Forgotten Guardians

They entered the forest at midday, only the song of birds announced their arrival. Elves were very cautious of outsiders inside their domain. Especially an unusual group as theirs, the elves would especially be on edge by their presence. So they walked with no weapons in hand and set an easy pace. They walked for hours not finding anything which proved an elf had been in the area. No tracks or trails, not even a broken twig as a clue. As twilight descended, the group decided to start looking for a camp site, if the elves wanted to talk, they would approach them. Legends said, elves always knew what went on in their woods.

As the six started their well rehearsed routine of setting up camp, Josan fetched water, Frathe and Uuger collected firewood, Miranda preparing the meal, Grimmly starting the fire, and Wolf went hunting for small game. Grimmly cursed a little about the damp ground as he tried to light the kindling. Miranda started pulling supplies out of her pack when something caught her attention. Out in the darkness of the forest, voices echoed through the trees. Both Grimmly and Miranda froze in place not reckonizing the voices approaching. As the voices came closer, Miranda realized it was orcish tongue. She didn’t understand any of it, but knew from enough encounter to recognize it. The entire forest went silent, even natural night sounds diminished, only the orcs voices carried though the crisp night air. Miranda looked across to Grimmly and saw he was nowhere to be found; only shadows stood were he had been. She didn’t know how any one his size could have sneaked off without her notice. She spun around to see where her giant friend had gone off to, but she saw nothing. The orcs were getter closer, any moment they would break through the tree line and into the clearing. Suddenly she felt a huge hand grip her shoulder, she spun around on her heels, but found nothing but trees and darkness. The air in front of her started to shimmer and waver, then solidify into a large shape. As the features became clearer she realized it was Grimmly.

“It’s alright little lady. Come on, take hold of me before they reach the clearing,” he said in a whisper.

She quickly grabbed Grimmly’s hand as he turned the ring with his thumb. The air around her started to shimmer and ripple then all was calm. At first she didn’t know whether the ring had worked or not, for everything seemed to be the same. She looked over to see if Grimmly was still beside her, but she saw nothing, even though she could still feel her hand gripping his. Suddenly she noticed that she couldn’t even see her own hand. She frantically looked around but saw nothing of herself. Her body started to tremble, as her balance started to sway. Her stomach churned as the world seemed to spin around her.

“Hold on little lady, just don’t think about it and the queasiness will pass,” Grimmly said in a gentle whisper.

Miranda squeezed her eyes shut but nothing changed. Her body froze as she saw dark shapes entered into the clearing. All her queasiness was forgotten as a large party of orcs and goblins came into the clearing. She slowly opened her eyes to see at least thirty of the foul creatures, yelling and cursing at one another. The goblin ranks flanked the group, with the orcs in the middle surrounding ‘something’. The party continued through the clearing without noticing anything. Miranda couldn’t get a clear view into the center of the party through the surrounding orcs but she thought she saw golden hair flutter in the night breeze. The party was less than five feet from where she knelt with Grimmly, she tried not to breathe or move as the party passed them. The rancid smell of goblins and orcs filled her nostrils, making her queasy stomach turn even more. She swallowed back the bile and focused on what the orcs were guarding in the middle of their formation, but it was to dark and there were to many orcs in the way. The party soon crossed the clearing and back into the tree line.

When the last of the voices disappeared, Josan stepped out the shadows. Grimmly turned his ring and he and Miranda came back into view. Frathe and Uuger crawled down a nearby tree and Wolf casually strolled out from the bushes.

“Did anyone see the prisoners?” Josan asked as he stared off in the direction the orcs had gone.

“Yeah,” Frathe said in a casual tone as if it didn’t matter to him.

“See what? Who do they have?” Miranda asked as she tried to regain her balance.

“They were escorting three elves and two dwarves,” Josan said as he turned his gaze on Miranda. She couldn’t see his eyes but she could feel them on her.

“Stop right there, I know what you’re thinking and I’m not risking my life to save some arrogant elves and stupid dwarves,” Frathe bellowed.

“We came out here looking for elves and now we have found them, prisoners of the horde. If orcs have taken over the forest, there is no stopping them,” Grimmly said.

“We should at least find out where the horde camp is, so we can avoid it. Don’t you think Frathe?” Josan said with a smirk as he looked at Frathe, who only grumbled under his breath.

“Well, what are we waiting for? Let’s follow them,” Miranda said she got to her feet.

