Pain shot trough the dwarves body, coursing from his legs, trough his lower back and all the way up to the very top of his head. The dwarf smiled, welcoming the sensation like an old friend. "So I am not dead yet", Dweri muttered and stumbled on his legs, gribbing the half-drawn greatsword on his back and drawing it out from it's sheath. Dweri winced, the sudden movement blurring his vision and filling it with bright flashes of light. Still he heard a bellowing to his right hand side and the cracking of twigs, root and stones under mighty limbs. Not waiting for his vision to clear Dweri charged at the approaching sound and flicked a fast cut towards his foe. He could hear a roar and felt his blade stick, while a massive arm flew just over his head, missing it with small margin..
The attack had come suddenly. Dweri had just passed to Eregion trough the southern Trollshaws, when the last light of day was falling behind the mountains. He had seen the elven retreat above the road to his right. But not desiring company this night he decided to continue on his way for some miles yet. Dweri smiled, thinking ahead to a merry fire and a good meal in some guarded hollow. With brisk pace he passed the foothills and the elven camp and vanished under the eaves of the awaiting trees.
It was dark under the trees, but with his dwarven eyes Dweri could see quite clearly. The early night was peaceful. Only noice came from the wind trough the trees and the faint sounds of small nocturnal beasts, covered by the shadows on their nightly search for food. So nothing had prepeared him, when suddenly a twisted tree next to the road seemes to come alive and lunge at him. Dweri saw the twisted and knotted form of the Wood-Troll too late. Too slow was his hand going to his sowrd, only managing to draw it half-way out from the sheat. The first blow caught him under his right armpit, sending him tumbling down to the rocks at the roadside and forcing the air out from his lungs..
Dweri could feel his foe still moving forward, beeing carried by it's great bulk and the speed of it's previous charge. Dweri could feel his sword twisting from his hands. Still not beeing able to see straight, Dweri could nonetheless tell that his sword had stuck to the stick hide and flesh of the troll. He took a step behind his enemy and planted his left lef firmly to ground. Twisting his body around and turning his hands around on the hilt of his sword he brought his right leg behing the left. Now in turn transferring his weight on that leg and using the movement to pull his swrod free from his roaring foe. Dweri was now behind his "contestant" facing it's back. Taking a few steps behind Dweri draw laboured breaths, forcing air to his burning lungs and trying to clear his vision. Now he could see the Troll better. It was watching him with burning eyes now. A low snarl emitted from its beastly jaws. It began to move cautiously forward, seeing that this was no easy prey it had encountered this time. Normally this fast attack from ambush had served it well.
Dweri could feel rage coursing up inside him, when he saw the toll move towards him. Cowering low, its mighty hands twitching in anticipation. "So now you are being cautious you coward! I show you cautious" he tought silently. Exploding to action Dweri took few powerful, fast steps towards his creeping foe. Gaining momentum he delivred a mighty two-handed blow towards his foe. The troll was preperad for an attack, but this furious blow caught it off-guard. The blow forced an opening in the trolls defences. Severing one of the mighty arms. Dweri was not daunted by the roar of the wounded beast, nor by the sticky sap-like blood that flew trough the air clinging to his face and beard. Using the opportunity to his advantage, Dweri changed his position and delivered one more powerful blow. The overhead blow stuck the Troll next to it's head, burying the blade deep.
With a roar that was almost a sigh the Troll crumbled to ground. Soon it lay silent and unmoving on the ground. Dweri fell to his knees next to his fallen foe. He pulled his blade free slowly and turned his gaze upon the broken hulk on the ground. There was no roar of victory, no smart gibes. Finally dweri shook his head sadly and got up with a sigh. He turned around and continued down the road in search of that campsite.
