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littlemanpoet · 02-20-2004, 09:19 PM

Falowik
Falowik had the sword in his hand that he had taken from one of the ruffians back in Deadmen's Dike. His hand was sweaty. He was convinced that they were doomed, but he was going to go down fighting. Better death than what he had heard of from Gorby and Lumiel. The sixty-plus ruffians galloped down the hills from three sides. Falowik had been expecting, waiting, for Thoronmir to call an immediate retreat from their precarious position, but the order had not come. Maybe I should have been the leader. He shook his head. Fool, there was no way you were ready, and you are no more so now. He raised his sword and watched the fighters among the group - he did not consider himself to be one - to see what they did, and copy them.

Uien took the reins of the extra horses from Falowk and joined the hobbits in the middle of the group. She was a healer, not a fighter, even though she had killed. Falowik knew that she would again, if it came to the final moment. Lumiel seemed seasoned and confident as she watched the riders come down the hills and charge among them. Thoronmir seemed just as confident. What was wrong with these people? Then Falowik began to see.

Since they were all horsed, their foes could only come at them so many at a time, and had to make room for each other in their attack, which meant that only about a dozen of the brigands could engage them at one time. They had a chance! Falowik's eyes went wide with hope. A fierce eagerness swept up in him. He had never felt the sensation before. He let out a whoop of his own and swung at the closest enemy, who parried his blow and pulled back for a quick cut underneath Falowik's slow blade.

"Falowik!" Uien cried in fear behind him.

He reacted with a wild swing that glanced off the other man's arm, sending the sword that would have struck off Falowik's head useless, off to the side. He was alive! He hollered again and swung as hard and fast as he could. The man went down, cut at the shoulder and thrown off his mount. Falowik saw another foe come up where the other had been. He knew he had been lucky and reckless. He tried to be more in control this time.

He would have to thank Eodwine for having trained his mount for war so well. Flithaf moved as if he knew precisely how Falowik should swing next. Falowik allowed the horse's movements to guide his swings just as much as his own eyes did, and somehow it worked! Instinct took over. He knew he wasn't good at this, but in the heat of battle, the next move was all that mattered.
Lumiel screamed and cackled and taunted the foe. Falowik didn't know why, but it had a powerful effect on him, filling his veins with fire. His sword swung faster as his foes' hesitated: it was their undoing. The first wave of attackers lay on the ground, and their horses were getting in the way of the next wave. The humans, elves, and hobbits who still stood took the moment to catch their breath.

Falco

Get in the middle? What do you take me for? Falco was determined not to be mere baggage. It was times like these that made him wish he'd taken his pa's advice and learned the bow. Ah well. These ruffians would feel the worst of his dagger, sword, and cudgel then. And he knew the best job for a quick and sturdy hobbit like himself. He got down from his mount and waited for the foe to fall from their horses. Keeping his wits about him, he stabbed the fallen to make sure they would not rise again. Let the others scream and holler. I'll stay quiet and do good hobbit work. Someone has got to be practical around here.

Gorby fell. It looked to Falco like Lira jumped off her horse and went to Gorby. Anson was right beside Gorby and pulled him onto his pony. Lira remounted her steed, and the three of them pushed back the way they had come.

Lumiel started screaming and cackling. "Lira!" she called and some elvish word Falco didn't know. Lira, Anson, and Gorby were pushing east, Lira swinging her sword right and left, cutting a swath for their escape. Are they crazy? thought Falco. It's an hour back east! Those ruffian horses will overtake Anson's pony in minutes! Or they could be dropped from behind by any arrow!

"Don't divide the group!" Falco shouted. Too late. They weren't listening. Falco shook his head. Big Trouble through and through! It was the foolishest thing he'd ever seen a soldier do because safety was in what little numbers they had all in one place; but these elves thought they knew best. Ten horsemen came around the long way, pointing at Lira, Gorby and Anson, yelling to each other. Fool elves! He could not catch up to them, so he left them to their fate, hoping for the best and fearing the worst.

Falco turned back to the frey at hand. There were more fallen ruffians to put out of their misery. He was glad to oblige.

