Jail Break
Stepping around the bandit’s campfire, Roborn took a quick look at the gate. It was not locked, and lifting the latch, it swung open easily. The area behind the gate appeared to be another hastily created holding pen. At the far end, he could see a small female hobbit being towered over by yet another bandit. The Hobbit had taken a defiant stance, and was looking up at the Man standing over her. "You don’t scare me!" she was saying.
Taking advantage of the bandit’s distraction, Roborn let loose another set of arrows, doing his best to ensure that his aim would avoid the smaller hobbit. Both of his arrows connected with their target. Jerking his head around, the bandit snarled. "Look! A rat escaped its cage." He drew his dagger and ran to engage Roborn. However, having already been weakened by the previous wounds, the bandit could not sustain his initial intensity, and soon fell under Roborn’s knife. Roborn turned to Celandine, but before he could even open his mouth, she started babbling.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you! I was hoping that hooded fellow – I think his name was Amdir? – I was hoping he was here to rescue me. When I didn’t see him return, I feared these men caught him! But it seems he was only getting help!
"My friend Mundo is nearby, I think. We must save him as well! These brigands have been saying terrible things!
"We’ll need a distraction...and I know just what to do!
"Just need a bit of flame." She walked over to the campfire and grabbed a burning brand.
"...and a place to put it..." She ran to the nearest building and threw the burning stick with all her might to the top of the thatched roof. The thatch made excellent kindling, and within a few moments, the entire roof was ablaze. "That should get their attention," she grinned. "Now, follow me!" Celandine ran back to the gate and quickly passed through, pausing briefly to ensure that Roborn was following. She ran up to another gate and fussed with the lock.
While she was focusing on unlocking the gate, Roborn took in the situation. Beyond the fence, he could see a hobbit tied to a pole, and several bandits gathered around. One looked up, and realized the fire was quickly spreading. "Fire!" he yelled. Another said "Fetch water, quickly!", and three of the bandits ran off out of site, presumably to find water. A fourth, meaner looking bandit remained. "Don’t you move one curled hair, hobbit", he growled.
With a small click, the gate unlocked, and Celandine swung it open. Looking up for the first time, she saw her friend Mundo. "There he is!" she exclaimed. The bandit looked around, and frowned. Glancing around, seeing that he was alone, he obviously dismissed the small hobbit as a threat, and glared at Roborn. "You will not take the Baggins!" he declared, and drew a small axe. Even though he was barely a dozen paces away, Roborn took the time to pull his bow, and let loose a deeply penetrating shot. It glanced off the bandit’s temple, not enough to do more than distract him. Roborn slung his bow, and drew his hunting knife yet again. He could tell from the bandit’s stance that this would not be an easy fight. An axe against a knife wasn’t exactly a favorable contest. How did he even get into this mess, anyway? All he wanted to do was escape and get back home. The bandit was upon him – no more time for random thoughts.
Roborn threw a quick feint to the left, and stabbed out with his knife. The bandit ignored the feint, and took the knife thrust on the edge of his axe. Batting aside the knife, he raised the axe, and swung it sharply, causing Roborn to jump back. Before the bandit could bring his arm back, he drew a small slash along the bandit’s axe hand, causing him to grimace in pain. "You will learn not to mess with the Blackwold," he growled, jerking his hand back. Again he swung, and again Roborn had to jump back. Realizing that this battle could go on for a while, and that the other bandits could return at any time, Roborn changed tactics swiftly. The next time the bandit swung, instead of jumping back, he darted forward, inside the arc of the axe, and thrust the knife between the seams of the bandit’s armor. With a surprised look on his face, the bandit let groan and whispered, "There’s worse than me. You’ll see!" and collapsed at Roborn’s feet. Without stopping to check if he had just severely wounded the bandit or killed him, Roborn ran over to the tied up Hobbit, and began to loosen the ropes.
"It’s about time! Was I expected to...to rescue myself? Come on, you big clodpole! Get me out of here before those ruffians return. They want to sell me off like a sack of potatoes!" The young Mundo was obviously out of sorts at being captured, and was taking out his frustration on his rescuer. Roborn finished removing the ropes, and Mundo grunted. "This way!" he stated, and ran around the corner, the opposite direction from where the bandits had run to gather water for the fire (which was now spreading from building to building quickly).
