It was a desperate battle, both sides going toe to toe with one another , the easterlings trying to push the companions out, while the companions in turn tried to get in swiftly as they could, yet there was no time to waste! "We must free the slaves, or they shall be lost before we can reach them!", Berthold yelled while clutching a cut hand..
In the meantime Harwari had found his purpose, "Wergild!", he cried! "Wergild for the lost ones!", his club swinging back and forth in swift arcs, blunting armor and breaking bone, thus was the man's wrath awoken and he felled many before the day was done!
Tunaraz jumped back from the spear-wall the companions had made, his chest heaving mightily from exertion, he looked around , trying to find a way to sneak past the battle and reach the pens. "Is there no other way? ..", he said in his desperation, Berthold shook his head meekly, "No.. unless you can fly we shall not be able to get past, I fear our friends are lost to us then!" Tunaraz frowned, "Fly.." he said.. "Vali!.. Frey! Come here!", two men that had been waiting to fall in the frontline returned, youngsters still that faced their second or third battle, "Time to learn a new trick to break through the enemy lines! Lift me up.. " And thus they glanced at eachother, dropped their weapons and lifted him, now he sat on their shoulders with his long-knife in hand.. "You are mad brother Tun!", Vali piped up.. "This entire journey has been madness, now run forth and throw me and fight like the hounds of Béma!" Thus with a yell coming from both the men they rushed onward untill they reached the fighting line, with speed and arms outstretched Tunaraz was cast in the air, but holding his long-knife! Those that saw him were distracted from their mortal danger for a heartbeat as their company-leader flew past! "Keep fighting! Break their line!", Ulfrid roared at them and the fighting continued, the battle-joy had taken them now and a song erupted from their throats, "Life and death lies on a line very thin!", a voice yelled from the left-flank. Then another rose in the midst, " For your crimes, your line shall be snapped easterlings!" Then several voices at once, "Do not fear no longer our blood-kin! Only a few more heartbeats of pain! We shall soon share in laughter and beer! Never to come to this goblin's nest here again!"
And they laughed and roared their glee, as the Spirits of bravery filled their minds and hearts! Under this singing Tunaraz landed on top of a fat lord, the man had fallen, yelling in his native tongue, too panicked to grab his sword, Tunaraz ended him and ran away in between the tents! It took him a short while and his eyes widened as he came upon the pens.. empty shackles and cages everywhere, aside a few bodies lying on the ground, he fell upon his knees and howled anguish!, "No! Not after we came so close! .." He sat there a few moments dumbfounded, yet then he slowly went on his feet again, slowly but surely coming near, yet then his hair was grabbed and a sword laid upon his throat.. "Uglier then the others.. but I think this throat I shall spare from my blade's edge..", said a croaking woman's voice.. and upon a soft yet worn hand falling on Tunaraz' shoulder his entire being tingled and he turned around grabbing the figure that could no longer stand. "Good .. you came..", the woman with oaken hair said now ran through with sand and red.. Others came from behind the tents, all looking wearied, thin and sun-baked, yet many their eyes were glittering.. "Come.. those that can still fight.. We have companions to save at the gate of this sandy pigsty.", Tunaraz said, holding his woman..
And thus the story finds it's ending, a happy ending? .. In this instance indeed so! For few companions had fallen and few enslaved men and women aswell. They had brought with them great treasures, ofcourse rightfully claimed for their hard efforts. To the Northern men this was not an adventure among adventures, yet still one worth telling (with some excusable boasting ofcourse). What is later known of these involved is that Berthold returned to Dale with a few freed, his stories were one of the seeds in Dale that turned to rumor about the threat of the easterlings.. Sooner or later a great war would be fought some thought.
