Ani Dao had fought hard all morning and into the coming dawn alongside these people. She watched as they went down to the unmerciful swings of Uruk Hai scimitars and to the fatal poison stabs of goblin daggers. The assassin had endured it all, her focus not wavering. She could do nothing to prevent all deaths, but those she could, she would give her life to do so. She moved like a blur of madness, thrusting, stabbing, and slicing every foe that came within range of her slender sword. Ani Dao’s set of knives was constantly being spent and re-gathered. She didn’t know how much longer they would have to fight, but it was no secret that everyone was getting exhausted. Unless they could form some sort of stealth attack against these creatures, the people of Erebor were dead: and therefore Mirkwood was as well.
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"The rest of you, come back to the keep with me. We will organize guerilla resistance from the hall. I want small parties of defenders to wait at various passageways, and when enemies appear, launch a quick volley at them and disappear. We will continue moving backwards until they reach the hall. After that, we stand and fight for our families, and the lives of the people of Erebor."
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Ani Dao collected her knives and fought back the last of her opponents. Then, sheathing her sword, she followed what was left of the dwarven army into the mountain. Turning back she saw Arlome, Einen, Belegond and Gromfelt preparing to take the on-comers.
Four against the thousand that was sure to come? “No! Bali, I shall stay.[/I]”
“You will not! Go!!” His tone of voice implied that he knew more than she did. The elf took what she supposed to be her last look at the four she had become so close with and tears of frustration watered her eyes. Yelling out in anger, she slammed her fist into her hand and followed Bali. Fighting every nerve in her body to collapse and cry she made it into the first hall and listened as Bali gave the instructions. She found Burzdol among the group and moved to be beside him. The assassin needed all the strength she could get right now, and his love seemed like the best fuel. The sound of clashing metal and the dying yells of orcs and goblins echoed up to where the army waited. Eager glances were exchanged among the defenders. Ani Dao was pleased to see that none of the faces held fear. Instead, all of them held anger, and a purpose of victory. Weapons raised, they listened as Bali repeated his final instructions.
“Remember, a quick volley and then disappear. We don’t need anymore lives to be lost. Belegond, Arlome, Einen and Gromfelt are very skilled warriors. We will have a good bit of time before we have to meet our enemy, but when we do, fight wisely. This could be the last battle of Erebor. Strength!” he shouted, “and honor!!” A cheer of voices arose and the army dispersed quickly throughout the mountain to divide the Uruk Hai army into smaller targets. The elves gathered to meet them when they broke through the barricade. Arrows ready, the group of solemn defenders awaited the break-through.