[Child of the 7th Age]

As the clash of blades descended on the camp, the bandits struggled to their feet and hurriedly snatched up swords and daggers, scurrying to throw on boots and rub sleep from their eyes. The two youngest thieves were the first to free themselves from their bedrolls and yank on their clothes.

Boy stared back at Johnny, with terror set deep in the pools of his eyes. The young lad seem petrified with fear as he surveyed the frightening scene that was going on around him. A band of six swiftly neared the perimeter of camp. The riders showed no sign of halting, but thundered forward till they reached the middle of the compound where the embers of the campfire still glowed orange and grey. The horsemen circled the fire pit, then stopped to draw out bows and launch a volley of arrows outward in all directions. Awakening bandits cursed and howled as missiles rained down upon their heads, making it difficult for them to see or regroup their forces on the edge of camp.

Still another band of seven Dwarves and Men sprinted in on foot from the base of the hill where the tunnels from the old mine spilled over onto a stretch of brush. Their mingled cries of "Dain" and "Elendil" resounded in the ears of the ruffians who were grabbing onto weapons and trying to fight back.

For once in his life, Johnny did the right thing. He grabbed Boy by the arm, slapped his face as hard as he could, and screamed into his ear, "Kid! Get out of here. Go hide somewhere."

Then he shoved Boy forward towards the west side of camp, the one place where fighting had not yet broken out. The lad stood still for a minute gathering his wits, then turned and fled westward. Within a few paces of camp, he found a low hanging willow whose long branches drooped down, almost touching the ground. Hurtling himself onto the lower limbs, Boy climbed up in the crook of the tree and swiftly continued upward from branch to branch until he found a secure niche where he would be safe for a while from the mayhem going on below.

It was at this moment that a cry came forth from Aravorn's mouth. "Forward swiftly! Those cowards are attacking Elentari." With that, the company surged towards the tree where the Elf's body had been hung a few hours before. Two thieves had now untied her bonds, placed a knife to her throat, and were trying to use her as a human shield so they could escape from camp.

[ June 18, 2003: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]