Sharp, crooked teeth grinned at him from the oversized, bald head. Murder glinted in the rheumy eyes, deep-set over the lips and where the creature's nose should be. In what little light was there, glinted the rusted, jagged shard of metal it called a weapon.
Elias' chest ached, sweat dotting his forehead, limbs shook and the bitter taste of metal filled his mouth. His eyes locked with those of the goblin, the cackling of the creature's allies echoing behind him as they moved in on the Ranger. The doctor fumbled for the vial in his pocket, but no matter what he tried, the sweaty fingers couldn't get a hold of it; his heart thumping painfully against the shallow chest.
He watched as the goblin rushed at him, the weapon raised and ready to strike. It wasn't a long-distance that had to be covered and at some point, everything seemed to slow down. Elias felt strangely separated from his body, a ghostly identity floating just outside his flesh and bone. Terror overwhelmed him. Was he dead?
Elias turned to where his companion was, but instead of the ranger, he found the bitter expression of Taite glaring at him, the same look he had seen on so many before; Anger and disappointment. His heart sank and the confusion he had felt that evening came back, the familiar feeling of being unwelcomed. The doctor turned to the door, words were exchanged, but he didn't hear them.
He stepped out and somehow, went straight into the infirmary that he had set up. There, waiting for him, was the familiar face of the hooded companion he had travelled with. The man spoke, but there was no sound, yet Elias knew well what had been said.
The detached spirit of the doctor moved further on, looking over to the table where so many had gathered. There, Fiontann sat with a large grin and hand raised to beckon the man over, calling something that remained unheard.
Elias stared at the table, watching as an image of old guests began to fade in and out of each of the chairs; faster and faster. He felt dizzy. Unable to watch the rapid shift any longer, he turned around.
Behind him, the visage of Jackilyn appeared, staring up at him. Tears rolled down her face as she yelled something, bitter and hurt. Elias knew he was meant to do something, but he couldn't find the answer. The front door suddenly closed and the woman was gone. Leaning on the door was the image of Ruevir, her nose deep in one of his books and the woman paying little attention to his presence. What was happening?
He sat down to rest, to try and gather his thoughts and senses. A cry of pain caught his attention. He turned to look into the room, to the bed where he watched Sol tossing and turning as the fever from the treatment began to overwhelm her, there wasn't anything he could do to help.
The door opened and the man looked up, seeing the bright smile of the Hobbit, Gustine. Beside her, the physician who had taken up work with him, Maddoct. The two joined at his table, Gustine beginning a story and the two, no three, -four. Elias looked around, finding every chair around him filled by a dwarf. Many of them laughed as they listened to the Hobbit woman, others remained with a stoic face. Masters Maurr-, Yurri-, Tumunir-, Zurri-, Arlis-, and others, but someone was missing.
Elias rose from his seat and hurried to the kitchen where he found Master Bíld, stood by the fire and preparing tea. The dwarf looked up and smiled warmly, words exchanged but remaining inaudible to the doctor.
A sound came from the other room, a strange, distorted choir of laughs. The doctor stepped back out, looking over the common area where the fading images began to pop in and out of existence until one face remained before him with a bright smile. Jackilyn looked up at him, laughing and smiling cheerfully whilst carrying the box he had given her. Behind the woman he caught the visage of the treasure hunter, Silver, grinning from ear to ear and calling something to him, but he was uncertain what it was.
"Elias"
That voice. He looked up to where it came from, hearing his name called softly again "Elias." The ghostly images slowly withered, his focus turned to the study that stood open, his attention caught briefly by the grey cat that brushed past his legs and into the study; the doctor following slowly after.
It wasn't the study he knew that he stepped inside of, but a different one, a room that was familiar to him; his father's study. His eyes landed upon a woman sat at the empty bed, hunched over, arms underneath her face to capture the tears that fell from the sorrow she felt. "Mother?" Elias stepped closer, but then felt uncertain how to approach or comfort the woman. The unease caused him to turn to flee, instead finding his brother's bed and both his mother and father stood over the young man.
