rather dark, but it's decently close to canon. My only real reason for writing it was some attempt at catharsis, and to be honest, it's not that good. If you wish to file an injustice, please do via the proper channels.
"'Well, you have walked into a trap,' said Merry. 'Your fellows from Hobbiton did the same, and one is dead and the rest are prisoners. Lay down your weapons! Then go back twenty paces and sit down. Any who try to break out will be shot.'"
_Lord of the Rings_ The Return of the King: The Scouring of the Shire, by J.R.R. Tolkien
Meriadoc Brandybuck's bay pony restlessly pawed at the ground. A handful of enemies were kneeling before him, their arms being tied behind their backs by a half-dozen or so sturdy hobbits armed with axes. Dirty, hideous faces sneered up at him, and one spit on the ground muttering a curse Merry understood well enough. He calmly slid from his saddle to crouch in front of the offensive ruffian, who had taken to licking its lips lasciviously and showing off the steel caps over its scarce teeth. Merry stood and pulled out his sword. He walked around to examine the row of pathetic deserters from behind; the ruffian twisted and mockingly smacked its mouth. The tall hobbit shouted at his older cousin Reginard to tighten their restraints, pointing toward Cap-Tooth. The enemy snarled and suddenly broke its binds, rushing at Merry with a fierce momentum. The young hobbit's jaw set and he swung, slicing a clean wound into the ruffian's side. Grimy fingers wrapped themselves around his waist and Cap-Tooth attempted to solidly knock heads. Merry ducked and deftly wrestled free, he rolled his sword over in his hand, and swung a neat circle, severing the thug's hands at the wrists. There was a howl as Reginard finished the deed with an axe buried deep in its greasy scalp.
Merry spun around, horrified. Several of Sharkey's Men had surrounded their traitorous fellows and shot them through with black poisoned arrows, then turned their attention toward the hobbits guarding the waggon barrier that was preventing escape. Reginard shrieked as an arrow brushed passed his ear. "Run, Merry!"
The tall hobbit raised an obstinate eyebrow but realised he was outnumbered. He dashed towards the East to meet Pippin on the hill. Meriadoc weaved across the field, avoiding dark arrows that buried themselves into the ground at his feet. One hand loosened the smooth white horn attached to his belt, and he raised it to his lips.
Peregrin Took swiftly scurried toward Merry with several dozen hobbit archers following closely behind. Pip grunted and pointed toward the Men clumsily climbing the waggons. He brought his sword around his head as Merry reached the troops. The archers aimed and had seven of the enemy down before Merry got his call out.
Pip squinted toward Woody End, where two hobbits lay broken and unmoving. He shook his head. "So much for avoiding the bloodshed of hobbits, Merry." Around them the archers darted toward the ruffian bowmen who were attempting to escape toward the west.
Merry tipped his head and squeezed Pippin's shoulder. "Come on, Pip!" He pointed to Samwise Gamgee and Frodo Baggins who were back-to-back, and had seemingly resorted to hand-to-hand with the Men. "We have work to do!" He nearly slipped down the blood soaked field, and Pippin followed suit.
On their way to help their cousin and friend, young Oloc Boffin tugged Merry's pant leg, causing the hobbit to whirl around. An enemy bowman was taking aim at the weakened hobbit. The Boffin lad was doubled over and his head was bleeding profusely, but he had the presence of mind to hold up his hatchet. Merry snatched it from his outstretched hand and tossed it forcibly overhand toward the enemy archer. It hit the thug unexpectedly in the throat. The wound erupted in a red fluid explosion, and the enemy collapsed backwards. Its arrows scattered innocuously around it. Meriadoc kneeled by Oloc, who rolled onto his back and nodded wearily. His body fell limp, and the head wound stopped flowing blood. Merry solemnly closed the lad's eyes with the side of his hand, and jumped up suddenly to face a ruffian who was crawling on the ground, wounded. The brave Brandybuck ruthlessly put it out of its misery with swipe of his sword.
Pippin screamed as Frodo was forced unto the ground from a well-thrown punch to his wounded shoulder. Samwise had jumped upon the thug's back and attempted to garrote the Man with a waggon chain, though he had given up and snapped its neck with a pair of surprisingly strong hands. The thug choked wide-mouthed and tumbled over forwards. Sam hopped off and wound the chain around his arm.
"Well, I can see you don't need my help!" Pip held his arm out to Frodo. The older hobbit took it and stood up.
Frodo dusted himself off, and suddenly froze. "I wouldn't be quite so sure about that!" He pointed urgently to a half dozen Men charging in their direction.