Josan pointed to a large oak tree and turned to Uuger, “Climb up that tree and see if you can see anything.” In a flash Uuger was standing on the highest branch peering out into the darkness. It always amazed Josan at how fast Uuger sprinted up a tree, almost as if he merely ran up the trunk. After a few moments Uuger was bouncing up and down and pointing to the northwest, “Fires, Uuger sees many Fires.” He cried as he scurried back down the tree just as fast as he had went up.

“Let’s hurry before we loose the cover of night,” Josan said as he started off for the horde camp.

“Going off to save elves, bloody insane,” Frathe mumbled as he started out into the darkness.

The six headed out towards the horde camp. Josan and Frathe scouted ahead blending into the darkness as if they were a part of it. Miranda had a hard time finding the path they left but Wolf seemed to know exactly where to go. Every now and then Uuger would run up a tree to make sure they were on the right course. The horde obviously didn’t care to try to hide their location. The only trouble they encountered was a sleeping goblin sentry, who Josan silenced forever before the goblin even knew what happened. By night fall the six were standing hidden at the tree line of the hoarde camp. They knelt behind the underbrush and servade the camp. Over three hundred creatures roamed around the chaotic campground. Goblins, orcs and hell hounds mostly, but there were a few ogres and even a hill giant mulled around the site. Small tents and huts were crudely scattered throughout the camp, cook fires roared into the sky like a beacons to the stars. The camp was not very orderly, orcs fought over food, the ogres bullied everyone and the giant tormented the smaller creatures.

“Wolf and I will have a look around, stay here.” Josan said quietly to the others before he and Wolf slipped away.

Josan made no sound as he stepped lightly on the forest floor, not even leaves rustled to mark his presence. He made his way around the camp, taking it in and noting every detail of it in his head. There were few sentries posted and most of them were only paying half attention to their surroundings. He easily slipped by them and made his way closer into the camp. Wolf was nearby, he couldn’t see him but he could feel his friend’s presence. Goblins and orcs walked around the camp hooting and howling at each other, never taking a second glance at the moving shadow. Even the hell hounds seemed more interested in their meals than anything else. Then a figure caught Josan’s eye. It was slender in form with gray cloak and hood. It seemed out of place talking with a huge ogre. The ogre only nodded as the gray cloaked figure talked. Josan was too far away to pick up any of the words of their conversation, but the trembling of the ogre’s knees and the beads of nervous sweat on its brow told Josan this person talking must be dangerous. The ogre and cloaked figure spoke for some time. Josan was about to move on when five bound figures where dragged up to the tent. Fire light shined off the golden hair of a female elf as she slood defiant towards the ogre. The ogre sneered and laughed at her vain attempt of pride. The dwarves struggled against their bonds and cursed through their gags. The other two elves didn’t look like they were in any shape to fight back as the goblin guards prodded them with their spears. The cloaked figure talked to the golden hair elf for a moment before striking her across the face with the back of its hand. The two dwarves and two other elves were lead away into a tent near by, leaving the golden haired elf in the clutches of the ogre. After a few more moments, the cloaked figure disappeared into the darkness and the ogre dragged the golden haired elf into the tent.

The group waited in the shadows of the tree line, Miranda began to worry about Josan. Was he captured? Did he trip and fall? Something had to have happened to him for him to be gone this long. She quickly shook such thoughts from her head. This was Josan she was thinking about. Besides Wolf was with him and would keep him safe. He could walk up behind any of these creatures and kill them without them ever making a noise. She looked to her friends for a little courage. Frathe never moved as he watched the movemnts of the camp, Uuger drew runes in the dirt with one of his clawed fingers, and Grimmly took the time to scrape mud from his boots.

She turned back to the camp and watched in disgust as a pair of goblins ate a small half-cooked animal.

“What did I miss?” a voice said from behind her.

She spun around to find Josan staring out into the camp. “Don’t do that,” she whispered with mock anger. He only smiled back and turned back to the camp.

“Took you long enough, can we go now?” Frathe grumbled.

“The elves and dwarves are here, in those two tents up there on the second ridge. I think we might...”

“Don’t even say what I think you’re going to say. I am not risking my life for some elf!” Frathe interrupted.

“No one said you had to.” Josan shot back.

“Then what did you have in mind?” Grimmly asked.

