Chương 17: Chapter 17: The Battle for Long Lake
"Carlos! Get everyone to distract the dragon and create an opening for Bard," Roland commanded.
"Right away! Tell the boys... They're brave, but make sure they protect themselves." Roland stopped Carlos, who was about to leave, and added, "And tell them to aim for the loose scales on the bottom of the left flank. Use the Star Silver Steel Armor-piercing Arrows!" he shouted after Carlos.
"You're acting more like an overprotective parent than a lord," Bud remarked.
"As the last lord of Lagrand, I have a duty to my people," Roland replied firmly.
"But, where is Lagrand?" Bud asked, puzzled.
"In the far east," Roland answered curtly, not wanting to delve into the past.
Bud, interpreting Roland's silence as a sign of painful memories, didn't press further. He couldn't know Roland was struggling with an unexplainable truth about Lagrand's existence in Middle-earth.
"I hope your aim is true; otherwise, we'll have to fight him up close," Roland said, drawing his sword.
Bud looked at the weapon in awe. "What's this?"
"An ancestral sword. It's slain many dragons, though none as fearsome as Smaug," Roland explained.
"Let's go set up the dwarf spear launcher," Roland said abruptly. "We won't stand a chance without it."
...
Roland and Bud struggled to secure the dwarf spear launcher with a rope. "Keep it hidden and safe. If it's destroyed, we're done for," Roland said, patting the heavy crossbow.
...
"I am fire, I am death!" Smaug roared as he flew towards Long Lake Town.
"Dragon incoming!" shouted a Batenian archer.
"Release the arrows!" Several archers echoed, launching their armor-piercing arrows.
Most arrows bounced off Smaug's scales, but one found its mark, slipping between two scales. "Roar! Damn ants! You can actually hurt me!" Smaug bellowed, furious.
A column of dragon fire swept through the town, forcing the archers to dive into the water or hide in alleys.
"Shoot!" More arrows flew as Smaug swooped over Long Lake Town again. Some pierced his scales but failed to cause serious harm.
"We can't penetrate his hide!" a Batenian archer shouted as Smaug turned to dive.
"Boom!" Dragon flames engulfed the archers' previous positions.
Carlos returned, looking grim. His armor bore scorch marks from dragon fire. "It's too hard to kill! This dragon is tougher than any giant dragon I've seen!"
"Should I try to fight him head-on?" Carlos whispered.
"Don't be foolish. You'd just be a target," Roland replied sternly. "Tell the men to retreat once their arrows are spent."
"We can only create a distraction. The armor-piercing arrows are too short..." Roland sighed, watching Smaug rampage.
"Bard! Not yet!" Roland shouted, seeing Bard ready the heavy crossbow. "We only have one shot. We need to make it count. Think of your ancestors, Bard!"
"Damn it!" Bard punched the wall in frustration.
...
"Look at what we've caused," Bilbo lamented as he watched Long Lake Town burn.
"Poor people..." Balin murmured.
The dwarves sat despondent, their faces illuminated by the distant flames. Thorin stood silently, staring at the Lonely Mountain. Bilbo glanced at him but said nothing.
...
"My quiver's empty!" a Batenian archer called out.
"Me too!"
"I've got a few left. Share them around!" another archer shouted.
The archers began to retreat, moving to the outskirts of the town and rowing away in small boats hidden earlier.
"Most of the archers are out of arrows," Carlos reported.
Smaug continued his rampage, his flames boiling the town's waterways.
"Bud, get the bowstring! We need to draw Smaug's attention," Roland ordered, leading the remaining archers.
Smaug's body was riddled with arrows, yet he remained unscathed.
"Shoot him!" Roland commanded.
The sound of arrows hitting scales rang out. Enraged, Smaug turned and charged at Roland and his men.
"Boom!" Smaug's landing crushed a row of houses, and he strode towards them.
The archers fired their last arrows, then drew their swords and hammers.
"Oh? Tiny humans? Without your bows, what will you do?" Smaug sneered.
Roland signaled to Bard, who quietly prepared the spear launcher. Smaug, unaware, focused on Roland.
Bud spotted the loose scales and took aim. "For the glory of River Valley! For mankind! Die, Smaug!" he shouted, releasing the black arrow.
Roland and his men dove for cover as Smaug unleashed his flames. The black arrow struck true.
Smaug roared in agony, struggled to fly, and crashed down heavily.
...
"He fell?" Bilbo asked, astonished.
"I saw him fall!" Balin exclaimed.
"Smaug is dead!" The cheer spread among the townspeople.
...
"Well done!" Roland said, emerging from the ruins and patting Bud on the back.
"He's really dead?" Bud asked, still in disbelief.
"You've restored your family's honor," Roland praised.
"But Long Lake Town is destroyed..." Bud lamented.
"At least the people are safe. We can rebuild," Roland said with a reassuring smile, stepping onto a small boat. "Coming with me?"
"Of course," Bud replied, joining him.
"Wait, I almost forgot! We need to salvage Smaug's remains," Roland said, running towards the dragon's corpse, knowing its value.
"Congratulations on completing the quest: The Battle of Smaug! Reward: Temple Priest."
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