Uneasy Alliance (A Roleslaying with Roman story)

The Defeat

Roman panted and leaned against the wall heavily when he and Youngblood got back to the college.

"Why.. is it always.. running.." he heaved, slumping over a bit. Youngblood shushed him and looked around warily. There were more guards around the grounds and the college than there had been when they had first gotten Noise back, so the two actually had to be careful this time.

Youngblood made sure the coast was clear before slowly pushing open the window of his old dorm room. Roman carefully climbed inside first, being mindful of his sword so he didn't hit it against the windowsill. He stepped down from the table between the two beds and onto the floor cautiously, looking around as Youngblood climbed in.

"So, this is where you and Noise grew up together?" Roman asked curiously as he looked around.

Youngblood nodded as his own feet met the floor, sighing softly and looking around. His gaze softened as he took in the mostly familiar scene, reminiscing about all of the moments he had shared with Noise here over more than half of his life. Roman called him back to reality after a few seconds, making him aware of a light sting in his eyes. He took a breath and turned to see Roman holding a small black box.

"Ro, come on, we don't have time. And don't go through his stuff."

"But this says it's for you."

"Hm?"

Youngblood leaned over a bit to look at the small tag on the side of the box. It did indeed have his name written in a small, loopy font that he instantly recognized as Noise's handwriting. Roman handed him the box and watched him inspect it curiously. Youngblood turned the tag over, and on the back was a small printed date.

Youngblood's brow furrowed as he read it. "He.. bought this right before I left.. why would he hold onto it for this long?"

Roman shrugged and leaned in a bit closer. "Maybe it was really important to him."

Youngblood hesitated slightly before opening the box. Inside was filled with a soft purple velvet, and slotted right into a small slit in the center was a thick silver ring. Youngblood's breath hitched as he looked at it, and his hand shook ever so slightly as he carefully slipped the ring out of its hold.

The band was still shiny and smooth, twisted into an intricate pattern with moons engraved and shaped around it, some filled with smooth, dark obsidian. The gem was a dazzling swirl of blue and dark purple, depending which angle you looked at it from, and was cut perfectly into the shape of a crescent moon.

Youngblood turned it over in his fingers delicately, letting out a breath he didn't know he had been holding.

Roman tilted his head as he looked at it. "That's pretty. I didn't know Noise wore rings."

"..it's not for him.." Youngblood mumbled, slowly slipping the ring onto his right hand, still staring at it. "..he was.. going to propose to me... and I left.."

Roman's eyes widened and he put a hand over his mouth. "Oh.. oh, my gods.."

Youngblood swallowed hard and closed his eyes, fighting back the surge of emotion that came over him and trying to regain his focus.

"Come on, we have to find him."

Roman nodded quickly, wiping tears from the corners of his eyes as he followed Youngblood out of the room quickly. The two crept through the hallways quietly, heading back towards the dungeon and fearing the worst. Youngblood tensed when he noticed that the guards that had been abundant outside seemed to be completely absent from the inside of the building again.

The two got down into the stone passage to the dungeon with relative ease. Youngblood peeked around the corner into the cell hallway, then jolted back behind the stone wall as a beam of bright magic shot at him.

"Shit! Roman, it's a trap, run!"

Roman quickly drew his sword and started back up the stairs, but stopped when the exit was blocked off by more guards, causing Youngblood to run into him. The two stumbled before managing to get back-to-back, Roman looking up the stairs apprehensively as Youngblood looked down, already spinning a melody on his tongue.

Roman let out a low, slightly shaky hum, casting a protective red glow over Youngblood as the elf extended his sword to strike out at the guards approaching the two. Roman turned nervously to face the group coming from the other side. He struck out with his sword, closing his eyes as he didn't want to see the damage he was surely going to do with it. A dragonborn guard took the opportunity to duck behind him, grabbing him and putting their claws to his throat. The guard turned him around forcefully and looked at Youngblood.

"Enough! Stand down or he dies!"

Youngblood whipped around, his sword ablaze. He tensed and glared at them, his jaw setting. He had to find Noise, he couldn't afford to get captured now, especially when he had already lost enough time. But he couldn't let Roman get hurt either, he had grown too close to him.

After a long moment, Youngblood sighed defeatedly and sheathed his sword, the barrier around him coming down as Roman watched him with an apologetic look. Another guard pinned Youngblood's arms behind his back as the dragonborn did the same to Roman. The rest of the guards relaxed. The one who seemed to be in charge sighed and smiled.

"Good work. Let's get these two to the king."