Elfstan does not have time to reconnect with Mulligan after checking the house to sneak inside and try to cut the ballista. Mulligan sneaks in to oil the stairs going up. Elfstan does spy Sir Thoroncir and Princess Gilraen waiting a short distance off the path near the foot of the hill. He waits to join them why keeping an eye on the tower and building.
Gilraen looking calm is inwardly nervous and a bit frightened. She never imagined fighting trolls herself and tries to remember everything she learned from her father, uncles and Pippin. She takes courage from Thoroncir who looks so calm and brave despite him being but a few years older than herself.
Gil-Gandel and Miron are in position. There is shouting within the tower though. Someone must have been seen by now. Hopefully it is not Mulligan inside.
Ghân has casted his spell and is waiting for the right time.
Gwaelur has a good part of the excavation started and has given detailed instructions to Gorbo and Curu. They should have the tunnel collapsed in another 10 minutes.
Gwaelur jogs back to spellcasters to update them and then marches to Thoroncir and Gilraen. The three head up the long winding path at a fast walk. The rain has begun.
Where is Mulligan and is she OK?
The first Lightning Bolt comes crashing down on the weakest part of the tower’s roof. A very loud crack is heard. Rubble falls of the top of the tower mainly to the west side and part of the roof falls in as smoke rises up. Folca will soon need to land as the wind is picking up but Deor sees that a large section of roof has collapsed.
Back inside, Mulligan had already moved on to coat the top steps and sides of the stairs going down to the ground floor and was waiting quietly out of the way near the window when the shouting happened. She used two of her flasks of oil up.
She made out that a troll upstairs was yelling about two humans near the path. A goblin yelled “I think I saw something moving in the trees like Hrim said before.” The Troll bellows, “Hrim, where are you lazy gob? Hello?”
The Troll on the ground floor sounding sleepy roars back, “Shut your yap Fred, it’s time for sleep not yelling.”
Fred (the Troll), “On your feet Rub, there be men about and maybe sumthing else. Where’s Hrim? He was sent to wake you, didja et ‘im and roll back over?”
Rub, “I ain’t et no gob in years andja be knowing dis Fred.”
Elfstan saw the three moving up the path and once they within the wall, he climbs up the tower and into a window to help Mulligan however she needs it. He hears the tail end of the shouting from 2nd floor to ground floor.
Mulligan realizes Rub has gotten up and then the huge crack from above and rock and dust comes falling down. It looks like the second floor held the rubble but a troll comes flying down the stairs in a panic and hits his head hard on the wooden steps at least three times as his feet flew out from under him on the slippery steps. He lands hard on his backside and his ballista-bow lands on him with a thud.
Gwaelur rushes the door and starts chopping at it.
What do the Hobbits do, there is a prone troll on the floor and chaos above?
What does everyone outside do?