Sam picked up the fallen foe's bow and loaded it. He took up a wide legged stance in front of Frodo and let several shots off. He mortally wounded two of the thugs before Pip charged out. The energetic ginger hobbit held his sword up high and shouted an assortment of words that made Frodo wince.
"What does he think he's doin', sir?" Sam brought the bow over his head to rest on his shoulder.
"Trying to be a hero, Sam. Let's go help Jolly! He and Bacco look to have a bit more than they can handle." Frodo shook his head and took Sam by the arm. They raced over toward Jolly Cotton and Bacco Brownlock, who were being chased by three thugs.
"Here you are, Bacco!" Samwise tossed the portly hobbit the ruffian's bow and quiver. Bacco dropped the iron pot he was using for self-defense, and set an arrow into the bow.
Jolly brought his sickle around, and held it over his left shoulder. He shot an uncertain look toward Frodo. "What're you waitin' for? Draw!"
Sam kicked the ground impatiently, glaring at the approaching thugs. He tilted his chin up. "There's only three o' the dirty thieves. We can take them, Jolly." Frodo wrapped his fingers around Sam's arm and Sting appeared in the gardener's thick hand. The younger hobbit nodded and dropped the chains at Frodo's feet. "If it comes to it, I hope you use those." Frodo frowned at the pile of rusted links.
Bacco tipped the bow up and shot one of the Men non-fatally. The second shot passed it by, and stuck fast in the earth. Bacco hesitated, watching the enemy laugh and snap the shaft off of the arrow stuck deep inside its shoulder. The quiver held a mere two arrows left. Kissing the point of one of them, he tossed his head and tipped the bow toward the sky for his next shot.
Sam sprung at a ruffian who wore a black iron collar around its neck. The thug swung its arm at Sam's head, and cuffed the hobbit on the ear. The sturdy hobbit veered and avoided the next blow. He plunged Sting into the enemy's waist. Sam turned around still holding on the sword's hilt. He forced his arms up and ripped the foe's belly open with one awful slice. Samwise bent over and his weapon hit the ground before him. He snatched it up and whirled around to face the ruffian, who had fallen on its knees and was slowly wavering. Sam held Sting a finger's length away from the enemy's throat. The foe smirked at the hobbit, and lifted its arm up. It pushed the sword down by the blade with a bare hand. The young hobbit nodded and stepped back, tucking Sting into his belt. "You're right. This one's for the Party Tree, you filthy pest!" Bag End's former gardener rushed the ruffian and one powerful fuzzy foot met the ruffian's temple, toppling it over. Samwise spun sideways and met the ground with momentum enough to knock the wind from his lungs.
The arrow-wounded foe rushed toward Frodo, and forced him to the ground. The slim hobbit struggled, and brought his knee up into the thug's slimy groin. He felt a fetid humid exhale on this face, and the foe pressed its forearm into his neck. Frodo wriggled and stretched his arm out toward the chain. The ruffian took to shaking him violently in an attempt to bash his head on the ground. Abruptly the shaking halted, and the foe's breath rattled in its chest. Its weight fell on Frodo, threatening to suffocate him.
Bacco rolled the thug over, freeing Frodo from the pressure. He smiled and held his last arrow up, but Bacco never got the opportunity to use it. The last foe silently crept up behind him, and rapidly twisted his neck. Frodo closed his eyes as he heard the telltale pop. Bacco dropped solidly to the ground beside him.
"Frodo!" Sam scrambled to his feet, but Jolly was faster at the scene. He swung the thrash, tearing flesh from the enemy's thigh.
"Git away from 'im!" Jolly twirled the sickle around once more, forcing the thug away from the supine hobbit. Sam picked the bow back up, and loaded Bacco's last arrow. The arrow pierced through the ruffian's good leg and the thug wobbled upon unsteady feet. It snarled and cursed at Samwise, spitting in his direction. Jolly scuttled behind the foe, and bought the sickle down in a terrible arc.
The young gardener's large brown eyes widened as the foe's oily countenance landed with a dull thud. He ran over to Frodo, who was coughing but holding a hand up in reassurance. A relieved smile spread across Sam's face and he blew a curl off his forehead. Jolly slapped his back and pointed toward several more ruffians trying to escape the hobbits' attempt at a blockade. The enemies were endeavoring to rip apart the waggons with their large hands. Sam emitted a low rumble from the back of his throat and the three hobbits sprinted after the thugs.
Continued in Part II…