Elias slowly approached, staring helplessly at the man upon the bed. There was a quiet chuckle that filled the room, a cheerful smile looking up to the young doctor, arm stretching out to grasp Elias' wrist and pull him closer. There was a whisper, but he couldn't make out the words.
"Cheer up!"
When Elias looked up, he felt pressure on his shoulder, eyes snapping to his right where he found the grinning visage of his brother. He looked around, it was the tavern they had kept visiting. There was movement all around him, but he didn't see any faces, just that of his brother. "It's my birthday so it's my rules. Drink up! You are celebrating whether you like it or not." A laugh bellowed loudly from the man, his tankard raised high to Elias.
The doctor blinked, once was enough to find himself in a different room with a crowd of people he didn't know. There was music, there was talking, singing, dancing and feasting.
He blinked again, this time peering up at the sellsword's young figure, Remdir. Elias felt the blood on his cheek, the pain around his eye and watched as the young man extended his arm out to help the boy up. He closed his eyes and slowly opened them again.
Each time a new place, a different memory that went by rapidly until he found himself as a young child, stood in front of the workbench, beside his father. Elias looked at the mess he had managed to make of the work surface, frightened eyes turning upwards to meet his father's as the older man stared down.
"No one succeeds on the first try, son." The man said patiently, placing his hand on the boy's shoulder "We'll try again. Grab the vial."
Elias suddenly felt the cold breath fill his lungs, the weight of his body and the sense of impending doom again as he stared into the piercing eyes of the goblin. The last three words he had heard were repeated and in that instant, his fingers locked around the vial he had been struggling with, bringing it out into the open.
The man had planned this since first he had thought of it, how easy it would be to scare any attackers, but it was never as people thought of or imagined. The practice served him well nonetheless, the cork pulled out from the vial and the clear, burning liquid thrown into the goblin's face.
A bloodcurdling shriek filled the area as the goblin fell to the ground, clawing at his face in desperate hope to get the burning acid off him, eyes and flesh sloughing off in long, grisly streaks that could revolt even the sturdiest of stomachs.
The cries and shouts were enough to earn the attention of the others, striking fear into the goblins that quickly began to retreat, but not without having injured the doctor's companion.
Elias managed a breath, inhaling deeply through his nostrils and in that moment catching a familiar scent. He turned to where a jar had been tipped over and the ignited tar spilling over the ground surrounding them. Then, another scent and dark smoke rising from the jar. While the doctor had no skills or experience in adventuring or battling such enemies, he knew well what the goblins had planned and there was no time to spare.
He rushed to Ranger, grabbing him by the arm. "Run" - he muttered, quietly at first. "Aeruthuil, we need to get out of here. Now." He added, yanking his companion along.
"Keep following the path through the forest." Was the reply given, but the doctor was stubborn.
"There's no time." The doctor insisted, darting his eyes to the nearest tree with a thick enough body to hide them both. A strange hiss began to echo within the jar, catching Elias' attention. "Behind there. Now!" He barked at the Ranger, dragging him behind the tree and just in the nick of time.
A sudden explosion thundered through the forest, the force shattering the small jar and sending both shrapnel and ignited tar flying around them.
Elias' heart raced within his chest, eyes open wide and the breath quick and shallow. He had been unaware that the goblins of the north also possessed the mysterious recipe for black powder.
It took a few moments before the doctor was able to move again, pushing away from the tree and looking across the area that was now on fire. Elias rushed forward, stomping out the small flames he could find, but it was of no use, this was out of their control.
The smoke made it harder for them to breathe and as the wind swept it, the area became harder to navigate through.
Elias felt a strong grip against his arm, pulling him along as Aeruthuil began to make his way back to the path they had been heading, pointing towards the road. With the young doctor in tow, the Ranger began to guide them, seeking a place to find rest and safety. "Come on." Aeruthuil encouraged the tired doctor, dragging him along until finally, they reached a small, hidden haven where the two could sit down and recuperate.
