Tears of fire. (please join!)

[Chloe]

"What's a ((ORC))?" Ethalinia asked, never having any reason to learn the slightest bit of Elvish. But her question did not need answering. The Orc that they had spotted was now in clear view and more were joining.

((OOC - Text in the double-parentheses should actually be read as if it was in elvish))

[Simbelmyne]

"We're under attack! Galadeth, Neneithel, hado i philinn!" In haste, she took up her bow, and drew the string, sending an arrow into the forehead of the nearest one.
"Keep the fire out of the water! We can ill afford arrows to float down the water and sabotage us or our boats!"

She took a coil of hithlain from her cloak, and tied it fast to the boat. She threw it out to Meredith, who caught it, and then called to Ethalinia.
"Catch the rope and knot it fast to your boat! Meredith and I will reel you in!" She threw a coil of rope to her; the girl tied it. She took up her bow again, and fired once more at the nearest orc, who responded with an arrow that passed just over her head. Pulling the rope with the aid of Meredith, she reeled in Ethalinia's boat, and the girl jumped to safety. She threw two coils of rope: one to Galadeth, one to Neneithel. The orcs were now between fifty and one hundred, and she sensed a battle was in hand.
"Ethalinia!" she whispered. "Find somewhere to hide and stay out of sight!" She turned to Meredith. "Will you fight or will you go with Ethalinia?"

(((OOC: The elvish was "Fire the arrows!")))

[MeredithThornbank]

The silver ring on the hobbits finger blazed white for a second as he muttered in some strange version of speech then a single white bird flew out of his cupped hands " Not again" he shouted annoyed and dived behind the nearest rock to avoid the incoming orcish arrows
Once safely out of the line of fire he repeated his incantation and threw what looked like a burning rock over the river where it set an orcs trousers alight

[Simbelmyne]

Simbelmyne, seeing the orcs were now shooting a flurry of arrows, drew the string of her bow, shooting at the orcs, but not all her arrows hit. What were they? Some were Yrch, that was clear, but others...were they Uruk-Hai? She didn't know, just kept on shooting the arrows.

Ten minutes later, the orcs began to make their way across - there would be hand-to-hand combat now. she drew her sword, her shield and her knives, ready to fight them.

[MirkwoodArcher]

Neneithel fired on the orcs and hit several. As they came too close for the arrows, she reluctantly lowered the bow Sador to the bottom of the boat and drew Hatholgeleg. "Kill them! Kill all the orcs! They shall not cross the river!"

She didn't even realise she had spoken in her own language. The old excitement filled her heart. She had been a warrior all her life. She went to fight the orcs, her sword swinging with easy grace but carrying the force of her hatred towards the enemies of her people.

[Chloe]

***

Ethalinia ran as fast as she could and climbed a tree for a hiding place. She climed higher, and found a spot that she could look out and see the battle. They were fighting very well. Countless orcs had been killed and none of her friends had a scratch on them

Ethalinia worried as they began to cross the river. They all had amazing talent with a bow, but the Orcs had the advantage of being bigger and stonger than any of the company, except Eloise.

***

[Simbelmyne]

Simbelmyne ran to the very edge of the banks - they were slowing as if by some enchantment...wizardry by the masters of the Yrch, maybe. She jumped at the orcs, some of who were laying down wooden planks. She landed ungracefully on one of them, her sword in hand. One she cut a head from, the others she pushed back to the bank with astonishing force - they would be shot later. She jumped back to the bank, and began the task of defending the banks.

"Eloise!" she shouted overhead, reaching for her horn and one-handedly giving it a long blow, the other hand wielding her sword as the Yrch came nearer. The word echoed in her ears. She just hoped the Balrog would hear her.

[MirkwoodArcher]

Neneithel hurried to join Simbelmyne, impressed by her valour and skill. Orcs that met either of their blades had no hope of survival. She hoped Ethalinia had found a safe place, but she could not see her. In any case, The orcs must pass Neneithel and Simbelmyne before they could harm her, and she knew that neither of them would be passed unless they were incapacitated. Galadeth, she knew, was nearby, fighting well. The halfling was hidden somewhere and, though she did not understand the dove, she felt sure it must be of some use against the orcs. She hoped Eloise would make haste.

[MirkwoodArcher]

Distracted by changing events, Neneithel lowered her guard. An orc blade struck her, then another. She killed the first attacker, but knew that death was coming. With her last strength she threw Hatholgeleg into the river. "My love, in accordance with my oath, I abandon you only in death." she whispered. Then she died, falling into the water herself. At the same time, her bow, Sador, snapped in half as the enchantment that had been placed on it years before was removed. The current carried her away, a slight burden for so swift a river.

[MeredithThornbank]

Meredith saw Neneithel fall and thought of Caladvrand, waiting for a rider who would not return. He sent a charm of safe returning to send her back to Neneithel's people. Then he summoned up all his skill and set fire to the orc that had killed her. The orc jumped into the river to douse the flames, but the current caught him and he was swept away under the water.

[Simbelmyne]

Simbelmyne heard Galadeth calling, and she was overjoyed by what she had heard. But seconds later, she saw Neneithel fall, and...

She fought on, but dismay filled her...she had known Neneithel for little time, but she had liked her still, an unusual thing for her, a Rohirrim with a wary and distrusting personality. She hoped the waters would take her, and in Valinor she would find peace.
"May peace be with her after death," she murmured, then looked up and struck at an orc, hewing its head and then turning to strike another and its companions. She showed no mercy - the orcs had shown her companions none. She called to her companions.
"We have the upper hand! Keep going and we will not be troubled further!"

(((OOC: Neneithel - is anything more with your character going to happen next? Riders of Rohan like death warnings )))

[Chloe]

((OOC: I'm confused, have the crossed the river or not?))

[Simbelmyne]

(((They're crossing, it's sort of half and half. But most are our side and they're slowly getting fewer and fewer )))

[MirkwoodArcher]

Simbelmyne said:

(((OOC: Neneithel - is anything more with your character going to happen next? Riders of Rohan like death warnings )))

(((OOC: Believe me, I would have liked to give you more warning, but the situation arose too suddenly and Neneithel's place in the game became impossible. She was a bad choice of character. I should have foreseen difficulties ahead. In the event, I needed to remove her quickly, completely and without disrupting things. I don't kill characters without good reason, and that one has now had to be sacrificed twice to prevent her from becoming harmful to the RPG. She'll start taking it personally! I'm very sorry for messing things up. I should never have joined the game. I'm not good at this. I'll keep reading though, because things are getting very interesting. A thousand apologies for causing trouble)))

[Simbelmyne]

(((OOC: Hey, no problems! You are a great RPer, and it's a shame you can't carry on in this, but it really doesn't matter I'm very glad you joined in the first place, and you've been a great character. See you in Valinor )))