Somewhere I can Belong

Chapter 17

A ghost of a chance

Disclaimer, well here we are again and the story is winding down, look forward to revelations about the past of my favorite reclusive druid and the conclusion of the siege of the city. At most this little tale has at most three to four chapters left in it. After this story wraps up I'll be leaving this little corner of the world to do a little story in the Forgotten Realms called "From Coymr to Waterdeep and a bunch of Broken Harps". It's an idea that has been bouncing back and forth in my head for a while and it deals with my current favorite D&D class, the Scout. Well even though I own nothing related to D & D I hope that you enjoy this latest installment, now on with the story crafting.

Smoke from countless fires rose above the ruin that was the city Aarons Mill, its once proud wall had been ripped apart by divine wrath, and all manner of orcs and goblins were erupting from tunnels throughout the city. That was not the worst of it. Even though orcs and their allies were being struck down left and right by the beleaguered defenders, they would rise up again embracing unlife to fight again. This was not the first siege that city had endured but far to many began to believe it would be the last. Many choose not to die easily, and keep fighting no matter how grim the outlook was. They were the ones that kept a small ember of hope flaming this dark day.

She fought with every last ounce of her very being at her latest foe, so great was her wrath that when her blow struck the orcs metal collar it bulged inward the full with of the sword snapping vertebrae like a twig. She said no words of her thanks of her god, rather the paladin stood above her fallen foe and drove her greatsword through the orc again and again till its body was broken apart by its knees, wrists, elbows, and severed its head. "Try rising now you foul mistake of creation." Crystal had learned the lesson of not dismantling her kills earlier that night!"

Crystal had very nearly fallen to her knees after the last kill, but had driven her sword into the ground at the last moment to steady herself. Crystal stared at her handiwork and was disgusted and what she had done, the alleyway had become a charnel house of her own making, and she was truly disgusted with what she had done. "By Herionious this must be what Avernus is like." So lost in her exhaustion Crystal did not see one of her first kills, what had once been a gnoll, but now all that was left was a torso with one arm barely attached by broken sinew. Somehow it sensed the paladin and reached out with a rusty dirk to hamstring her. The blade was about to strike when the undead beast swelled to twice its size and then burst apart as though it was an exploding balloon..

"You missed one oh fearless leader." Gamgee muttered as he finished moving his elven hands in an intricate pattern.

"Well I was just leaving him for you Gamgee." She replied matter of factly, her eyes were nearly dead with exhaustion, and the ever present laughter was long gone.

Cocking his head and pointing at the remnants of the gnoll, "How did you know I was back here."

"Gamgee, " Crystal began, "Only two things breath louder than you do, and I don't see any giants or dragons around here."

"I do not breath loudly, why I am as silent as the wind."

"Didn't you ever wonder why we never let you go in first when we were trying to sneak around somewhere."

Realization struck the stunned wizard like a dwarven hammer, "Am I really that loud? I don't think that I'm that loud?"

"Gamgee, Quinn would change into a bear to sleep when you were in your trance."

"Oh I always thought it was because he was cold."

"We were in the tropics!" Crystal exclaimed waving her hands in the air.

"Well he could have been. Humans are strange, I'll never understand them."

"To my dying day I will never understand elves." Both elves turned to face the new arrival, one with drawn steel and the other with the first of a string of arcane words, only to cease in midaction as they recognized the monk, and the bloodstained mountain of muscle that she was carrying tossed over her shoulder as though he was no more that a sack of flour. "Now if either of you two are done prancing down memory lane I need help with this hulking brute that I've been carrying for the last two blocks before I just break him into smaller pieces to carry. The duo of quarreling elves ceased their argument as they rushed to the aid of their friends.

When Crystal first grasped the limp arm of her barbarian friend and saw the layers of blood and gore that covered him as though it were a second skin, she feared the worse. For a heart wrenching moment she feared him lost, then his massive chest lurched and in a raspy voice of an old man she heard, "Are we there yet, I'm hungry."

Instantly rage replaced loss as Crystal began to shake the head of the barbarian quite forcefully, "You over muscled ignorant savage, I thought you were dead, and all you were was hungry!" Her tirade was cut silenced by a swift backhand from Janet.

"That ignorant savage just spent the past hour tearing apart more orcs then all the glasses of ale that I have ever drunk, and I drink a lot." The calm emotionless face of the monk was gone replaced instead by a cold grimace.

