O the days of doom , heralded by ill omen and vile deeds done!
O proud folk of Eorl , when great storms descend upon Rohan!
How long until all blood is spent and the last man or woman forever gone?
Yrminas was standing on a thatched roof.. one of the few unburned ones that remained in this small abandoned village. Until now atleast. The ragtag warband of Eorlings led by Beridric had come here after being forced away from their hideout in the rocks. The bitter memory lingered in most minds, fleeing from Orcs as if they were the outlaws in their own lands. Disgusting the idea of it all.
Still it allowed them to happen upon this place, a small stroke of luck was always welcome.
Yrminas' bearded jaw was working while he looked at the place, he knew it as a small trading outpost. They must be south of the Snowbourne river , not too far off. Had they come as far that they were halfway up to the Entwash? Something distracted him a voice, "Hey Yrm!", a voice yelled. Fylca .. or no was it Sardoc? He still had not gotten used to these twins, "What is it?", he replied. "Mind lowering the ladder? I have some soup along!" Yrminas dropped his bow near his feet and got to work, "Onion again?" He grimaced a little. "Ah, do not be so sour about it! Atleast your guts will be working well if nothing else would! Ahaha!" While he helped the youth up, trying to prevent him from spilling the meagre offerings which were left the sky was darkening again. Sardoc could not help but notice, "Bema! Look at that sky, I hope it will pass by swiftly." "Why so?", Yrminas asked absent of thought while he lifted his head and drank the weak brew straight from the bowl. The young scout looked sad now, "It was in weather like this that Fylca and I lost our father. If the wind had not cast aside my arrow he may have still lived..", he lowered his head and scratched at the back of it. Yrminas was wise enough not to ask what had happened exactly, accidents were common enough in battle.
Some silence followed and Yrminas gave his empty bowl back, "Here." "Drop it somewhere, I am staying here with you. That warband of Orcs is still running amok and he wanted the watch doubled." Yrminas gave no sign of hearing, he curled his lips inward while he picked his bow up again, "Right, .. very well then."
They both stood there for some time, just looking at the horizon while the wind grew stronger, their hair and cloaks were flowing and flapping wildly against them, "Getting wors-" "Shhh.. I see something!" In the distance men came in a great rush, a quick count suggest well near forty of them! "Beware!! Beware!! Enemies, to the gates!!", Sardoc yelled out, expecting the worst!! Immediately voices were roaring and as they went up the forty men were riding straight for the gate. His eyes narrowing, Yrminas tried to see wether they were friend or foe!
Down below in the single street that ran through the few buildings still standing men had spears and swords at the ready. One of them cursed as he tripped over a bucket and was now crawling back up from the muck! Berudric had made his appearance and was pushing the great wooden door , "Close the gates!! Close them before they get in!!" The second in command Aerebald's voice yelled up, "Archers!! Prepare to let out a volley upon them!! Do not let anything come inside!!" A handful of men were laying the arrows on their bows , Yrminas did not, neither did Sardoc, "Bema! What have I done!?" The gates were closed! A cheer went up as carts were pushed in to block the defences. With these wheels so deep in the muck one could be certain that a breach was avoided! One of the men yelled, "Now let those monsters come, I hope they brought some rope with them haha!"
Yrminas yelled out, his face white as he knew what evil was done by the blind warning, "They are Eorlings!! Open the gates again, they are our kinfolk!!" Sardoc yelled along with him, "Bema! They are our own men!!" Confusion and realization went over the men like a cold ripple. Berudric blinked and barked out madly, "What?!" And at this time the voices of the riders could be heard from the other side, "Let us in, we can not fight so many of them!! We are friends!!" Without a thought Berudric howled out like a savage animal, his hands grabbed the cart, "Push the carts back!! Open the eastern gate, come on hurry!!"
With feverish energy and their teeth set upon eachother the men began to push back. Feet were slipping in the thick muddy road. Cursing and groaning went up in the mad attempt to push the construct back away! On the other side the sound of swords were drawn, "We fight!", a proud voice yelled out over the din of chaos!
Yrminas had made a leap from the roof unto the wooden walls, which by all means was a dangerous jump. Still he was of the folk of Eorl and his long legs helped him reach the other side! It was with a grumble that he then began to scale the place while his fingers took a few arrows from his quiver with his dexter! While on the move he began to set the first arrow on the string while pulling!
Down below a desperate battle had began, fell iron aimed for goblin and warg while crude weaponry made attempt to strike down any man or horse! Already several were cast down to the earth never to rise again! It was then within the span of two quick heartbeats that Yrminas let his arrows fly! They whizzed through the sharp wind and lodged themselves within eyesockets and necks! A hulking beast on four paws dropped and a horrendous wailing came from it's gory maw! More archers got on the wall, Sardoc among them, "Kill one for me brother!", Fylca cried from down below somewhere!
The youth's hands were shaking while an arrow was pulled back. "Steady ..", Yrminas said calmly, letting another fletched shaft fly, "Take three breathes and exhale..", one more arrow went out! Sardoc closed his eyes, he did and he felt a calm come over himself,.. slowly he looked again and a spirited if somewhat clumsy shot was fired, the arrow sticking from a goblin's shield.
Down at the gate the men were managing to get movement in the cart, it took tremendous effort from their malnourished limbs but they were getting there! One of the gates could almost be opened, "Almost there men!! Do not stop now, we -will- save them from such a vile death!!"
Down below the leader of the forty cut the top of a goblin's head off with a lucky sweep of the arm, "Hold on!!", the voice yelled again!
More projectiles whizzed in the ranks of the goblins, some fell and then the gate opened!! With all the effort they could muster from their quivering legs the men held the cart to keep it from rolling back in place and the horsemen that still lived hastened inside! "Get in!! Quicker! Hurry!!"
Sensing that there was no more they could do the goblins decided to take flight there and then. Another day was done and Yrminas grumbled, "Next time.. I yell the warnings."
