The Little Hunter
by Pippin's Sunshine
Chapter 3: The Thunder Battle
The Rangers were always on the lookout for traces of Orcs. All races
whether men or elves hated orcs, so whenever possible they fought to
eradicate them.
Disaster struck when the party was almost out of the mountain pass.
They had only planned to stop for one night, but were delayed by
several days because of a huge thunderstorm. Estel had never seen or
heard anything like it. To him, it was a thunder battle where all of
the hosts of Manwë and Melcor were waging war in the Heavenlies. He was
absolutely terrified until one of the Rangers, Camlost, told him this
story:
“Didn’t you know that the sky is having a conversation? When the
sky gets cloudy and the sun runs behind them, it’s time for thunder and
lightning’s party.”
“Really? But why do they have to be so loud? I can barely hear myself think!”
“It’s because we are so close to them. They make their homes in the
high mountain passes. In Rivendell, you are down in the valley far
below their houses. Why don’t you go check on Melian and see if she’s
ok?” Camlost asked, seeing he was reassured they were safe.
The horses protested the noise and light as well, stirring against
their pickets. More than lightning and rain was worrying them; they
were lathered with sweat and their cries rang out, echoing between
rolls of thunder. The rangers said nothing to each other, but they were
preparing their weapons and watching vigilantly.
Estel ran to the side of the cave to where the horses were. “Hello
my beauty. I hope the thunderstorm isn’t keeping you awake. Soon, we
will be able to ride like the wind through the fields,” Estel told her.
At this, she whinnied, that sounded like a wonderful idea to her!
Melian’s ears twitched as Estel patted her nuzzle, “Oh! You’re tickling
me! I think you already guessed what I have,” he told her with a grin.
Then he produced two sugar cubes. “I’m sorry I don’t have more, this is
all we have left. But I’m sure there will be MILLIONS of sugar cubes in
Lórien, just for you!”
Estel began brushing her coat. He couldn’t wait until they reached
the river. She was in need of a good scrub-down. Her coat was as shiny
as ever, but it needed a wash every now and then.
At that moment, the rain suddenly stopped.
-----------------------------
Almost at the same moment, the Rangers stopped dead in their
tracks, dropping whatever they had been doing. Some notched their
arrows, some drew sword and all froze in sheer terror….
Chapter 4: Orcs!
Gilrean had been asleep; the rain always had that effect on her. But
with this new noise, she sat bolt upright and instantly rose to her
feet.
What they all heard was the unmistakable sound of Orcs.
Reneal appeared next to Gilrean, thrusting the hilt of an extra
sword into her hand. "Arm yourselves, we will need all the help we can
receive.”
Gilrean raised the weapon. She was trained in the use of the sword,
as were all the women of the Dùnedain, but it had been long years since
she had held one. The blade had the unmistakable characteristics of the
Ranger’s swords; it could be used as a one-handed or two-handed sword
and the blade was short and sharp. She ran to the place where her son
stood. He had managed to arm himself with a long knife that one of the
men had been using to whet a coney with; it made a good sword for him.
The cave was dark, as they had put out the fire. The lightning was
growing less, but in its illuminations, Gilrean could see the swords of
men and orcs gleam in delight of the bloodshed. The vast size of the
cavern made the shrill cries of the Orcs innumerable.
The rangers stood in a sharp line near the entrance of the cave, swords
drawn. The orcs were small, gnarled-looking creatures but they slavered
and howled, like mad wolves for fresh meat. Their numbers were twice
that of the Rangers.
But there were none that fought more valiantly than the men of the
West. They let the orcs come in their ragged line to smash against
their wedge, cutting themselves on the sharp steel barrier. Two rangers
fell, arrows sprouting from their bodies, but the intermittent light
foiled the archers. Other missiles bounced harmlessly against the walls
of the cave, and Gilrean tightened her grip on the sword.
She heard a soft sound behind her, one that she would hear even with
the shrieks of orcs and thunder in her ears. Estel had moved; he stood
beside her with a determined and somewhat fearful expression on his
face. Although, he felt his heart and knees would give way, he would
not cower behind. He would have to learn to fight eventually, even
fighting his worst fears.
Almost as suddenly as the attack had come, it ended. Although, time was
not measured in a battle, it had seemed to Gilrean that she had stood
rooted to the spot for hours.
Soon, the orcs were making their retreat; the strength of the small
party had taken them by surprise. Reneal sent what rangers could be
spared to follow them and make sure they would not return.
Estel walked slowly forward, to the side of a fallen ranger. The man's
face was smooth and wet from the rain. An arrow protruded from his
chest and he did not move. The little hunter placed one hand on the
breast of the man, feeling no more life within. He turned his face
toward Gilrean, fresh tears on his cheeks.
"His name was Camlost; I remember him."
Reneal came to Estel and looked at the young man. "It is a ranger's
duty to die for his chieftain. You will see many men die Estel
Dùnedain; they will die beside you and because of you. Your survival is
most important. So remember them but do not mourn them. There is time
enough for grief after the battles are fought."
Reneal's hand on Estel's shoulder was firm, very reassuring. “Thank you
little one for your brave stand today, we are truly in your debt.”
Estel then went and crawled into his mother’s lap. It began to rain again, gently, as the rangers built cairns for their dead.
