The Troll named 'William' only had time to cover his face and scream before sword light flashed like lightning across the night.
Silver radiance accompanied Millicent as she appeared behind William like a wraith materializing from shadow. The massive creature's scream cut off abruptly as his bald head separated cleanly from his enormous body, thudding to the forest floor with a wet sound.
Meanwhile, the other Troll, Tom, seemed oblivious to his companion's grisly fate. He pointed at Millicent with bewildered stupidity, saying: "Hey, William, this tiny human female just cut off your head. How ridiculous that looks."
"Wooooh!"
Fili and Kili erupted in battle cries, their sacred seals blazing as they cast the Stone of Gurranq. Sharp stone fragments peppered Tom's eyes, forcing him to cover his face while howling in pain.
"You little Dwarves have made me angry!" Tom fumbled blindly for the sword at his waist, swinging the massive blade in wild arcs through the air.
Bilbo snatched up a small stone from the ground and hurled it with surprising accuracy. "Hey, over here, you big oaf!"
The projectile struck Tom's hairless skull with a satisfying crack. The blinded Troll swung his oversized sword toward Bilbo's voice, but the clever Hobbit had already scampered away on his large, hairy feet. Tom's back now lay completely exposed to the Dwarf brothers.
"Ha!"
Fili darted beneath the towering creature, the beast incantation Beast Claw manifesting around his hands. Razor-sharp energy sliced through Tom's legs like butter, severing tendons and bone alike.
Tom's massive frame toppled backward like a felled tree, his fall shaking the earth and sending dirt flying in all directions. Fili nimbly rolled aside, avoiding being crushed beneath the creature's bulk.
The Troll's one remaining good eye blinked frantically as he struggled to focus through the pain and blood. What he saw was another Dwarf standing over him with cold determination.
Kili wore a grim smile, his bow drawn taut. The arrow nocked to his string gathered pale moonlight, seeming to drink in the night's radiance as it prepared for release.
Time crystallized into a single, perfect moment. Then Kili's fingers opened.
The arrow whispered through the air and punched through Tom's skull with a wet crunch, ending the Troll's life instantly.
"Yeah!"
Fili sprang to his feet, pumping his fist triumphantly while his brother rushed over for an enthusiastic celebration. They bumped fists and grinned like victorious warriors of old.
Tarnes emerged from the treeline, his staff hanging casually at his side. The earlier fireball had clearly been his contribution to the battle.
He clapped slowly, genuinely impressed. "Excellent coordination, Fili, Kili. Your combat application of beast incantations has improved dramatically."
Both Dwarf brothers beamed with pride, offering deep bows to their teacher. "This is all thanks to your instruction and Teacher Bernahl's training!"
Tarnes nodded approvingly, then turned his smile toward Bilbo, who was still peeking nervously from behind a tree. "Of course, you two shouldn't forget our burglar's vital contribution. That distraction was perfectly timed."
"Absolutely!" Fili declared, and both brothers rushed to pull the embarrassed Hobbit into their celebration.
Tarnes chuckled as he watched the impromptu victory dance. "So, Bilbo, how does it feel?"
The Hobbit's foolish grin faltered slightly. "What... what feeling exactly?"
"The thrill of adventure, naturally. Defeating a seemingly impossible foe alongside trusted companions." Tarnes gestured at the fallen Trolls. "Tell me your heart isn't racing right now."
Bilbo pressed a hand to his chest, startled to feel his heart hammering against his ribs even through his thick clothing. During the actual fight, terror had consumed him completely. But now...
Now he felt incredible. Alive in a way he'd never experienced before. The giddy excitement explained why he'd been grinning like an idiot with the Dwarf brothers.
"You can't hide that smile," Tarnes observed warmly. "Remember this feeling, my friend. I hope you'll come to love the adventure that creates it."
Bilbo nodded uncertainly, not fully understanding but unable to deny the intoxicating rush coursing through his veins.
Still, doubt crept in. "But I only threw a few stones. Fili and Kili did all the real fighting. Does my small part really count?"
"Ask them yourself," Tarnes suggested.
"Of course it counts!" Kili exclaimed immediately. "Those stones were more accurate than Fili's throwing knives!"
Fili coughed meaningfully. "As accurate as my throwing knives, you mean. Though I did see one hit the Troll square in the nostril."
"Exactly!" Kili wasn't bothered by his brother's correction. "When we return, I'll tell Thorin personally that hiring Bilbo Baggins was worth every coin!"
Tarnes watched the Hobbit's flustered but pleased reaction with satisfaction, then noticed someone missing from their group.
He spotted Millicent near the edge of camp, carefully untying the ropes that had bound their stolen horses to a massive tree trunk. She spoke in soothing tones to calm the frightened animals.
"Millicent, have you seen Gandalf?"
She looked up from her work. "He disappeared deeper into the forest right after the fighting ended. I'm not sure where he went, but I doubt we need to worry. Given the campsite layout, these were probably the only three Trolls in the area."
Rustling grass announced Gandalf's return as his pointed hat emerged from the undergrowth, followed by his weathered but wise features.
"You certainly don't need to worry about me, Miss Millicent," the wizard said with obvious amusement. "Though I think you should all come see what I've discovered. Trolls must shelter from sunlight, which means caves nearby. I've found their lair, and it contains quite a few interesting treasures."
Tarnes' eyes lit up immediately. Treasure hunting was one of his favorite parts of any adventure.
He strode forward eagerly, clapping Bilbo on the shoulder as he passed. "Come along, my friend. Time to enjoy the spoils of victory."
