Chapter 34
Loki created a few barriers throughout their trek up the mountain. They used very little energy, and would emit a loud and deafening burst, killing the one who ran into it, and keeping them safe. He would have to take any that were left down after the battle. That was assuming that they would all survive, which he was not certain would happen. If anyone would die in this excursion, well he would not hesitate to say he hoped it was the dumb gray wizard, but he had to admit that the man seemed rather self sacrificial, he doubted that he would die. At least, not yet. He would have died in the mountain had he not interfered, but he could admire the dedication to their mission. Even if he thought it was rather stupid thing for him to do. No, he felt that if any were to die it would likely be Boromir. Not because he was not good with a sword, from what he had seen the man was, well, he was capable. It would be because the stupid man decided to rush out of the barrier that Legolas had performed to keep them relatively safe at the top of the mountain. As such, he did not send the man to protect the Hobbits. Instead, he had carefully formed groups that were likely to work best with each other.
For the first, he placed Gandalf with Boromir, knowing that if Boromir or Gandalf died then it was really their fault and at that point they sort of deserved it. Perhaps a bit callous, Loki would admit, but he did not particularly like the man or the wizard anyways, so he really could care less what happened to either person in that group. Which may also be why he put them to the side, but honestly, he did not feel that many would come that way, and if needed it was an easily defensible position, assuming they did not do something stupid and rush out...which he was almost certain one of the two would do, which was really why he put them on the most easily defensible side, and therefore the side that was least likely to get a stream of orcs rushing into them. He did not want to risk them doing something stupid and irreparably breaking their formation. He already knew one of the two would die, it was unavoidable. They both were hasty, rush to act, and Boromir had a great wealth of pride and arrogance to add to that impulsive feeling. He reminded him so much of Thor, and considering the amount of times that Loki has had to come to Thor's aid when he did something horribly stupid he would not be surprised if the man died.
For the second, he had separated the Hobbits into two groups. Merry and Pippin, while many would underestimate the two, they were quite capable when they wanted to be. For that he had put them together with Gimli. The dwarf was brash, and Loki did not particularly care for him, but even he could admit that the small creature knew what he was doing. While the Dwarves that he was used to were not so...small...at least not on their home planet, Loki knew enough about them, and had seen enough in Gimli, to know that the three combined would do a lot of damage. He may not like Gimli, but he knew a good fighter when he saw one, and he knew someone who could easily take down hundreds had they the right motivation. Protecting two of the Hobbits who both, while good at fighting, did not have the same experience, he knew would be the motivation that the Dwarf needed. The look of shock when Loki had admitted that he trusted him to protect the two as best as he would be able had been enough for Loki. The firm determination that he saw in the other's eyes when he had pushed him, that was what he had expected to see.
In the third group he had Frodo and Sam with Aragorn. Frodo and Sam were not really the best with fighting, but they could when it came down to it. Aragorn was a very good fighter, and very well developed. He knew that he could hold his own to protect Frodo and Sam when it came down to it, he had no qualms. He trusted Aragorn in a fight far easier than he did Boromir. He had also known that Boromir was tempted from the beginning, however, and therefore did not trust him anywhere near Frodo. Perhaps a bit rude, but Loki did not really care. They were in a very tentative situation, and having Boromir so close to the Ring, it was not a good plan, he knew that for sure, and as such the first and third group were as inconveniently spaced apart as far as possible given the small land area.
He placed Haldir and Legolas in the back. Legolas and Haldir were both far more than a little used to being both in the thick of the fight, as well as being held in the back given his abilities. Loki would use primarily his magic, wherever he was needed, and as such he would switch between groups as needed. That also meant that unfortunately should Boromir do something stupid like try and rush into the fray of battle, and he could help, he would definitely feel obligated to do so. He personally thought it annoying, but really there was nothing more to do.
He did not really even have much time to think on it as the Orcs came rushing towards them at that moment. Loki prepared himself, and he had placed everyone in groups as best as he could figure. He just hoped that it was enough...though for some unknown reason, he had this feeling...someone was going to die here. He did not particularly like the feeling, but nor did he have enough time to think on it before he was burst into the fray of fighting.