Eclipse of Hearts ✔

15. To Battle [Thorin]

Since Vaughn's words Thorin felt restless. He walked from left to right while the armies of the orcs came closer. Nobody had confirmed it was Alyssae, but who else could it be?

All his men were situated in the right place. He had set archers on the mountain, so they could let it rain arrows. The others were waiting outside for the orcs. Vaughn had wanted them to wait within the walls, but Thorin knew they could go nowhere when the orcs would break through. 

A group of women stayed in the front halls, where they would care for the wounded who would be brought in by the younger dwarfs.  

"She distracts your attention." 

Thorin looked aside irritated. He wished Vaughn stopped talking about Alyssae over and over again, for whatever he said about her, it was always something disturbing. 
"That's easy for you to say," Thorin grumbled. "It's not your lady they will slaughter before the gates of your kingdom."

A shiver crept down his spine when he thought about the moment they had left Mirkwood, by which Azog had laid his hands upon Alyssae. Thanks to Gandalf she had been able to kill the orc, but would Gandalf be there again to lift a smoke screen? He doubted it. He hadn't heard anything from the wizard since he had left.

Vaughn sighed when the echo of blowing horns sounded. "The time has come."

Thorin said nothing and walked outside. His golden weaponry glimmered in the sun light. His jaws tensed when he saw the overwhelming pack of orcs that had gathered. "Find her."

Vaughn watched him in disbelief. "My lord..."

"Find her!" he snarled. 

The man seemed willing to protest, but then he swallowed and glanced in silence at the numerous enemies.

Thorin stepped forward and walked before the rows of dwarfs that belonged to his kingdom. "I don't need to tell you where we are fighting for!" he yelled. "For decades orcs try to drive us off our homes! They're slaughtering our children and women. They destroy everything we've worked for so hard for and defile the sacred places of our ancestors. Let's end this all today! We will let them feel we can't stand it anymore! We don't flight to dark holes as they do when things are starting to get hot. We look right in the eyes of Death and we will prevail, for once and for good!"

The men rejoiced after hearing his words. He gave the archers the sign to get their bows ready, where after a rain of arrows went down. Thorin gave Vaughn a push and a premonitory look. Today he bore no critic.

He drew his sword and screamed angry at the creatures who had killed his family and friends. To the brutes who wanted Alyssae's head - something they would never get! 

The battle had barely started when Vaughn returned. He dragged with his leg and his arm was covered in blood. "It's her. They offer you one chance to surrender."

Thorin sniffed furiously. "Take me to her."

"You can't," Vaughn protested. "You're protecting the way to the door."

Before he realized it, he had grabbed Vaughn's throat. "Do I have to repeat everything I say?"

Vaughn shook his head hastily and waved vaguely aside. "She's there, but I don't think it's wise to..."

"Shut your damn mouth and do as I say!" Thorin snapped. 

He was all nerves. He had to see if it was really her. With shaking legs he walked after Vaughn. His guards followed him but he paid no attention to them. He only thought of Alyssae. All other thoughts were eclipsed immediately, so that he did not notice the orcs that made their way to the entrance of Erebor. He didn't hear the screams of the men who went down. Now and then he beat down an orc that came too close, but his eyes were fixed on a large, ugly orc that had wrapped a muscular arm around the throat of a brown haired elf.