The Troll cave lay hidden just minutes away, concealed within a curved hillside and surrounded by wild grass. Near the entrance, a cloth reeking of rotted flesh had been carelessly discarded, its surface stained with dried brown spots where it had obviously served to block sunlight from the cave mouth.
Gandalf touched his staff, brightening the light emanating from its tip.
"Here we are," he announced, leading them inside.
The cave interior reeked of dampness and decay. Human and animal bones littered the floor, and the air carried a nauseating stench of death that made Bilbo cover his nose with his handkerchief.
What surprised Tarnes most was the crude organization within. The Trolls had actually constructed rough shelves throughout their lair.
His gaze swept over the makeshift storage in the cave's depths, taking in shriveled fruits, strips of dried meat, moldy bread, and damaged food containers. All clearly plundered from their unfortunate victims.
Beyond the food stores sat piles of miscellaneous stolen goods. Brass buttons mixed with full jars of gold coins in shadowy corners. Everything imaginable seemed to have found its way here.
Clothing hung haphazardly from wall hooks, all far too small for Troll use. More grim evidence of their crimes.
Gandalf, Bilbo, and the others began systematically searching the shelves, carefully stepping around scattered skulls as they worked.
Millicent remained outside to guard their recovered horses, a sensible precaution.
The coin jars immediately caught Fili and Kili's attention. Their earlier disgust at the cave's smell evaporated as they gleefully began moving containers from dark corners, already mentally calculating their newfound wealth.
Meanwhile, Tarnes headed directly toward the cave's rear with focused intensity. His keen eyes had caught a metallic glint in the shadows, and his treasure-hunting instincts never lied.
This had to be something special, not merely another mundane trinket.
Bilbo found himself oddly bored despite the excitement around him. While Fili and Kili counted coins with obvious delight, gold held little appeal for the comfortable Hobbit.
Tarnes' purposeful movements proved far more intriguing. "Tarnes, have you found something interesting?"
The sharp ring of metal on metal answered before Tarnes spoke. "Indeed I have! Look at these magnificent blades!"
He emerged from the shadowy depths carrying an armload of well-crafted swords in various shapes and sizes. Under Gandalf's staff-light, two weapons stood out immediately. They wore gorgeous sheaths with gem-encrusted hilts that sparkled brilliantly despite their coating of dust and grime.
Bilbo's eyes widened in wonder. "Those definitely weren't made for Troll hands."
Gandalf approached with obvious surprise, using his staff to brush away accumulated dirt and reveal the weapons' true beauty.
He examined the swords with nostalgic eyes before drawing one of the special blades. "Certainly not human craftsmanship either. These come from Gondolin, forged by High Elves during the First Age."
Tarnes set down the other weapons to properly examine the remaining ornate sword. "High Elves? The workmanship rivals legendary weapons from my homeland."
"Naturally," Gandalf replied, returning the blade to Tarnes. "Though Lord Elrond wasn't born until the Second Age, so he wouldn't remember their creation."
Tarnes looked curious. "I thought you might want one of these for yourself."
Gandalf smiled, patting the ceremonial straight sword at his waist. "If you hadn't already gifted me these excellent blades, I would certainly ask for one. But now, another weapon would be excessive."
Tarnes shrugged, keeping one sword while planning to offer the other to Millicent. Then he addressed the rest of the group. "Would anyone like to claim one of these?"
Both Dwarf brothers shook their heads. "Teacher Bernahl already provided us with excellent longswords," Fili explained.
His eyes gleamed with sudden inspiration as he gently pushed Bilbo toward the remaining weapons. "Let Bilbo choose first. This is his first real trophy, so he deserves priority."
The suggestion caught Bilbo completely off guard. "Me?"
"Absolutely," Tarnes confirmed. "You've more than earned it."
Bilbo flexed his hands nervously before making his selection. Surprisingly, he ignored the remaining gem-encrusted blade in favor of a simple knife in a leather sheath, perfectly sized for Hobbit hands.
He placed the new weapon alongside the short brass blade Tarnes had given him earlier, patting both with obvious satisfaction.
"Elven-forged weapons glow blue when Orcs or goblins approach," Gandalf added helpfully. "When yours lights up, be very careful, my good Hobbit."
Bilbo nodded understanding.
Tarnes stored the remaining swords in his spatial pack before taking the blade intended for Millicent. "I'll be right back," he said, heading outside.
"Millicent, try this," he called, tossing the sheathed weapon to her.
She caught it deftly with her prosthetic hand, looking surprised. "So light."
Drawing the blade revealed silver steel covered in runic inscriptions. After a few practice swings, she sheathed it with obvious approval. "Thank you, Tarnes. This is truly exceptional work. I wish we knew its name and history."
"The runes should tell us everything," Gandalf observed. "When we reach Rivendell, Lord Elrond can explain its extraordinary origins."
Millicent nodded gratefully.
Dawn's first light was beginning to paint the eastern horizon with pale colors, spreading like silk threads across the sky.
"We should return," Gandalf said, studying the brightening heavens. "Thorin and the others will be stirring soon."
After their departure, sunlight struck the Troll corpses and immediately began its work. White smoke rose with sizzling sounds as the creatures' bodies transformed back into their original stone components.
Soon, only oddly shaped rock formations remained where the monsters had fallen. Birds would perch on them, and occasional travelers might wonder at their strange appearance, never guessing these stones had once been living, breathing terrors of the night.
But such was the way of Trolls when touched by dawn's pure light.
[Chapter Complete]
***
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