02-20-2004, 09:19 PM	#34
littlemanpoet Itinerant Songster Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: The Edge of Faerie Posts: 7,066	Falowik Falowik had the sword in his hand that he had taken from one of the ruffians back in Deadmen's Dike. His hand was sweaty. He was convinced that they were doomed, but he was going to go down fighting. Better death than what he had heard of from Gorby and Lumiel. The sixty-plus ruffians galloped down the hills from three sides. Falowik had been expecting, waiting, for Thoronmir to call an immediate retreat from their precarious position, but the order had not come. Maybe I should have been the leader. He shook his head. Fool, there was no way you were ready, and you are no more so now. He raised his sword and watched the fighters among the group - he did not consider himself to be one - to see what they did, and copy them. Uien took the reins of the extra horses from Falowk and joined the hobbits in the middle of the group. She was a healer, not a fighter, even though she had killed. Falowik knew that she would again, if it came to the final moment. Lumiel seemed seasoned and confident as she watched the riders come down the hills and charge among them. Thoronmir seemed just as confident. What was wrong with these people? Then Falowik began to see. Since they were all horsed, their foes could only come at them so many at a time, and had to make room for each other in their attack, which meant that only about a dozen of the brigands could engage them at one time. They had a chance! Falowik's eyes went wide with hope. A fierce eagerness swept up in him. He had never felt the sensation before. He let out a whoop of his own and swung at the closest enemy, who parried his blow and pulled back for a quick cut underneath Falowik's slow blade. "Falowik!" Uien cried in fear behind him. He reacted with a wild swing that glanced off the other man's arm, sending the sword that would have struck off Falowik's head useless, off to the side. He was alive! He hollered again and swung as hard and fast as he could. The man went down, cut at the shoulder and thrown off his mount. Falowik saw another foe come up where the other had been. He knew he had been lucky and reckless. He tried to be more in control this time. He would have to thank Eodwine for having trained his mount for war so well. Flithaf moved as if he knew precisely how Falowik should swing next. Falowik allowed the horse's movements to guide his swings just as much as his own eyes did, and somehow it worked! Instinct took over. He knew he wasn't good at this, but in the heat of battle, the next move was all that mattered. Lumiel screamed and cackled and taunted the foe. Falowik didn't know why, but it had a powerful effect on him, filling his veins with fire. His sword swung faster as his foes' hesitated: it was their undoing. The first wave of attackers lay on the ground, and their horses were getting in the way of the next wave. The humans, elves, and hobbits who still stood took the moment to catch their breath. Falco Get in the middle? What do you take me for? Falco was determined not to be mere baggage. It was times like these that made him wish he'd taken his pa's advice and learned the bow. Ah well. These ruffians would feel the worst of his dagger, sword, and cudgel then. And he knew the best job for a quick and sturdy hobbit like himself. He got down from his mount and waited for the foe to fall from their horses. Keeping his wits about him, he stabbed the fallen to make sure they would not rise again. Let the others scream and holler. I'll stay quiet and do good hobbit work. Someone has got to be practical around here. Gorby fell. It looked to Falco like Lira jumped off her horse and went to Gorby. Anson was right beside Gorby and pulled him onto his pony. Lira remounted her steed, and the three of them pushed back the way they had come. Lumiel started screaming and cackling. "Lira!" she called and some elvish word Falco didn't know. Lira, Anson, and Gorby were pushing east, Lira swinging her sword right and left, cutting a swath for their escape. Are they crazy? thought Falco. It's an hour back east! Those ruffian horses will overtake Anson's pony in minutes! Or they could be dropped from behind by any arrow! "Don't divide the group!" Falco shouted. Too late. They weren't listening. Falco shook his head. Big Trouble through and through! It was the foolishest thing he'd ever seen a soldier do because safety was in what little numbers they had all in one place; but these elves thought they knew best. Ten horsemen came around the long way, pointing at Lira, Gorby and Anson, yelling to each other. Fool elves! He could not catch up to them, so he left them to their fate, hoping for the best and fearing the worst. Falco turned back to the frey at hand. There were more fallen ruffians to put out of their misery. He was glad to oblige. Last edited by littlemanpoet; 02-21-2004 at 08:28 AM.