◉◉◉◉◉
"What do you mean they're gone?"
Two dwarves handed him the pack that had been tied to the horse's saddle. Jimmy took it, momentarily stunned.
"Jimmy, are you saying there are Orcs in the forest behind us as well?"
"Yes," Jimmy replied. "And a lot of them. Enough to form a full encirclement."
He pointed toward the treetops in the distance.
"Look at the birds. They're circling but refusing to land. That only happens when something unnatural is moving below them. Orc warbands do that to a forest. Nothing else scares wildlife on that scale."
The dwarves exchanged uneasy looks.
"I'll draw them away," Radagast said, stepping forward.
"No," Jimmy said immediately. "You can't outrun Wargs. And those aren't ordinary mounts. They're Gundabad Wargs, elite riders used by pale Orcs."
Radagast straightened. "Then I'll trust my own mount. The rabbits of Rhosgobel are no less elite."
Jimmy studied him for a moment.
"At this point, that's our only option," he said. "But understand this. The Warg riders chasing you will number at least five hundred."
"Five hundred or one makes no difference," Radagast replied calmly. "If they catch me, one is enough. If they don't, none of them matter."
Jimmy nodded.
"Fine. Just don't go near the dense forest to the east. There are probably Orc skirmish units waiting there. Head for the hills. Once you draw them out, I'll wipe them out. No matter how many there are."
Radagast burst forward first, shouting as he went.
The Orcs heard him almost immediately.
Wargs surged out of the treeline, followed by mounted Orcs in iron armor.
The ground thundered.
Jimmy counted quickly.
Just over five hundred, Right on target.
"Now," Gandalf said, seizing the moment. "Move."
"This way," Gandalf added, already leading them forward with clear intent.
"Ori," Thorin snapped, grabbing the young dwarf before he could rush ahead recklessly.
They waited until the Wargs passed, then continued moving.
It was obvious Thorin had realized Gandalf knew exactly where he was leading them. He stopped abruptly and blocked the wizard's path.
"Where are you taking us?"
Gandalf glanced at the surrounding terrain and the distant Wargs. He did not answer, but the meaning was obvious.
At a time like this, stubborn pride had no place.
"I know you understand where I'm taking you," Gandalf's silence seemed to say.
Dwarves never understood wizards. Just as wizards never understood why dwarves questioned pointed hats.
"Move," Jimmy said, pushing Thorin forward from behind. "Survival comes first."
They advanced carefully.
With Radagast drawing away most of the Wargs across the hills, and the tall grass and uneven terrain providing cover, the group managed to stay hidden under Gandalf's guidance.
But luck never lasted forever.
Ahead of them lay nearly two hundred meters of open ground. No rocks. No cover.
If they crossed it, anyone with working eyes would spot them instantly.
Gandalf hesitated only a moment.
Then he clenched his jaw.
"Run."
A Warg spotted them.
The howl cut through the air.
Every Orc turned at once.
"Draw weapons. Prepare to fight."
Kíli drew his bow. The others followed, steel flashing as weapons were unsheathed.
Even Bilbo pulled out a large dagger with trembling resolve.
And somewhere among them, Ori raised a sling.
Something felt very out of place.
Jimmy handed his pack to Ori.
"Fall back. Keep my gear safe."
He rested the massive blade on his shoulder and walked toward the Orcs at an unhurried pace, as if they were little more than background noise.
"Charge."
"Kill him."
One blade. One direction. One man.
Jimmy showed them what it meant to be an army of one.
The Orc charge slammed into him like a river crashing against a cliff, splitting apart on impact. Blood sprayed where steel met flesh.
Very few Orcs made it past him toward the dwarves, unless they tried to circle wide. But in the middle of a charge, with a single obstacle in the way, only a fool would slow down to detour.
They thought he was an obstacle they could cut down in passing.
Instead, every Orc that reached him fell.
As the battle intensified, Jimmy drew his second blade in one smooth motion. Short blade in his left hand, heavy blade in his right.
He did not retreat.
He advanced.
"Move, what are you waiting for?" Gandalf called out after locating the marked cave, then stepped back outside when the dwarves did not follow.
What he saw froze him in place.
He had seen warriors. He had seen heroes.
He had never seen anything like Jimmy.
Efficient, brutal technique, Overwhelming strength, Blades that cut through armor like cloth. Armor that turned killing blows aside.
What kind of being had he brought into this world?
"Inside, now, Jimmy, this way."
"You go first," Jimmy replied calmly. "I will follow when I am done, Ori, watch my pack."
"Understood," Ori answered immediately.
The dwarves slid into the cave entrance.
Jimmy laughed once, sharp and exhilarated.
"At last, A proper fight."
He surged forward, turning the field into a storm of steel and blood.
---
A low horn sounded in the distance.
From the far side of the battlefield, mounted riders thundered in, cutting down Wargs and Orcs alike.
Elves.
Jimmy abandoned defense entirely. His heavy blade swept in full arcs, carving through enemies with unstoppable momentum.
Arrows hissed past him, precise and deadly.
The Orcs broke.
Within moments, the battlefield fell silent.
Jimmy wiped his blade clean.
The Elven riders approached at a measured pace, One dismounted and stepped forward.
"Greetings, human warrior. I am Elrond, of the Elves. Why do you fight Orcs on our borders? Few dare walk these lands."
"My name is Jimmy Halstead," he replied. "I am traveling with Gandalf. The Orcs began tracking us in the forest."
"The Grey Wizard," Elrond said. "Then I know where he has gone."
He gestured to a nearby horse.
"You will need this."
"My thanks," Jimmy said, accepting the reins. "For the aid of the Elves."
They rode together into the valley.
---
Beyond the winding gorge, a long white bridge came into view, shaped with unmistakable Elven grace. Clouds rolled below it. Waterfalls thundered in the distance.
On the far side stood Gandalf and the dwarves, weapons drawn, backs pressed together as they watched the approaching Elves warily.
"Thorin, Gandalf."
"Jimmy."
Jimmy dismounted and walked toward them.
"Everyone alive, Good, Ori, my pack."
Ori lifted it immediately, relief clear on his face.
The tension eased slightly, but the road ahead was far from over.
◉◉◉◉◉
~Support with 200 PowerStones = 1 Bonus Chapter
◉◉◉◉◉
For early access to advanced chapters on P-atreon:
P-atreon/iamxeno
(Just remove the - hyphen to access Patreon normally)
Thank you so much for your support and for reading!