Smiley and the Demigorgon's Warband

Chapter 2: A New Beginning

Smiley woke at dawn, the ashes of her ruined home still fresh in her mind. The road ahead stretched far beyond the borders of the Shire, into lands she'd only heard about in stories. With nothing but a small pack of supplies and her garden hoe-turned-weapon strapped to her back, she set off with determination in her heart and a sense of purpose driving her steps.

The path was quiet, eerily so, and every creak of a branch or rustle in the grass set her nerves on edge. She had never been far beyond the Shire, but Elder Birch had given her a map and pointed her in the direction of a nearby town, where she hoped to find her first ally.

After several hours of walking, the rolling hills gave way to a dense forest, where the air was cool and the trees cast long shadows across the ground. As Smiley entered, she heard voices—a mix of gruff laughter and a softer, more pleading tone. Her curiosity piqued, she crept closer to investigate.

Peering through the bushes, she spotted the source of the commotion. Three burly dwarves were circling a young hobbit, smaller than Smiley but with a fiery look in his eyes. He had a mess of curly hair and was clutching a satchel tightly to his chest while the dwarves taunted him, occasionally swiping at his belongings with their thick, stubby hands.

"Look at this little runt," one of the dwarves sneered. "Thinks he can walk through our territory without paying the toll."

"I've nothing to give you!" the young hobbit shot back, his voice trembling but defiant.

Smiley's heart raced. She couldn't just stand by and watch someone be bullied, especially not one of her own kind. Taking a deep breath, she stepped out from her hiding spot.

"Hey! Leave him alone!" Smiley shouted, her voice cutting through the dwarves' laughter.

The dwarves turned, surprised to see another hobbit standing before them, armed with nothing but a hoe. The largest of the trio, a dwarf with a scraggly beard and an iron helm, let out a deep chuckle. "And who do we have here? Another runt thinking she's a hero?"

Smiley's grip tightened on the handle of her weapon. "You've got no right to harass him. Walk away now, and we won't have a problem."

The dwarves exchanged glances, then burst into laughter again. "And what are you going to do about it?" the leader mocked, drawing a short but heavy axe from his belt.

Smiley didn't flinch. "Last chance."

With a snarl, the dwarf lunged at her, swinging his axe. Smiley dodged with surprising agility, rolling to the side and sweeping her hoe low, catching the dwarf off balance and sending him sprawling into the dirt. His companions rushed at her, but Smiley was quick—too quick for them to react. She sidestepped another dwarf's clumsy strike, then jabbed the end of her hoe into his gut, knocking the wind out of him.

The young hobbit watched, wide-eyed, as Smiley skillfully fended off the dwarves, her movements sharp and precise. Eventually, the dwarves, bruised and humiliated, stumbled to their feet and backed away.

"This isn't over!" the leader growled before they slunk off into the forest.

Breathing heavily, Smiley straightened her back and turned to the young hobbit, who was staring at her with a mix of awe and disbelief.

"Are you alright?" she asked.

The hobbit blinked, then quickly nodded. "Y-Yes, thanks to you! That was amazing. I've never seen a hobbit fight like that."

Smiley shrugged, her face a little flushed from the compliment. "I'm just doing what needs to be done. What's your name?"

"Wesley," the hobbit replied, still clutching his satchel protectively. "I'm just trying to get back to my village, but those dwarves have been causing trouble around here for weeks."

"Well, you're safe now," Smiley assured him. "But I'm afraid you're not the only one facing trouble. The Orc King's army is spreading across the land, and I'm gathering companions to stop him."

Wesley's eyes widened. "The Orc King? That's... quite the quest for someone like us."

"I don't have much of a choice," Smiley said, a shadow passing over her face. "My home was destroyed, and I can't let him do the same to others. I've already decided to fight. And if you want to make sure your village is safe, you should join me."

Wesley hesitated, glancing at his satchel, before giving a firm nod. "Alright. I'll help. I may not be much of a fighter, but I'm good with traps and tricks. We hobbits have to stick together, right?"

Smiley smiled. "Exactly."

Just as the two began to continue their journey, the forest suddenly grew eerily silent. Smiley's instincts kicked in, and she raised a hand to stop Wesley. The birds had stopped singing, and the only sound was the soft rustling of leaves in the wind. Something was wrong.

"Orcs!" Smiley whispered, pulling Wesley down behind a fallen tree.

Through the trees, a small group of orcs emerged, their eyes scanning the forest for signs of life. They had likely been sent ahead to scout the area, and they looked ready to kill anyone they came across.

Smiley gripped her weapon, her mind racing. They were outnumbered, but she had to think fast. She leaned close to Wesley. "Do you have any traps in that satchel of yours?"

Wesley's eyes lit up. "I've got something, but I'll need a distraction."

Smiley nodded. "I'll give you one. Be ready."

Taking a deep breath, she stood up and stepped into view, calling out to the orcs. "Hey, over here!"

The orcs snarled, drawing their weapons and charging at her. Smiley didn't run, instead holding her ground until they were almost upon her. Just as the first orc swung its blade, she ducked, rolled out of the way, and then swung her hoe at its legs, sending it crashing to the ground.

At the same moment, Wesley sprang into action. With practiced speed, he set up a crude but effective trap—ropes tied to nearby trees that snapped together as the orcs pursued Smiley, trapping two of them in place.

With the odds now in her favor, Smiley fought off the remaining orcs, her movements sharp and calculated. Wesley, though small, darted around the battlefield, using his wits to confuse and disarm their enemies.

Within minutes, the last orc fell, and the forest was quiet once again.

Smiley wiped the sweat from her brow and looked at Wesley, who was grinning despite himself. "You did great," she said, offering him a hand.

He took it with a chuckle. "Not bad for a couple of hobbits, huh?"

Smiley smiled back. "We're just getting started."