The Lonely City

The Golden Bear

After a long, tense day of watching pretty much nothing, Allethan and Thilhan were allowed to leave their posts at around 10.00. At this time the sky was a rich dark, broken up only by the small flecks of yellow that were the stars. As soon as their shifts ended they headed down the tower towards the market square, and the inn. At 10.00, most stores are shut and those that remain open are left a deserted building due to the fact that at this time, the inn was still open. It's small windows that dotted it's walls alight with orange and the noise a mixture of clinking jugs and laughter. Those that lived near to the inn had grown accustomed to this rabble every night and some even went down, took a few jugs of ale and went back to their houses. Because of the distance between Sodemview and Seaforge the inn was probably a more reliable place to receive news from elsewhere. The reason for this-simple everyday rumours. The inn was full of people spreading things around. Recently rumours had grown of a darkness not in the Forest, but in the east. In the continent of Goldriell- the Elven Nation. But it was dismissed very quickly by most of those that heard it and was pushed down to the very bottom of people's priorities. When Allethan and Thilhan arrived the evening was very much in full swing, some of the men sitting nearest to the bar were already swaying on the stools, drunk after only about an hour. Drinking was one of the favourite past times of Men, and that was one thing the two lookouts prided themselves on, they were both excellent at drinking games. The amount of times they had kept awake whilst the others fell into a drunken sleep was uncountable. This particular night they were not planning on staying awake all night and helping the owners of the bar, Trilid and his wife Silria, clean up after all the visitors had either gone home or rented a room in the inn if they planned to stay overnight and continue to either Meathren or Nimtras. Trilid and Silria, I should note, are also the parents of Yilia, meaning that Allethan and Thilhan usually got their drinks for free.

This night they were just there to converse with their other friends, and they did so, until the moon was high in the night sky and all those left to talk to had left. There were only a few left in the inn by now, so the opening and closing of the large wooden door at the front of the inn was heard by everyone. In stepped a rather strange looking figure, dressed in shades of brown and green, and with a cloak that spread down to his feet. He also wore a hood that shrouded most of his face and round his waist was a belt with a dagger and sword attached. He strided into the room and laid some coins on the bar, receiving a mug of ale from Yilia who, when the mysterious man was walking away, gave the lookouts a worried look. It soon came to Allethan's attention that the man was walking over to their table in the corner of the room, and this prompted him to grab hold of the dagger hidden in his own belt. The man continued to walk towards them and sat himself down in one of the empty stools at the table. There was one only one thing on the lookouts minds. "Who are you?", asked Thilhan, his hand now resting on his own dagger. The man's head turned to look at him.

"Take your hands off the daggers and I shall show you", the man answered, his voice sounded oddly familiar. But only Yilia, who was still at the bar, managed to figure out who it was. 

"Nembor!", she cried, running out of the bar and towards the table. As she did this, the man took off his hood to reveal his face. It was indeed Nembor, one of Allethan and Thilhan's closest friends. He was an elf from Meathren, to the westand had long brown hair that ran to his shoulders and dark brown eyes. He got up and turned to Yilia.

"Yes it is me", he said as she hugged him tightly.

"We haven't seen you for so long! Where have you been!?" Yilia asked, still hugging him.

"I have been involved in business to the east, there has been much trouble there", he answered pulling away from Yilia's hug and gesturing to his belt. "I thought I might stop here and see my old friends before setting off for Nimtras in the morning". 

"So what sort of trouble?", asked Allethan, intrigued by the danger that could be close to Sodemview.

"I do not know, I was sent back before I could do any front line fighting. But from what I heard all of Windmouth will face it soon, that is why I'm heading to Nimtras, to warn Isoriand of the danger they face."

"Well surely someone should get to Seaforge, we will need men here to protect us!" Thilhan asked, he was growing anxious.

"There is not enough time, I have already told Doren but he believes me to be mad", Nembor sipped at his ale. "He is stubborn, and will not listen to anything I say. But I say to you, my friends, get ready to leave, leave for Nimtras, I shall be waiting for you there".He said before going up the stairs and to whatever room was available. Once he was gone, Yilia, Allethan and Thilhan all exchanged concerned looks full of fear and worry.

"Was he serious?" Yilia asked, her voice trembling.

"I think so", Allethan answered, his voice full of fear.

"Oh no... I'd better get my parents, I have to get them out!", she exclaimed, rushing towards the door before Allethan's voice stopped her.

"Wait until morning, let them rest", he got up, finishing his tenth mug of ale and walking over to Yilia. "Everything will be fine, I promise you", he said before hugging her tightly. "I promise"...

And with that, they all went their separate ways, Allethan went to his house, as did Thilhan. Yilia, however, stayed in the inn. She could not sleep, even if she lay there for hours, she would not drift away...