| TOTAL WAR ROME |
The battle on the walls against the monsters - unheard monstrosity - now up close and personal traded bashes, and blows; engaged in a fierce combat with the Roman Legion and the Dwarven Company. To that extent, made any effort by these monsters futile and pointless. Yet, many carried on due to the fear of Azog's punishment for returning with failure, or Bolg's wrath who have stayed behind while Azog had left.
As the conflict on the walls raged on, Estelle was performing a decent play alongside with Numerius, who was in occupied by a much larger and stronger monster. However, before Estelle could join Numerius and assist him in eliminating the big threat. Another monster who had climbed the walls rush towards Estelle, and as she raised a shield - large red, and rectangular - the cunning creature jumped and gave a strong kick to it. With the bastard's whole weight put into it, she stumbled back until she felt the edge of the wall and she struggled with gravity to a halt before it became pointless.
"Estelle!" Numerius shouted as he witnessed what unraveled from the distance.
Though, before Estelle could fall from the walls a firm and strong grip caught her hand and pulled her back.
Sparing her a quick glance as he pulled her to safety, Thorin immediately after proceeded to cause havoc among the orcs alongside his company who made short work of them. Especially, the large and stronger creature that; Numerius was still holding off on his own. Until the assistance of a much larger size of the small 'men' came at, and to his aid.
With orange hair and a long beard, the fattest among the company of small 'men' made light work as he buried an axe deep into the monster's head despite the short height. As he cut at its legs and forced it down.
Then without moments later, the legionnaires on the walls began to cheer as the last of the monsters fell from a piercing thrust to the gut.
Although the battle on the walls was an entirely new experience to the men - and Estelle - as those unheard and mythical-like creatures attacked them. The world and land they were in was real as it could be. Those monsters were dangerous, they reek of awful stench but most remarkable were their strengths. It was concerning. But the lack of discipline and unity in those foul beasts, only trusting their own strength and without care for the others; The Legion would have a field day with these brutes.
"Now then, we should continue where we'd left off before their rude interruption."
A distinct soldier among the others spoke out, the soldier's equipment was better than the average but less in the form of decoration. Like the man Thorin had mistaken as the leader of this army; Numerius, before his mistake was rectified by the man towards their leader - Estelle Julia Cornelius.
"Excuse my praefectus - Cicero - as he is outspoken when times are confusing." Numerius explained before he looked to their commander who approached them from the distance. "The prisoners are restless; Cicero." With a simple indication, the praefectus got to it as he excused himself from the scene.
Now with Gandalf, Thorin's company, and the commander and her second, freed from any immediate matters, a conversation began - filled with caution and suspicion, cunning words and sly tongues - as Numerius started.
"Explain yourselves, and what were those creatures?" his words commanded.
The other small 'men' looked around, others offended and quick to anger, while a few remained quiet - like the old man and another who seemed smaller and thinner - before Gandalf took the attention away from Thorin.
"We are on our way to the journey further west, down the mountain and across the Elven Realm of Mirkwood. It is with great thanks we offer." Gandalf began as greetings before he moved on to things that these men wanted - information. However, he had questions of his own. Finding answers from them through expression through; answers of his own.
"Those creatures are Orcs, foul creatures born out of darkness and malice. Twisted and vile beings, bred for war and destruction. Creatures that resemble men, but with grotesque appearances, and lack goodness in them. The dark creatures from dark ages, only live with the desire to burn and destroy."
With Gandalf's monologue at an end, he looked into their eyes and saw confusion, something that shouldn't be, or the least surprising about being told about these common scourge throughout these lands. Unless these were men beyond these lands, which explained their strange and unique armors.
"If I may ask, would you know who I am?" Gandalf spoke, waiting for an answer that would dictate their origin.
"No, are you anyone important?" the man that has been speaking for his commander replied.
At that declaration, even Thorin's company of Dwarves looked baffled and shocked at such a nonchalant attitude as well as response. Until Thorin finally spoke, making sure he looked the commander in the eyes - not the men he figured were just higher ranking officers and second in command - but towards Estelle. The name he has heard the man - Numerius - screamed out when she nearly fell from the walls.
With such small nimble hands, he wondered how the person became the leader of such an army, but he couldn't be a judge that has the right to others. No, it was not in his character. However, seeing these soldiers handle such a large horde of orcs. He would like them to assist them on their journey to the Misty Mountains. A small price to pay them to get there alive, and have the assistance in slaying the dragon; Smaug, that lie sleeping in it.
"I am Thorin, son of Thrain, heir to the Misty Mountains of Erebor."
With a firm revelation, he declared himself and claims to the Misty Mountains, as he maintained eye contact. A pair of chestnut-colored eyes that belonged to the commander - the helmet obstructing much - looked with as the same intensity as his own eyes did.
In silence, and in defeat, Gandalf let out a sigh at Thorin's action as everyone remained quiet.
"The Misty Mountains is your home?" Estelle spoke, and when he listened to it closely it sounded much like a...
"Yes. I intend to reclaim it." Thorin's voice was determined, and fueled by great emotion as it yearned for home - a home - and it impacted Estelle.
"What would you reward us, Thorin, son of Thrain?" Estelle bargained, her hint was already read by Thorin and Gandalf.
"Join us on our journey, and help us slay the dragon; Smaug, and you may ask anything you wished. I promise you my oath." Thorin stated, and now it depended entirely on Estelle, who returned to being quiet.
TOTAL WAR ROME |
In a land away from home, in a place of unknown danger, it would be difficult to return when there was not any or a hint of clues of where they were. Furthermore, if those orcs traveled around in those numbers, and if they were caught outside in the open. It would be fine.
But what if it was any other day, it would exhaust the men, and eventually they would be massacred.
Whether it was through fate, that they encountered Thorin's company, Estelle would never know. But if it was a way to get back home, she would have to prepare herself and her legion for their journey back to Rome.
This easily meant that gaining an ally in these lands would not be bad, and based on their performance in that battle. The Dwarves may be good craftsmen and weaponsmiths. With that, she would accept Thorin's proposals. But also because the yearning to return home could be shared between them. She felt it as he probably did, the pain of being forced away from home. She saw it in his eyes.
"Then my legion will accompany you on your quest to reclaim your home."
Estelle may have decided without counseling the others, but as she looked to Numerius, he and the others sent a - approval - nod her way.
TOTAL WAR ROME |
Author's Announcement
P.S - I just felt the need to say this but the next chapter will have a lot of conversation, a meet and greet sort of thing to flesh out their relationship. I can't have the Romans suddenly know about everything on Middle Earth. Otherwise, they should have been born in Middle Earth.