[ElentariGreenleaf]

As Elentari had climbed the cliff, and then as she slid down the rope into the cave, she said a silent prayer.

"Elbereth, after you I am named, Star Queen, so please guide us and watch over us now as we finish what we came to do. Protect us, O Star Queen, so that none will die in the final battle. I owe you much, but I think I can owe you more still."

Elentari smiled at the captives around her as she reached the floor, reassuring them as well as herself. Finding secure hiding places wasn't to hard a task, as there were plenty of large rocks to hide behind. Everything was going so well that it made Elentari nervous. Things were not this easy last time she faced such a beast.

Perin's words as he ran into the room justified Elentari's fears. The wyrm had returned earlier than they had all anticipated. Elentari commanded everyone to return to their hiding places. If only the captives had escaped! But there was no option now, they would have to fight the great wyrm.

The ground shook as the dragon made its way toward the cave where everyone was hiding. As it into the centre of the cave there was a shout from Elentari.

"NOW!"

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Annunfuiniel's post

Nalin had volunteered to scout the great tunnel ahead which Vráin and Perin had told to be the main way leading out of the caves. Perin’s warning words pulsed in his ears:

"Every time the dragon left for a longer while we felt a great tremor shook the mountain. But we cowered in fear and never even tried to seek a way out. Maybe he uses his hideous strengths to move whole walls of rock at a time, I do not know – but be wary! For if you feel the wind that comes before him it’s already too late to flee."

And then suddenly, indeed as if a whole new wall had grown from the ground, the road was blocked. Nalin looked up and high above in the unattainable heights he perceived a gap between the wall and the ceiling.

Sheer despair took hold of him. How could they ever beat a beast that could move such rocks as this? Nalin leaned his forehead to the cool stone, his hands powerlessly clenching and unclenching at his sides. - - And then he felt it: a gust of wind coming through the gap - the wailing forerunner of death.

Nalin didn’t run or let out a scream. A sorrowful yet peaceful smile was on his lips as the stone wall cracked and then crashed with a roar, covering him into a mound greater than those where the kings of old rested.

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Elentari's post


Everyone leapt out from their hiding places and ran at the dragon from all sides. Callo and Elentari ran at it at its head end with sticks to try and cease its vision. The wyrm saw them coming and lashed out with its mighty tail, nearly hitting Perin. He only managed to escape the blow by some quick thinking from Vrain who took a flying leap, which was quite good for a dwarf, and pushed him out of the way.

Elentari and Callo now drew their weapons, discarding the sticks knowing that plan would not work.

"Aim for its belly," cried Elentari. "Aim for the softest part!" She drew her sword and dived under the great beast, hoping it wouldn't decide to try to crush her. She swung her sword at the wyrm's soft under-belly, but to no avail - she was still too far to the side. She ran over to Vrain. "We need to get it to rear up, revealing its belly."

Elentari ran to the wyrm's tail and slashed down hard with her sword. The beast roared in anger, but felt no pain. Elentari looked at her sword. It had snapped in half from both the force of the blow, and the strength of the scales.

[ July 11, 2003: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]