Last Hope for Moria RPG

[Amanaduial the archer]

Orual's post - Óin


Óin grunted as Lîn caught up with him. "Bloody troublesome dwarf," he called irritably, "when I say I can do it myself, I mean I can do it myself!"

"Now isn't the time for hard-headedness, Óin, though I know it's difficult for you to be anything but obstinate," Lîn retorted.

"Now also isn't the time for lasses to be meddling in the affairs of experienced adventurers," Óin shot back. If Lîn was surprised that he knew she was a woman, she did not show it.

"An 'experienced adventurer' would know that there is strength in numbers."

"Two isn't a big enough number."

"It's better than one."

"Fine!" Óin cried, flinging his arms into the air. "But when we both get killed, don't come crying to me." Lîn raised an eyebrow, and Óin started off.

The path got darker, and darker, and darker, until Óin could hardly see his own hands before his face. The Gate was getting close. "Nervous, lass?" he asked, trying to keep his own voice steady.

"No." He couldn't tell whether or not Lîn was lying. Honestly, he didn't care--even a lie was more comforting than if she had admitted to fear. He needed a steady hand.

He heard something rustling. Was that water? He reached out a foot and touched it experimentally to the ground, or what he thought was the ground. He stumbled when his foot did not hit floor, but water.

"Steady!" Lîn caught him under his arms before he could crash to the ground. "Steady!"

Óin was breathing hard as he righted himself. Something was not right. What was this water? What was in the water, more importantly? Not orcs, probably. Some animal? Fish? No, too big for a fish--

"Óin!" He heard Lîn's scream, but not in time. By the time he turned around and saw the monstrosity that had risen out of the depths, he knew it was too late.

"Run!" he ordered, trying to obey his own command, but not possessing the strength or speed to accomplish it. He felt a tentacle wrap around his ankle. "Run! Tell the others! Run!"

His head slammed hard against the floor as the tentacle dragged him, but he heard Lîn's retreating footsteps. "Tell Gloin--"

Hopefully Lîn had heard him, but it was too late to deliver a message. He died with his brother's name on his lips.