Chapter 14
The rain had started off gentle. Fat drops dropping down on the advancing Dwarves. It plinked sporadically off the stony paths. The rain quickly grew fiercer as they climbed the perilous paths up the mountains. The clouds swirled heavy and dark with water. The last rays of light barely flickered down through the haze before vanishing.
The already treacherous path was slick with increasing rainfall and even more dangerous without light. The dwarves were sturdy and in thick traveling cloaks, even offering the suffering Bilbo an extra. They kept together and rarely slipped. The ponies were hardy creatures and would normally handle the path well, however the little light they were given came alongside the boom of thunder.
Alric had nearly no room to slip as he took up nearly the whole width of the mountain trail. Luckily, he was struggling the least with nature's fury so far.
BOOM!
Another massive bolt of lightning split through the storm. Alric knew what was coming. He had seen the movie. The Stone Giants were less the standard creature danger and more a force of nature. They loomed massive and terrifying even on the screen Alric had watched. He was not truly prepared to see them in the stony flesh. Alric had been unaffected by the cold, but as the sky lit up the scene hidden in the dark, a chill ran down his back.
Titans of stone waged battle. They were dark grey and jagged. They had little in the way of features discernable on the crags that made their faces. They almost seemed like caricatures. The long legs and arms led up and up, melding into mountainous chests. They threw boulders bigger than Alric with casual ease as if it were a harmless game.
Alric realized then that not all the thundering cracks he heard had been from the storm. The mountains split where the Giants played. In the Movie the Dwarves were able to narrowly avoid being squashed. Alric felt no confidence in being able to repeat their good luck. These being could kill him with ease.
Despite all his growth he held no delusions of winning against these beings. He might survive a single hit. He eyed another mountain top as it exploded under a falling giant.
He needed to find that cave and quick. By now the other members of the group had noticed the Stone Giants. Alric yelled ahead to Thorin.
"We need shelter! We must make haste!"
Before he could reply to him the inevitable occurred. A stray boulder was tossed at the peak they were on. It smashed into the cliff above them. As it exploded Alric reached for those nearest him. Alric managed to huddle Gloin, Balin, Kelie, and Bilbo under him . He moved to press himself over them. He sloped his back and pressed as close to the inside wall of the path. Boulders and loose stone rained down with the water pelting and smashing into his tough skin harmlessly. Alric felt no confidence in killing a Giant, but he could shield his friend from any indirect attack.
A wailing scream faded as it fell to the depth below. Alric glanced behind him, dreading to see his companions missing. He instead caught sight of the last pony of the group hurling itself off the ledge in a panic. The poor animal cried out as the rest before it but the noise was quickly drowned out.
Alric looked back down to see the completely safe quartet beneath him. He scanned ahead and saw that by some miracle no one had fallen or been struck by debris.
"Forward!" Thorin bellowed with urgency.
The group half ran half shuffled forward scanning every crack and crevice for some sign of shelter. Alric remained in the rear, he gave a meaningful glance at the frolicking Stone Giants.
One day I'll return, when I can crush you and your mountains. I'll grow beyond even you.
As Alric made the conviction he had a thought. Could he eat them?
They are alive…My cheat should work on them. In fact what are the rules of what my powers work on I need to find the time to start testing things.
The group soon found a cave. The wet and weary group piled into the dark interior with relief.
As fire struck and the cave was illuminated Alric recognized the cave. Perhaps fate was more resilient than Alric gave it credit. This was the same goblin trap the party had fallen in the first time.
Does this count as a nexus event or something? Well at least goblins are something I can handle. In fact, this is going to be fun.
Last time the dwarves were outnumbered and quickly fell on the back foot. This time they had a large troll with abnormal strength and resilience eager for a fight.
Alric's new weapons almost seemed to itch and ache in his arms as he pretended to go to sleep. He flexed the muscles just slightly and the points emerged from his fists before he forced them to return. Soon he would have all the targets he could wish for to try his new toy on. He grinned rather nastily as he sat in the corner.
Alric noticed Bilbo fussing over his bedroll next to him. The hobbit seemed to have no intention of attempting to sneak off back home this time. That or the hobbit was doing a significantly better job hiding it. Perhaps he felt a bit safer or less out of place with the changes Alric brought.
The rest of the group prepared for what they thought would be some well-earned rest. Alric began to worry. One might assume that was because of the knowledge that he was on top of a massive trap door leading to hundreds of hungry goblins. That would be incorrect, the battle hungry transmigrator had little fear for the squishy meat-bags below. He was concerned with the fall. A fall from that high wouldn't hurt Alric or even bilbo…but if he fell on top of any of them, they would be more then comically groaning they would die. At the thought Alric chose to shift his massive self directly on top of the barely visible crack running across the floor.
Good, now I'll be the first one down to greet our generous hosts. I can't wait.
(POV Thorin)
The Troll was a surprisingly useful addition to the company. Thorin had seen his strength but had little trust in the strange creature. But now he found himself beginning to rely on him.
Alric chose to shield my kin with his own body. We were lucky no one got hurt or even perished. He has proven loyal and true. We will show him the pride of the dwarves…He will see that courage repaid tenfold.
So it was that while strange and rather inconvenient that the massive green brute chose the middle of the bloody camp as a good place to sleep…Thorin decided not to say anything.
Maybe it's some strange Troll instinct to slumber in the center of the cave?
Thorin nodded for a confused Balin to work around Alric as he looked to him for direction regarding to the small hill of Troll that occupied the center of the makeshift camp.