Josan laid out the plan; Josan and Miranda would free the dwarves and elves, which were guarded by a small band of goblins, while Grimmly and Uuger rescued the elf maiden and handled the ogre. Wolf and Frathe would cover their retreat. They finalized their plan with only a few grumbles from Frathe, then set off.

The ogre threw the elf maiden onto a roughly made bed of hay and skins. His lewd sneers told her what was coming. She backed herself up as far as she could up the bed. She wanted to burst into tears, but she sniffed them back and glared at the brutish creature. He chuckled at her attempt of bravery. “Oh, you’ll cry, just like all the rest,” he said in the common tongue as he advanced towards her. Fear paralyzed her, she wanted to scream out, but her throat was gripped with fear. Her mind raced, telling her that this was not happening.

“Now that is not very gentleman like,” a booming voice said out of nowhere.

The ogre spun to his feet looking around for the source of the voice, but no one was there, only empty space. He turned back around to glare at the elf maiden, thinking this was some elvish trick, but she looked as confused as him. The ogre spun back around to find the air shimmering and forming into something huge. In an instant the form solidified into a mountian giant, wearing unusual clothes. The ogre charged forward hoping to knock the giant off balance. The giant, however, caught the ogre’s head in his hand and lifted the ogre off the ground. The ogre’s entire face was covered by the huge stony hand. The giant looked down at the elf and smiled.

“Are you alright my Lady?” the giant spoke gently with a deep baritone voice.

The elf couldn’t say a word, her mind whirled until, she felt as though she was going to faint. Then something else caught her eye. Something was moving on the giant’s shoulder. A small peculiar creature climbed down the giant’s arm and made its way toward her. She had never seen a creature like this one before, with its greenish skin and small tusks protruding from its mouth. As it came closer she flinched back against the wall.

“Uuger not hurt you, Uuger friend,” the small creature said in a gurgling voice. It reached into its belt and drew a small knife as it reached her. She cringed back even farther until she pressed against the canvas of the lent. With a quick swipe from the creature’s knife, her ropes were cut. She lay for a moment in shock.

“Come on my Lady, we don’t have much time,” the giant said, still holding the struggling ogre in the air.

“Wh...what about him?” she asked nervously, pointing to the dangling ogre. With a quick jerk of the giant’s hand, the ogre became still.

“We must go,” the giant said again as he drop the ogre in a heap on the floor.

“I can’t leave without my companies,” she said desperately.

’They are being freed as we speak. Now we must go,” the giant said as a great clamor arose from outside. Goblins and orcs howled as they ran by the tent.

Josan and Miranda silently made their way to the second tent. At first Josan was hesitant about taking Miranda with him, but she proved quite capable at moving without a sound. They hid in shadows as goblins and orcs walked by. The two of them slipped into a tent to find a solitary guard who was fast asleep. Josan quickly slit its throat and moved to the blindfolded prisoners.

Josan knelt behind a red headed dwarf and slid off the gag, but covered its mouth with his hand, “Make a sound and I will leave you here,” he said in a cold, firm voice. The dwarf nodded and Josan quickly cut its bindings. Miranda worked her way around cutting straps and helping the injured elves to their feet.

“How are we going to get these two out of here? They can barely walk,” Miranda asked in a concerned voice, as she held a slender raven haired elf upright.

“You leave that to us,” one of the dwarves said as he patted his partner’s shoulder, who smiled a devilish grin through his blonde beard. Without another word the dwarves bolted out the door with howls. In a few seconds the entire camp was in an uproar.

Josan rushed out of the tent opening to find several dead orcs at his feet. The two dwarves where swinging crude weapons around, hitting anything that got in their way.

“Blasted dwarves,” Josan muttered under his breath.

Josan darted towards the dwarves while Miranda helped the other elf to his feet. Josan worked his swords in their deadly dance as more and more of the camp rushed toward them. Out of the comer of his eye he saw a large figure approaching. He didn’t have to look to now who it was.

“Grimmly, help Miranda and get out of here,” Josan yelled over the ringing of steel. After a few moments Josan was next to the dwarves, trying to push back the horde. The dwarves fought with trained precision and left no opening for the horde to advance. When one drew back from a swing the other one was already coming in with another. Josan was sure the dwarves could hold their own, for at least awhile, but he had no time to wait. An orc club came at him high, which was easily swatted away with one sword as his other found the orc’s exposed stomach.

“We must go,” he yelled at the dwarves.