Gamgee was not used to playing the peacemaker, but he was willing to learn quickly… even though he was more knowledgeable about how to blow things ups rather then preventing explosions. Jumping between the two Gamgee began, "Ladies please, lets not do the orcs job for them, help me get Brangar's jaw open, I have something that should help him." Crystal immediately forced her chain covered thumb into Brangar's oversized mouth and pried his jaw open.

"Now be careful Crystal, this potion, " Gamgee seemed at a loss for words, "Does not have the most pleasant of tastes."

"What will he bite my thumb off?"

"That is a distinct possibility."

"Just hurry up and pour the blasted thing down his throat and I'll worry about my thumb1"

"Fine, fine, just trying to be helpful." Gamgee only began to uncork the small sized potion when he was directly next to the hulking barbarian but even that brief exposure had suddenly caused everyone to be overcome with a fit of near gagging as the aroma began to drift through the air. The effect on Brangar was different to say the least. Lurching forward he let out a gut-curling scream and began to spasm back and forth before collapsing back to the ground. Then slowly one eyelid opened and then the other and ever so slowly he began o pull himself back up and began to yawn, "What a good nap I had, is there anything more to kill?"

"Don't worry my oversized friend I am sure that we will find trouble short enough friend, we always do."

"Oh good Gamgee I would hate to have gotten up for nothing."

"I hate to interrupt your little patting on the back session boys." The monk began as she arose from her meditative stance and wiped a particular large piece of orc brain off her bracers, " It looks like trouble has found us." Several buildings away a large pack of axe waving gnolls was yapping wildly in their undecipherable tongues, and soon hoarse cries in orcish were answering, and each of the four knew that there would be to many for them to handle. For all their petty bickering, for all their differences both real and imagined they were bound to one another by their friendship and one by one they gave voice to that belief.

Gamgee, with his spells nearly exhausted reached out his hand between the four of them and began, "I must say my dear friends, I can think of no one else I would rather have at my side at the end with then each of you."

Soon Crystal followed with her own chain mail gloved hand gently grasping Gamgee's, "I know that us meeting was not by chance, and I am glad for every moment we had." She paused for a moment then continued, "The good, the bad, and everything in between."

Next came Janet's bracer adorned arm and with an odd mix of childishness and solemness in her voice she added "I know that we are bound together and that in the next life we will all meet again."

Finally came Brangar's oversized maw of a hand, and with tears in his eyes he roared out, "You are my brother and sisters by blood and by deed. We all shall dine at the hall of my ancestors at the table of my god this night. Never would I allow anything to keep us apart, not in this world or in the next."

Their moment of serenity was lost as the charging gnolls began to close distance, and then scattered as many of them were trampled or thrown aside by the wild mad thrashing charge of a warhorse that none of them had seen in the past days. There was a sickening crunch as the last of surviving gnoll had its head shattered like a rotten pumpkin as Prancer's hooves descended upon those that had wanted to harm its friend, and with the threat now gone the warhorse gently trotted over to its paladin.

Crystal at first thought it was some kind of hallucination brought on by exhaustion, but this was Prancer, this was her warhorse and somehow it had found its way to her and Crystal could not be happier. Gamgee was the first to see it, there was a glint in her eye and soon she began to speak, "We're not going to die here, we still have fiends to slay and a friend to find. Lets no waste anymore time." That said Crystal pulled herself on top of the saddle, "We push through whatever rabble that is between us and anyone still fighting."

"Well who am I to argue with someone who works for a god." That said Gamgee cracked a smile and drew an immaculately crafted longsword, it seemed to be more of a work of art then a tool of killing.

Seeing Gamgee holding an actual weapon in his arms was enough to break the serenity of the moment as a dumbfounded expression came over her, "Gamgee do you even know how to use that?"

"Crystal I am an Elf, it is in our blood to be able to successfully wield a longsword even without years of training."

"I'll take that as a no."

"I did take the weapons training class at the academy, I can handle myself." Suddenly Gamgee felt a tremendous smash on his back that was wither a catapult or one of Brangar's 'playful' slaps on the back.

"Just remember little brother, the pointy end goes in."

