Sally and the Line of Durin

Chapter 9

As the orcs advanced on the trapped Iron Foot a booming sound rang out into the valley. Bombur stood high on the rampart, a tuba wrapped around his bulk - a call to arms! With a crash, rock filling the waterway below, a heavy gold bell smashed through the wall. Streaming after it came the dwarfs of Erebor, at their head - Thorin, king under the mountain. The troops of Iron Foot parted to allow the company to pass, while Dain shouted, "To the king! To the king!"

"Du Bekar! Du Bekar!" shouted Thorin.

Sally veered to the left upon leaving Erebor. She made her way to the giant foot of a carved dwarf and scrambled up. From here she had an excellent vantage point. With an arsenal of arrows at her disposal, she started firing, picking off orcs. Arrow after arrow she set loose, each hitting their mark with deadly accuracy.

The dwarfs were still outnumbered, but with renewed energy they rallied, cutting down their enemy. The forces of Azog were numerous and, despite the renewed effort, were winning the day.

Thorin met with Dain on the battlefield.

"Well cousin! Nice of you to join us!"

Thorin embraced his cousin. "This does not look good, cousin."

Dain fixed him with a sardonic look. "Really? What gave you that idea?"

Thorin pointed to Ravenhill, "Him! We need to take him out!"

Dain instructed a soldier to round up 4 battle goats. Thorin engaged his best warriors - Dwalin, Fili and Kili, and mounted the goats. The nimble animals made their way to the top of the hill.

Sally was still laying waste to orcs when she saw Thorin and his warriors make their way up the hill. She watched in horror, '4 against all of them! By Mahal! What is he thinking?' She screamed in pain! Looking down she could see a shaft sticking out of her thigh. "'aish!" She checked her stock of arrows, it was running dangerously low, and assessed her leg. She ripped off a piece of her tunic and tied it tightly around her thigh; she grit her teeth and broke the arrow shaft, leaving the tip in.

The battle had moved off away from Sally. She used her final arrows, aiming high into the sky to give them more flight before climbing down off the foot and making her way to the city of Dale. Bilbo was there with Gandalf. She hobbled toward them.

"Sally!" Bilbo rushed forward to help her, "You are hurt! Is that a morgul tip?" He helped her sit and started wringing his hands.

"Gandalf! You must help them!"

Gandalf shushed her, "We must help you. That arrow needs to come out."

Legolas rode up to them, shouting for Gandalf. He leapt off his horse, "Gandalf!" He pointed to the north. "More orcs are coming from the west. Gundabad orcs led by Bolg."

"Listen to me! Thorin has gone up Ravenhill with Fili, Kili and Dwalin. Gandalf, they will be massacred!" Sally shouted.

"Well then, someone must be sent to warn them!" He started to look around for someone to be sent.

"I'll go," said Bilbo.

Gandalf scoffed, "Don't be ridiculous. You'll never make it."

"Why not?"

"Because they will see you."

"No they won't," Sally said. Bilbo and Gandalf both looked at her questioningly. "He is small and nimble, he is the best hobbit for the job." Gandalf looked to Ravenhill while Sally winked at her nephew.

"I won't allow it," the wizard growled.

"I am not asking you Gandalf. I am going whether you want me to or not."