“I got some payback to dish out first,” the red headed dwarf said as bashed his crude club into a goblin’s head.

“We were not leaving till I’ve killed a hundred, at least,” the yellow bearded one roared.

Josan could see Miranda and the elves making their way to the forest line with Grimmly watching their back. “Stay and die now, or come back and kill a thousand,” he yelled as he saw Grimmly wipe out a score of goblins with one swipe of his magical axe.

“He makes a good point brother,” the yellow bearded one said as he punched a goblin.

“Aye, he does. Well fellow, follow us and stay close. We not coming back for you,” the red bearded one said to Josan.

The two dwarves stood shoulder to shoulder, stamping their feet and with a roar which sounded like boulders rolling down a mountain side, they ran at the horde, breaking though the ranks of goblins and orcs. Anything which didn’t get out of the way was trampled by swift pumping dwarven feet. Josan stayed close behind and watched their backs as they made their way to the forest line.

They made it to the cover of the trees with an angry mob of orc and goblins chasing them. The two dwarves seemed unfazed from their blind charge, but Josan knew dwarves were tough but, they each had taken quite of few hits. They ran through the forest with a horde gaining ground on them. Josan quickly took the lead trying to catch up with Miranda and the others, he couldn’t see them but could clearly see their trail. The orcs were gaining ground with every step, “This was a fine plan,” Josan thought to himself as he ducked and weaved through the underbrush.

Three orcs were less then five feet from the two dwarves as they followed Josan through the underbrush. In a moment the orcs would overcome the two and bring them down. Suddenly a cloaked figure popped out of the underbrush in front of the two dwarves. It raised a crossbow and within a heartbeat, two clicks sounded. The two dwarves slid to halt, but knew they were too late to dodge. The bolts whistled past their heads and ended their journey with fleshy thumps. The dwarves quickly spun around to find two orcs lying dead with the bolts in their heads. The third stood for a moment dazed at what happened, only to be toppled by a silver streak of fur.

“Frathe, where did Miranda and Grimmly go?” Josan asked.

“Farther up,” Frathe said as Josan raced off in the direction, “You’re not going to like what you find,” Frathe yelled from behind, as he ran after Josan.

The two dwarves stood still not knowing what was going on. A huge wolf ran between them and darted after the two cloaked figures who had just saved their lives. The chaos of the horde echoed from behind them. The dwarves shrugged their shoulders at one another and ran after there rescuers.

As Josan ran in full flight, the tree line thinned to reveal a thirty foot cliff. If not for Josan’s night vision he probably would have ran right off the side to fall into the river below.

“Told you,” Frathe said as he came up.

“Where are the others?” Josan panted, trying to regain his breath.

Frathe scanned the shoreline for a moment before he pointed out dark silhouettes on the opposite shore line, “There,” By this time the two dwarves had joined them with Wolf.

“What in the bloody hells is going on?” the red bearded dwarf bellowed, “Where are the elves, who....”

“Over there,” Frathe said with a annoyed tone, as he pointed to the opposite shore line where several figures were waded to the shore line.

“How do we get over there? Quick. Our friends are coming up fast,” the red bearded one said as he peered over the thirty foot drop.

“We jump,” Josan said he strolled back to get a running head start.

“Dwarves don’t swim,” the red bearded dwarf said fiercely.

“The elves did it, saying they are braver then you,” Frathe said as he made sure his gear was secure.

“Now wait a bloody moment...,” the red bearded dwarf said as pointed a stubby finger at Frathe.

“No time, we have to go,” Josan said, just before he ran and leaped off the cliff.

“See you on the other side,” Frathe said to the dwarves as he followed Josan. Wolf trailed Frathe a second later.

“Bloody fools,” the yellow bearded dwarf said. He looked to his brother who only shrugged. The horde would be upon them any moment and more than likely would push them off the cliff anyway. They trotted back, stamped and ran for the edge. They leaped off screaming, “Bloody Fools!” either to the others or at themselves.

All five landed in the black river below with thundering splashes. Luckily, the river was swollen with the spring thaw, but the current was strong and swift. It quickly carried them down river as they swam for the other side. The dwarves had to walk along the bottom, with an occasional trip to the surface for air. They could hear the howls of angry orcs coming from the cliff, even a few spears splashed into the water near by, but goblins and orcs hated water and would not cross it unless a sword was placed at their back.