The Lonely City

The Watchtower

The watchtower, as I mentioned before, could look out over the plains towards the Dark Forest but, like I also mentioned, only those with the sharpest eyes could behold it's intimidating size and the two in the tower were known for having the best eyesight. One was named Allethan, he had short, brown hair and was remarkably tall compared to the people of Sodemview, but was average for the height of the Elves. Many people wondered why this was, and most just assumed it was because his mother, Elewen, was an Elf, and they're probably correct. The other in the tower was considerably shorter, and had jet black hair- his name was Thilhan. There was a common joke surrounding the two's difference in height, likening them to 'the Elf and the Dwarf'. It was at approximately 10 o'clock when Allethan climbed the watchtower to meet his friend, who was watching intently. "See anything?", Allethan asked, trying to see what was drawing Thilhan's gaze.

"If you mean Goblins, Trolls, Dragons or anything else that might pose a threat to us then no, only that...", as he said this he pointed towards the Forest. "It's not all bad, I did see a couple of rabbits running along the borders, probably away from whatever's causing all the birds to disappear", he turned to face Allethan, who was still looking at the wall of bark that faced them. "Have you ever thought about going in there?"

"No, never, and I don't plan on either", Allethan answered without pause, raising his hand to deflect the rays of sunlight that were streaming on to his face.

"Not even if you were forced, by Goblins or other people?" 

"Not even then, I'd rather die than step foot in there", on the word die, Allethan unsheathed his sword, the metal glinting in the sunlight. One advantage of living in Sodemview (and there weren't many) was that Elven weapons were transported there in exchange for the fish brought down from the coast. They stood, in silence, for a while before a voice from below woke them from their daydreams. 

"Allethan!", cried the voice of a woman- Yilia, Allethan's sort-of girlfriend, I say 'sort-of' because in the world of Andrium, you were ether married, or not. At this voice both Allethan and Thilhan looked down to see her, she had black hair, that always seemed to be curled at any time in the day, even after working at the inn- The Golden Bear. She also seemed to be forever tanned, despite working indoors all day. "Come down! I need to see you!" She shouted, her voice a faint husk of what it would've been had they heard it on ground level.

"We'll be right down!", Allethan shouted back while beginning to climb down the many stairs before being stopped by Thilhan.

"We can't go, we need to watch the plains!", Thilhan stayed in his chair and simply stared at Allethan.

"Nothing ever happens here! Why should we sit around waiting for a danger that will never come!", Allethan had a good point, and Thilhan found it so hard to argue back that he simply accepted that Allethan was going and followed him, locking the door shut once they had reached the bottom. "What is it?", Allethan asked.

"Come and look at this!", she began to run off, gesturing for them to follow. She led them past what they thought she was leading them to-the inn, and only stopped running when she reached a small lake situated behind the many wooden houses of the town. 

"So what are we looking at?" Thilhan asked, for even he and Allethan were struggling to see what they were looking at.

"Can't you see!?" Yilia said it like it was obvious. "The water's steaming! Look!", she brought them close to the waters edge and let them have a long look until finally...

"Oh yeah!", Allethan shouted. He turned around looking rather pleased with himself. The water was steaming, just as Yilia had said, and at a rate that no summer could cause. It was, I should note, the Second Age of Andrium and the year 764- SA 764. It was also November 4th, so it was highly unusual for water to be evaporating at this time. "I wonder why that is?", he asked Thilhan, like he would know.

"I have no idea, maybe someone's tipped ale in it", Thilhan answered, he held his hand above the water, allowing the ribbons of steam to swim around it. "Well it seems to be fi-", he stopped mid-sentence and yelled, pulling his hand away and holding it to his chest. "That's really hot!", he yelled.

"What could possibly have done this?" Allethan asked, holding his hand to feel the warmth being emitted from the clear water.

"I don't know, maybe it's just been a little hotter recently" Yilia suggested. They all knew that that was not the reason.

"Well whatever it is I'm sure it won't bother us for long, if at all", Thilhan said before turning and walking back towards the tower. Allethan turned to Yilia.

"I must go with him, keep him out of trouble. I'll see you tonight?" Allethan asked, constantly checking to make sure Thilhan was still visible.

"Umm, yes, of course. Maybe you can stop by at the inn when you are finished?"

"I'll try, goodbye", he finished before racing off after Thilhan. When he caught up with him he was quickly met with...

"If Doren knows we were gone we'll be in more trouble than if the Forest one day turns up at our doorstep", Thilhan quickened his pace and was very much relieved when they arrived and no-one was waiting for them. This slowed them down, but only by a little. When they reached the door Thilhan already had the key in his hand, and there was little time between them reaching the door and the key being turned in it's lock. They were greeted by an empty room, the same as the way they  had left it. An audible sigh hung in the air long after Thilhan let the sound leave his lips.