Written in The Stars

The Fifth Scroll

Nestor looked lost, sitting in his usual place in the tavern. Morning, very few people. His soul is somehow empty. The elf ran his finger along the base of the cup, and his already misty-shiny eyes became completely cloudy. When the door swung open, he immediately realized who had come inside – Pete, as loud as ever – literally burst into the establishment:

"Well, people, meet the knight!"

Nestor immediately got to his feet and walked towards his friend with a huge smile on his face. Their embrace was strong and truly loving.

"Pete, I've missed you so much."

"And how bad it was for me without my lover!" The young man stroked his head, ruffling his long hair.

"Sit down," the elf led him to the counter, "tell me what happened to you. I was hoping to see you much sooner."

"Yea, sorry" Pete's gaze was indeed somewhat guilty, but at the same time mysterious. "I wasn't going to disappear, but you know me – one skirt, two... That's all."

Nestor watched the young man with real delight – it was clear that he really missed him a lot.

"Yes, you're a real heartbreaker," he lightly slapped his friend on the shoulder. "How many girls have you met?"

"Yes... Not so much, actually," Pete gestured to the innkeeper, asking for the same thing his companion had.

"Well, it's okay, you still have everything ahead of you," the elf touched his friend again. It seemed that he couldn't live without it.

"Did no one else come back?" The young man looked around with some disappointment.

"No, you're the first," Nestor couldn't stop smiling.

"Well, yes, what did I expect," Pete chuckled, accepting a cup of drink, "they decided to conquer the world."

The young man sipped the unknown liquid while Nestor watched him with the deepest condescension – he suspected that his friend was worried that the others would go far ahead, leaving him behind. At the same moment, Pete choked, and his face turned into a grimace of disgust.

"What is it?" He continued to spit.

"Herbal tincture."

"Oh gods, what are you doing here..."

"Lydia likes it very much," the elf shrugged his shoulders.

"Lyds likes all sorts of nasty things. She's the one," he twirled his finger at his temple, "who is weird."

"You miss her," Nestor grinned slightly, and there was cunning in his gaze.

"Of course, I miss her," Pete did not lie, but he could not look into the eyes of the interlocutor – he turned the cup in his hands. "This fool is the only woman I will love no matter what."

The elf turned to the countertop, not holding back a joyful smile. Warmth spread throughout his chest, warming his insides.

"Don't make that look," the young man snorted.

"Which one?" Nestor played perplexity.

"Oh, you know!" Pete punched him in the shoulder.

"I just don't understand why you don't tell her that," the elf laughed, patting his companion's hair.

"Why? So she can eat me?"

"She loves you too," he waved his hand.

"Still, I'm in last place among her favorites," the young man squinted, not taking his eyes off the interlocutor.