CHAPTER 10

The commotion in the streets was what first grabbed their attention as they stepped back in the city of Dale. Since the great battle, which had left the place miserable, broken and destroyed, it had, like a phoenix, slowly risen again from its ashes. Literally, when one considers how it had been burned down after the dragon's attack.

Houses were rebuilt, streets were fixed, squares were decorated and adorned, the outer wall reinforced for protection…all this was done with a steady pace among the everyday tranquillity that reigned in the place. Star had been there for only a few days now but she had already grown used to the serenity in the eyes of the happy people surrounding her at all times and making her feel welcome in their homes as if she had been living there all her life.

This was in stark contrast to the look of fear and panic which she immediately perceived in the faces of some of the people running in the direction of the huge main square.

The three elves started running as well, eager to find out what was going on, when Star heard the familiar voice of Arahad shouting to draw her attention. She immediately made her way towards him, with Legolas and Tauriel following closely at her heels.

"What's going on?" said Legolas as soon as they were close enough. But Arahad didn't answer him. Instead, his complete and undivided attention was aimed at Star. "Where were you?" he demanded brusquely. "We were worried something might have happened to you."

Although it lasted for just a flicker of a second, Star noticed the steely glare he gave her and she was taken aback by it. What is going on? Why is he treating her like a child?

"I needed to speak to Prince Legolas. I am sorry for your concern but you are aware that I am able to take care of myself, aren't you?" Her tone was soft. She replied rather calmly, in a way which one might consider sweet at first, yet Arahad did not mistake the tone of underlying irritation which risked to transform into anger should he decide to persist on the subject.

It was because of this that Arahad's attention was reverted to Legolas once again and the question he had asked before. The tone in his voice reflected his anxiety. "It seems that a small village of fishermen down in the South has been attacked by a considerable number of orcs. Many were killed for the villagers were taken by surprise late last night. Only a few managed to escape on horseback and came to seek refuge here. They are now being taken care of by the healers in the Town Hall. Bard and the others are with them, trying to get as much information as they possibly can."

This news took them by surprise, like a clap of thunder on a bright, sunny day. They knew that small groups of orcs were still wandering here and there, mostly to be found in the south. Not only, but there were other dark creatures such as wargs near the borders of the grey mountains and giant spiders in the southern areas of Mirkwood Forest which they were trying to eradicate. Yet this was the first time after the great battle whence they heard that a group of orcs attacked a village of men. (It was, in fact, rather unusual considering the danger this move put them in.)

"Lead the way," came Legolas' response as his clear blue eyes clouded reflecting his inner emotions. The four of them made their way towards the Town Hall as swiftly as they could, hindered at times by the crowds of people who were also making their way there, trying to find out what was going to happen.

They finally managed to reach the doors of the building which were guarded by a couple of soldiers, who immediately made way for them as soon as they saw them approaching. Arahad led the way from the first small room to another set of doors that led to the hall itself, much larger and built to accommodate the majority of the townspeople in case of discussions or whenever any important decision needed to be taken.

As soon as they stepped inside the four of them came across Hamar who promptly took them over to where Bard was amid a group of men from Dale. Star's eyes wandered over to the left of the hall where another group, of about seven grownups and three children were huddled together. Although the healers were with them, it was evident that none of them was physically wounded, yet the weeping of the two women, the glazed, sorrowful and fear-stricken look in the eyes of the men and the cries of the children shouting for their parents, was heart wrenching.

Star felt an anger rising inside her, a thirst for revenge which could only be quenched when she sees the heads severed from the bodies of the beasts that had committed this atrocity. One by fiendish one!

Turning back her attention to the others, she listened in to the conversation going on. One of the villagers was standing among them and he had just finished explaining where their village was located down along the Running River. Bard addressed him as Einar.

"We were taken completely by surprise," he whispered, probably still not believing what had occurred in the last few hours. "It is such a peaceful village! We've been living there for years now…in harmony…never thought this could happen to us," he was saying, almost to himself, with an unfocused look in his eyes.

"Courage friend," said Bard kindly, putting a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Why don't you sit down and tell us everything that happened? Only then can we organise ourselves and help you."

A seat was brought up upon which the exhausted man sat down gratefully, eyes shining with tears barely kept back. "It all happened last night," he continued, "we had just come back from a fishing trip. Most of the men were busy unloading the baskets of fish from the boats, the women were still in the huts and around the village along with the children…they were playing…" Once again his voice trailed off, lost in his own thoughts.

"Where were you?" urged Arahad, trying to put him back on track.

