Ashes

Chapter 1

The vibrant town was flooded with people, I stood at equal height to most of them, meanwhile, Aldric hovered over them inches above their heads. It was strange seeing such a lovely place amidst the brutal fighting going on miles away. Flowers coated the grassy green pathway, their colors as vibrant as the personalities of those around me. Just imagine how soon it could be that possibly half of them would be gone.

"Excuse me, miss," Aldric began, stopping a cheerful old woman in her tracks. He coninuted. "Do you, by any chance, know there Tannon Gray lives?"

The old woman smiled, her skin wrinkling with each movement. "Just down there, the home with the burgundy door." She pointed towards a small house, it seemed quant.

He nodded his thank you and said goodbye to the little old lady. "I wish you where that nice to me." I mumbled under my still breath. It was warm, not a burning-your-skin warm, just warm. Pleasant.

We made our way through the semi-crowded streets, some staring at us as we walked. After all, seeing an elf like Aldric in these parts where there where only humans and hobbits, and the fact our weapons where practically on display. They where all to valuable to leave behind, a sword (in need of almost always sharpening), a bow and a dozen of special arrows made by the magic of sorcerers, and a dagger (it's not very important).

The people nearly make a path for us to pass before them, like we where a superior for fighting in the war. It unnerved me, as people stared blankly as if we wouldn't notice.

Aldric knocked as I stood by his side. My thoughts began to flood with questions and answers and concernes about seeing him again. The door swiftly opened, he looks older.

Tannon looked at me for a second, his brown eyes soft and warm, his equally as brown hair soft and uncombed. "Look at you..." He murmured, embracing me in a tight squeeze. My face burrowing into his chest. I can hear Lilith as she jumps into Aldric's arms. She grew up. Now's she's nine, it's been two years since we all seen each other and it was nice to reunite with everyone. We let go of each other. Lilith giggled, Aldric smiled. It was nice to smile again.

We stepped inside, I look to see Aragona, Tannon's now pregent wife, awaiting her greetings. I always had silently wondered how the heir of a wondrous fortune could throw it all away to marry an ex-servent. But they did make a cut couple. I hugged her gently, carefully in order not to accidentally hurt her in anyway.

"Did you all forget about me?" I heard the familiar voice, it was Telise, my old friend who used to never leave my side. Each solider wore mostly the same uniform, a dim mud-colored set of armour which wasn't very good for protection but it was at least something. She now equaled Aldric's height, that was unusual for half human half drawf. She was muscular, her blonde hair pulled into a bun. "Is it just me or did everyone but you grew?" She asked as she gave me a hug, she hasn't changed much. We all spoke to each other, none of us speaking of the war. It was a good idea to leave it be until the discussion was needed and we would be off.

¤

The pillows where soft, the blanket warm. We all began to drift into sleep. It was comforting, warm and soft. It was so different than sleeping on the ground.

It was warm, getting warmer. The ground growing into the feeling of heated dirt. The sounds of marching grew louder and louder. It was familiar all too familiar, the looked like walking darkness in the figures of soliders, they smelt like rooting corpse. The town seemed barely recognizable as it was engulfed in the terrifying flames. Screams began to echo until they where cut off entirely. Building began to crumble, soliders one by one slowly began to fall. The hope of victory was futile. So useless to believe that three trained soliders and one ex-solider could defeat an army of hundreds of undead. It was pure choas.

"They're coming." I mumbled.