Smiley and the Demigorgon's Warband

Chapter 6: A Morning of Fog and Fights

Smiley groaned as she stirred, her head pounding from the aftereffects of the previous night. She slowly opened her eyes, the dim light of dawn piercing through the mist that hung low over their campsite. Her mouth was dry, her limbs heavy, and her thoughts sluggish. Flashes of the night before—the laughter, the drinks, and... the kiss—flickered in and out of her hazy memory.

Sitting up, Smiley rubbed her temples, trying to piece everything together. She glanced around the camp. Wesley lay sprawled out beside a tree, snoring softly with a faint smile on his face, while Elendir sat nearby, quietly sharpening his blade. DG, curled up in her bedroll with her back to Smiley, showed no signs of waking soon. Smiley's heart gave a little flutter, the memory of their kiss sneaking back into her mind. She couldn't help but wonder: Did DG remember? And if she did, what would she say?

Smiley shook her head, pushing the thought away. There were more pressing matters to deal with, like the ever-growing threat of the Orc King. She spotted a folded piece of parchment near the remnants of their campfire. Her curiosity piqued, Smiley reached over and unfolded the letter.

---
**Dear Smiley,**

Sam and I have already set off on our journey to destroy the One Ring. You and your companions have your own quest, and we trust you'll succeed, as we hope to with ours. Gandalf wished to send his blessings and left a protection amulet in our care for you. Wear it well; it will offer some defense against the dark powers you're likely to face.

Keep your strength, and never lose hope.

— Frodo Baggins & Samwise Gamgee
---

Beneath the letter, a small silver amulet lay glimmering softly in the early morning light. Smiley picked it up, feeling its cool, smooth surface and the faint hum of magic that radiated from it. She slipped it over her head, the warmth of Gandalf's protection settling into her chest.

"Well, it seems they've gone off to save the world," Wesley muttered, his voice thick with sleep as he stretched lazily.

Smiley turned to him, still trying to focus through the fog of her hangover. "Yeah. They left a letter and an amulet from Gandalf."

Wesley smirked. "Gandalf always knows how to make an exit."

Smiley glanced over at DG, who was still quiet and unmoving. She couldn't help but wonder if DG remembered the kiss, but when she opened her mouth to ask, the words stuck in her throat. Instead, she tried to bring up the night before more generally.

"So... do any of you remember what happened last night?" Smiley asked, trying to sound casual.

Wesley immediately feigned a yawn, waving a hand dismissively. "Too much ale. It's all a blur, really."

Elendir, without looking up from his sword, offered a similar response, his lips twitching into a faint smile. "I remember something about... hobbits singing. Very important, I'm sure."

Smiley narrowed her eyes, knowing full well they were dodging the subject. But for now, she let it slide. There were bigger problems ahead.

"We need to move," she said, pushing herself to her feet and quickly packing up the camp. "Orc territory is near, and I'd rather not fight on an empty stomach."

The group moved out cautiously, with Smiley leading the way. As they traveled deeper into the dangerous lands, the terrain became rougher, the air heavier with the smell of smoke and rot. Orc patrols were becoming more frequent, and each encounter was fiercer than the last. Smiley could sense the urgency building. The Orc King's forces were on the move.

They fought off several scouting parties along the way, small skirmishes that kept them on edge and weary. DG was growing more confident with each battle, her Gorgon powers proving invaluable as they cut down the orcs. Wesley and Elendir fought in perfect synchronization, but it was Smiley who led them, her sharp mind forming quick strategies that allowed them to escape unscathed time and time again.

After what felt like days of fighting and sneaking through the wilderness, they stumbled upon their most formidable challenge yet.

The orc garrison loomed ahead, an imposing structure of jagged stone and iron, its walls guarded by fierce orc knights in heavy armor. Smoke billowed from the blacksmith forges, and the sound of chains rattling echoed in the distance. From their vantage point, Smiley could see rows of prisoners—humans, elves, and dwarves—locked in cages, their faces gaunt and desperate.

"This is it," Smiley whispered, her gaze narrowing as she studied the garrison. "We need to free those prisoners."

Wesley crouched beside her, eyeing the garrison warily. "There's no easy way in, and if we're caught, they'll slaughter the captives."

Smiley nodded, her mind already working out a plan. "We'll use the confusion to our advantage. Wesley, you set traps along the perimeter. That should draw the guards' attention away from the cages. Elendir and I will take out the knights, but we need to do it quietly."

"And me?" DG asked softly, her eyes focused on the prisoners.

"You and Wesley will free the captives once the knights are down. We'll need their help to deal with the Champion."

Elendir frowned slightly. "The Champion won't be easy to take down. He'll be heavily armored and skilled."

"We'll have to be smarter," Smiley said, her voice firm. "We've made it this far because we've worked together. This will be no different."

With the plan set, the group moved swiftly but quietly into position. Wesley crept through the shadows, setting traps at key points around the garrison, while Elendir and Smiley prepared for the assault on the knights. DG remained near the cages, her eyes scanning the orc guards as she waited for her moment.

At Smiley's signal, Wesley triggered the traps. Explosions of smoke and sparks erupted along the perimeter, sending orcs running in confusion. Elendir and Smiley darted forward, their blades cutting through the first wave of orc knights before they could raise an alarm. The knights were strong, their armor thick and unforgiving, but Smiley's quick reflexes and Elendir's elven precision kept them one step ahead.

Meanwhile, DG and Wesley moved to the cages, freeing the prisoners as quietly as possible. DG's Gorgon powers proved invaluable, her strength bending iron bars and breaking chains with ease. The captives—humans, elves, and dwarves alike—looked at them with a mix of hope and disbelief as they were freed from their bonds.

As the last knight fell, Smiley turned her attention to the orc Champion. He stood in the center of the garrison, his massive frame covered in thick black armor, a brutal war axe slung across his back. His eyes gleamed with fury as he watched his knights fall.

"You think you can take me?" he growled, his voice like gravel.

Smiley stepped forward, her sword raised. "We already have."

The Champion charged with terrifying speed, his axe crashing down toward Smiley with enough force to cleave through stone. Smiley sidestepped at the last moment, her sword flashing as she aimed for the weak points in his armor. But the Champion was relentless, and each of his strikes sent shockwaves through the ground.

It was a brutal battle, but Smiley's quick thinking kept her one step ahead. She danced around him, waiting for the perfect moment. When the Champion swung his axe again, she ducked beneath the blow and drove her sword deep into the gap between his chest plate and shoulder guard.

The Champion roared in pain, stumbling back as blood poured from the wound. Smiley seized the moment and brought him down with a final, swift strike to his neck.

With the Champion defeated, the garrison fell into chaos. The prisoners, now armed and free, helped Smiley's group secure the garrison.

Panting heavily, Smiley knelt beside the fallen Champion, her sword still dripping with blood. She turned to DG, Wesley, and Elendir, who were gathering around her.

"We need information," Smiley said, her voice grim. "There's more coming, and we need to know where the Orc King is."

The Orc Champion, barely alive, sneered up at her. "You'll never reach him... You're already too late."

Smiley's grip tightened on her sword, her heart pounding as the weight of his words sank in.