"I…I wasn't with them. Ceorl and I had gone to one of the huts to replace some fishing nets that had been torn." He stopped to point at one of the men who was standing with the group near the healers. "It all happened so suddenly! We were inside the hut when we heard the screams…" his voice dropped almost to a whisper once more as he recalled the horrific scenes still fresh in his mind, "men, women and children were running around trying to get out of the way of those horrible beasts and their deadly weapons…"

It was then that the tears started flowing freely down his cheeks. Brenda, one of the healers, put her arms around his shuddering body, trying to provide some sort of comfort.

"My wife and daughter…" he continued, "I saw them running with a group up the hill towards an old stone building which we use to store our crops in the winter. Its walls are thick and the doors are heavy, not easily breached…"

"Are you saying that they might still be alive?!" exclaimed Bard.

"I don't know," the poor man was grief stricken, "at that point we saw a number of orcs heading directly at us, the ones that are here now. I helped them get on the horses and we rode away as fast as we could."

The man sat in stunned silence, haunted by the horrible images going on in his mind. But Arahad urged him on, relentlessly, "How many orcs were there? Can you give us an idea?" For he knew that they were quickly running out of time with every passing minute.

"Around fifty maybe, but I'm not sure. It was complete chaos. I am sorry…" and with those words he buried his head in his hands, isolating himself in his misery.

"We need to get there as fast as we can!" All eyes turned towards Star as soon as the words left her mouth. Legolas especially was eyeing her curiously. "There might still be some people who are waiting for us to rescue them…not to mention the rest of the filth that needs to be wiped out!"

Arahad knew that she was talking out of pure compassion due to what she had been through. She couldn't bear the thought of knowing about those trapped people waiting for them to come to their aid. Her eyes were blazing with anger as she said these words and Arahad could sense that even the others were under the spell of her voice. As for himself, one more word and he would follow her to the gates of Dol Guldur blindfolded. It was Bard who tried to rationalise things as much as possible.

"We must gather the men as quickly as we can. This is no small pack of orcs I'm afraid. We will leave just enough men to guard the city in case the need arises. The rest are to meet in the square in half an hour."

Legolas, who had been listening attentively to what was going on, looked at Tauriel, who nodded back in accordance. "We are coming with you," he stated, "I believe you might need all the help you can get!"

Bard expressed his gratitude as they all hurried out of the hall to get ready.

Gandalf ran back to Dale as fast as his legs could carry him. (The dwarves had actually offered a goat for him to ride, an offer which he politely declined considering he never got the hang of riding one of those beasts!)

He could barely contain his excitement at the news that he had just learnt from Dain and Balin. The pieces of the puzzle scattered in his mind were falling neatly into place just as he had been predicting. It was incredible! He still could not believe it! Safely asleep all these years in the most perilous of places!

"My Goodness!" he whispered to himself whilst shaking his head incredulously. He had heard that she possessed great powers, not as strong as those of the Lady Galadriel, yet still impressive in their own right. And this was definitely some amazing proof of what she was able to do. Unluckily she had also lost her memory yet Gandalf was very much convinced that it was only temporary, still too soon after she has woken up from the deep sleep, with nothing around her to help her recall her life long ago. But that was about to change. Yes! The wizard smiled to himself as he pictured their faces as soon as he would tell them what he had discovered.

He was panting furiously and alarmingly out of breath as he crossed over the bridge that led to the city of Dale. Heading straight towards Bard's house, he knocked on the door and impatiently waited for someone to open it. Seconds felt like hours as a sense of foreboding crept inside him slowly, dampening his fire of elation until it was just a flicker. Where have they all gone to? He wondered.

"They're in the Town Hall." Gandalf turned round to face a young boy, about ten years of age, pointing in the direction of the square. He recognised him as one of Tilda's friends.

"All of them?" questioned the wizard, already making his way there. Something must have happened in his absence which was going to thwart his plans once again. This was confirmed as soon as he saw the crowd of people still filling the space in the square, all talking excitedly to one another wearing worried looks on their faces.

Bain was talking to his sister Sigrid on the steps of the Town Hall. "Bain, where's your father? I need to speak to him…and to the elves…and to Arahad…well, to all of them! Speak son, where is he?"

"They're gone! They have left about half an hour ago!" was Bain's prompt reply.

Gandalf could not believe his ears as he sensed all his feelings of elation slowly go down the gutter. "Gone?! Where? Why?"

At this point Bain tried to fill in Gandalf with the events that had occurred in his absence, making the wizard more frustrated and irritable than ever. He then went quickly inside to question the villagers further and thus gather as much information as he possibly could.

As soon as he came out he went over to Bain once again. "Boy, I need you to lead me to where my horse is being kept!"

"Are you going after them Master Gandalf?"

"No. I am heading back to Mirkwood to speak to the Elvenking. I have to talk to him about some personal and urgent matters at hand. I also find this orc business as clear as mud. I only hope that it won't be too late!"