"Of course I know that you over-muscled buffoon, now just give an orc and I will prove it to you. For the record I am over 50 years older then you. If anything you are my little brother"

"Elf tiny, and Gamgee brother. You are my little brother." The barbarian added with another tremendous smash to Gamgee's shoulder of such force that the blade nearly flew out of his grasp, and left him gasping for breath.

Seeing her friends condition Crystal could not help but smile. "Well Gamgee looks like you are about to get your wish." She raised her blade to point a group of orcs that were racing down the street towards them. "If you hurry Gamgee, I'll save some of them for you. " That said the warhorse reared up on its hind legs and Crystal yelled out, "Hi-ho Prancer and away."

"Does she have to do that every time she goes charging off into battle. " Soon Gamgee's thoughts were drowned out by his other companion's war cries, holding his blade aloft he yelled out his own and charged into the fray. Soon the first orc was upon and Gamgee was desperately blocking vicious blow after blow from an orc garbed in furs and wielding a double-headed axe.

The orc was using more power then finesse as it tried to chop of Gamgee's head as though it were a tree. They blows were rapid and attacking both sides as Gamgee had to grasp his longsword with both hands to keep it from flying out if his hand, but even then he could feel the blows vibrating through both arms. If Gamgee's blade had been forged by anyone other than Elven smiths, it would have shattered from the sheer force of the blows. Finally though Gamgee found an opening and made a desperate slash aiming to behead his races ancient enemy, but his strike resulted in only a shallow cut across the orcs cheek.

The blow had little effect on the orc as it screamed out, "Cut me with your puny blade little elf, Grumush will raise me up again to strike you down."

A rage like nothing Gamgee had ever felt built up inside of him and howling like Brangar Gamgee threw himself in a desperate lunge with his entire weight behind the blow. The orc was still laughing as the blade plunged through his hides and out his back, still the orc continued to laugh with three inches of elven steel sticking out of his back. Gamgee could only watch in horror as the orc raised its axe above its head for a massive downward chop, but then the rage that had till moments ago filled the orcs eyes faded away.

The axe fell from his hands landing somewhere behind his back, and the orc sank to its knees with a look of absolute shock on its face and a last forced utterance of, "Grumush?" The orc fell backwards dead sliding off Gamgee's sword with a sickening slurping sound. Not content to believe that the orc was dead, he readied his blade for another strike but waited as he felt something happening, something was happening with the weave, what it was he did not know. All he knew was that something important was happening, and staring at the still dead orc Gamgee had a pretty good idea. "They're not coming back, they're just regular orcs now. They die like regular orcs." Vaguely aware of what was going on around him Gamgee faintly heard the howling chorus of wolves.

With a roar Gamgee charged back into the fray slicing and stabbing at every orc he could reach. Soon the elf was letting out wild cries for every orc he slew, until the group of orcs was slain all about him. The sudden feeling of an arm on his shoulder caused him to twirl ready to stab…till he found himself staring right at Brangar's blood covered face.

"Don't worry little brother." Brangar began with a tooth filled grin as he pointed to smoke shrouded street, "There's more."

Leagues to the west of Aarons Mill a ceremony was reaching its zenith, the drow priestess had spent hours crafting an elaborate summoning taking place, a circle had been carved into the earth and at the center of it was a battered battle standard of a land far to the north. Ever so slowly a female drow immaculately dressed in gold and silken robes approached the standard. Her voice strained as it began to cast a spell in the language of her employers and not that of her native tongue. She felt the forces of the region changing and with a little grace from the spider queen she knew she could take credit for what was happening. She quickened her pace as the howls of wolves grew in number and volume.

Ruehinda threw back her and cried out to the heavens, "I call forth the slave soldiers of Aran to fulfill their oaths, I call you to this place to serve the blood of your captives or to have your descendents slaughtered to the youngest babe. For a moment nothing happened, but then a tremendous explosion of light blossomed outward form the standard. The priestess stifled a curse as the light scoured her eyes, " I call upon you to fulfill your oaths or those you love will suffer torment greater than any you can imagine. She grasped the standard with both hands and raised it above her head and continued her screams, " Come forth oh legion of Aran and serve your master now, or know that the last remnants of your people will be so destroyed that their souls will never know peace!"

