There and Back Again

Chapter Eight: Night Time Attack

Thalia blinked confused waking up to bang, she sat up and it took her a moment to realise that the camp was in panic; she clambered to her feet and looked around wondering what the hell was going on. 

The camp had been calm after they had settled down for the night, the twins had barely kicked up a fuss at bedtime and Thalia had been relieved to crawl into her own bedroll for the night; traveling had not gotten any easier but at least the weather had stayed fair. 

Panic set in at the sight of one of the dwarves dealing with an orc, Thalia's mind quickly focusing on the fact that there was no sign of the twins. 

She clambered from her bedroll, her eyes scanning the area trying to find her children and a weapon so that she could defend herself; the battle raged around them with the dwarves doing what they could to beat back the orcs. 

Rushing to where the twins had been sleeping, Thalia was relieved to see them there and huddled together not drawing the orcs attention; she quickly ushered them to their feet and away from the fighting that seemed to take over the entire camp. 

"Thalia hurry," Gloin called knowing that they did not have much time before the camp was over-run, he had a horse ready and he was going to ensure that she and the twins were away before this got worse. 

They could hold the orcs off while she and the children escaped, it was his duty to protect his kin. Thalia took hold of the twins hands and quickly led them over to where Gloin was waiting for them; she did not dare look back knowing that they had to act quickly. 

There was little time to waste as Gloin moved to hurry the children onto the back of the horse, he did not know what was going to happen but he had his duty to make sure they got out alive. 

"Now you," Gloin insisted turning to look at Thalia, he would never forgive himself if something happened to her; they needed to act quickly if they wanted to escape from the orcs. 

Thalia opened her mouth to protest, she might not have a sword but she did not feel right running away and leaving everyone else to deal with this; she feared that she would not see any of the group again.

"There is no time... we will find you, just get to Erebor," Gloin stated looking back sharply, he did not want the orcs to see them escaping; they needed to make sure that the trio escaped without any problems. 

Thalia was silent before she nodded her head and climbed up on the horse, she prayed that this would work and that they would not be left alone to travel to Erebor; they had no way to protect themselves. 

The land was rather different from the last time that they had made this journey and Thalia feared just what lay ahead for them if they had to do this alone; she doubted that she would be able to handle fifty orcs by herself. 

The orc pack that was attacking seemed much larger than any that Thalia could remember, it scared her and she would not stand a chance against them. 

"Be safe," Gloin instructed before returning to the battle that was happening, he did not look back as Thalia turned the horse away and left the camp in the dark of night. 

She urged the horse formed and tried not to panic about what was happening behind them, the last thing that she wanted was to attract even more attention to them than needed. 

Samara and Theo clutched at each other, neither of them liking that the feeling of being safe had been quickly taken from them in just a few short seconds; sleeping one moment, now forced to flee the next. 

The sounds of the battle back at the camp site seemed to fade away the further that Thalia rode away from there; she prayed that they had not been followed and she knew that they were on their own now.