[Imladris]

Lira could vaguely hear the soft, faint tones of the hobbits as they murmured together in the tree. She would have told them to be still, but it didn’t really matter for, unless they were miraculously rescued, the ground would be stained with their blood before long. Already the rustles of leaves whispered of the other nine coming towards them. They would not fail to find their fallen comrade, and they would not fail to guess that the shot came from above. Tilting her head just a little, she could see Anson’s wan face, his sad eyes turned towards her. She smiled a little at them and whispered, “Fear not, little Hobbit,” as she drew another arrow to her ear.

Behind her there was a din of galloping hooves and, turning, Lira saw that it was Lumiel and Thoronmir making their way to the copse.

Swiftly they ran through the woods and into the shelter of the copse. Thoronmir’s steed had been shot from under him, pinning him to the ground. With a cry, Lira swung herself from her tree and dashed forward to help him.

After he had wriggled himself free, Lira rasied and saw that their foes had gathered in a tight circle around the copse. Their faces looked weary, and slightly frightened as they hedged themselves around the copse, unwilling to enter it. The field of battle with their corpses while their little band had somehow remained alive and still able to fight.