The air around them wavered for a moments as though a haze was forming, they first appeared almost as though they were a mist, but slowly they began to become more defined. In contrast to the summoning blast of light the summoned force appeared as men but as wretched things of shadow and mist, Ruehinda felt the energy wash over her and instantly knew from where those who answered her call came from…the astral plane itself. She stared as their ever-morphing forms became more defined to show beasts with two heads and 4 legs withering in agony.

How in Loth's name was she to use these misshapen beasts. She had been promised soldiers that would match the best of the Underdark, not these wretched beasts. Ruehinda involuntary stepped back and clutched the standard to her chest, it might be the only thing that could control those that had answered her call.

Before the drow's frenzied eyes the shapes began to change from those of misshapen beasts to resemble humans mounted on cavalry. She stared dumbfounded at the number of forces that were now hers to command, here was a force that was the size of any of the matriarchs of her city could command….but they were not drow and as such they were meant only to die for her ambition

The newly formed army cast their gaze upon the ring of soldiers encircling the standard holder, each soldier thought to themselves the same thought. Are those my children grown to age, are they my grandchildren, or does the line of my descendents even continue in this world.

From the slowly organizing mass of men and horses one emerged to approach the rune encircled hill. As he walked past the other soldiers they would bow, or clash their weapons against their chests. It was easy to see that this was the commander of the captive legion. He was encased in a shimmering coat of scales that could only have been made of mithril, with a blood red scarlet cloak trailing behind him. He walked towards the ring but upon reaching it, the runes flared an eerie light and the commander was sent flying through the air to collide into the earth a dozen feet away.

Seeing the effect of the circle and knowing that she was secure from any retaliation she howled out her orders. "You are to subdue all forces besieging the city below and bring for the heir of the House of Aran out from it and to me."

The commander rose from the ground and politely bowed and replied, "I hear and I obey." He swiftly turned and marched back down to the now organized contingents of cavalry, where another soldier raced to meet him. This one was not encased in thick armor but instead was garbed in leather armor that gave a minimum of protection but a maximum of mobility, and was garbed in an emerald cloak.

"Well, Commander what does that underground dwelling spider loving witch want us to do?"

"Drop the rank Errol, you're just lucky I didn't make you go up there and play commander this time." He replied with a harsh tone.

"If you remember correctly Flynn, I got thrown through the air the lat time, and in cas e you haven't noticed I don't wear as much iron around my head as you do." He replied jovially.

"For the last time, its mithril, not iron."

"Mithril, iron, as long as it slows you down it is the same thing."

"Oh for crying out loud brother do we have to do this every time we are getting ready to deploy."

Looking amongst his scarlet-cloaked troopers his eyes locked with one in particular who was fumbling with a crystal globe and began nodding. "Well not as long as usual since it seems our jailers are getting careless."

"I am outraged dear brother, that they do not have a large hostile heavily armed and armored force not under constant scrying like they used too. I mean what is to stop us from taking the heir and forcing him to release us from our bonds and then riding a bloody swarth of justice through the thrice cursed lands of Aran."

"Well don't be to outraged and get careless brother, I want you to take your riders round the southern side of the city and draw their attention while my group rides straight through them."

"Consider it done brother." As he turned to leave, he stopped for a moment and turned to face his brother again, "Its been a longtime coming hasn't it."

"Freedom always is."

"Well you better ride fast in hopes of finding some arcs that my arrows haven't killed"

Flynn suddenly said with drop dead seriousness, "Captain, I don't want a repeat of what happened at Hilden's Ford."

"Commander for all we know that could have been centuries ago, and it was an accident."

"Accident I may be, but my backside hurts everyday, and twice as much as when its cold."

"If I was aiming for you I would have made sure to go through your backside and pin you to your saddle and not just glance off of it."

"It didn't glance off it went in went in three inches."

"I don't know why you make so much trouble from such a small flesh wound. I'll try to work on my aim dear brother but you know with all that armor you make such a big target." And before his brother could make a reply Errol had already vanished into the midst of the assembled mass.

Flynn began to chuckle, "He always gets the last word. Gods you haven't heard any of my prayers in all the years we have been away, but I beg of you to bring us through this battle." His short prayer ended he rejoined his men as they rode out to what they all hoped would be the end of their servitude.

Whew, another chapter done an things are all winding down. I apologize for the lengthy wait between chapters. My life as always has been insane. Well the others chapters are in the making and hopefully will be done with in just a few short weeks. Until then, enjoy the story and please review, pretty please.