Galtharian poked his head into the room, glancing around the dusty room cautiously before opening the door fully. His face lit up as he saw the figure inside. He dashed in, unwrapping the parcel he was carrying and setting down the several bottles on the top of the papers and maps on the table. He grabbed two empty mugs from the nightstand next to them, hopping over the books that were stacked all over the floor.
"Lupold is still making dinner, he told me we should get ready. He seems to be preparing quite a royal feast!" he rambled on as he poured them the drinks, the room instantly getting filled with the smell of strong ale. He was getting much better at speaking Westron, he de delivered the words with ease though his voice was still heavily accented. Cedmon reached out to accept the mug, yet still he did not look up at the younger Silvan, turning papers around with his free hands as he muttered some sort of reply as agreement. This did not discourage Galtharian, however:
"Where is Dolothrion? I don't think Lupold will appreciate him being late. Were we not supposed to meet here for the meal?"
No reply still, as the other started tracing some path on one of the maps with his finger, sipping the offered drink. Galtharian leaned forward, studying the numerous maps and notes but soon losing interest as he concluded this is not something he could understand. The rambling continued, posing a question every now and again, yet continuing to other topics soon as the other offers no reply. Mugs were emptied and then filled again, passed around in an endless circle yet still not resulting in the other looking up from his work, but the younger of the two still found what to speak of, hours later:
"Oh! Did you hear the musicians in front of the 'Pony' today? They were incredible! Do you think I will ever be able to play like that? I considered asking the fiddler for some guidance, but-...' Cedmon stood up, his features now relaxed by many a drink finally showing his annoyance clearly "They are frauds." he said through a scoff as he moved to gather his things and leave.
Galtharian stared at him wide-eyed for but a moment before standing up also, abandoning his mug "Frauds? What do you mean? Wait... How do you know that? Have you spoken to them?" An expression of utter disbelief made it's way onto the naive face, his messy dark hair swaying around as he adamantly shook his head.
"I know." Cedmon said simply, pulling his hood over his face as he stepped out of the room and started making his way out of the inn, surely an attempt at escaping the endless string of questions and comments coming from his companion. Yet this attempt was not succesful as the other followed, the questions never seeming to stop.
They were out in the streets of Bree now, night has fallen upon it and it was mostly empty, no more than a couple of drunk or questionable characters roaming around. Cedmon quickened his steps in a desperate attempt to lose the other, but that made his companion only rush to match his speed. This continued for a time, until they were fully running after each other, the drunken state they were in making them completely unaware of the odd looks they were getting from the rare Breelander that saw them.
The archer jumped onto one of the fences, sparing his pursuer glance before dashing forward, disappearing swiftly between some houses that stood before them, his cloak fluttering behind him until he was out of sight. Galtharian attempted the same, yet as he tried to run after him, he slipped and fell into the soft grass on the other side of the street. He looked around, taking in the sight around him. Before him was a quiet garden, silent and undisturbed in contrast to the usual business of the town itself. Forgetting all about who he was running after and why, he was instantly distracted by it. getting up and wandering around it in awe.
He found a spot in the grass, sitting down and looking up at the stars. His expression softened as he sat there in deep though, eventually laying down on his back, his hands idly running over the grass around him. A smile curled his lips, his eyes getting misty for a moment as he though to himself "What joy to be here and now... What joy to have them around me... A purpose, an adventure, friends...". He closed his eyes as a tear rolled down his cheek, silent and thankful as he laid there.
A hand reached out and shook him from his slumber. He blinked in confusion as he laid eyes on the one who found him and Dolothrion smiled at him, shaking his head through a chuckle. "Where were you? We have been waiting for you." Galtharian looked around, sitting up in the grass as his face turned beet red "Whe- where am I...?" He looked up at Dolothrion with a hopeless expression "I got lost..." He other laughed, grabbing him by the arm and pulling him up gently "Come now, I found you."
He let himself be led away, starring at Dolothrion's back with a grin. He was found, he was safe, they waited for him, they found him, they always would... They slipped inside the inn, Cedmon and Lupold looking at them with a look of annoyance about them. He was scolded, again, Lupold gave him a whole lecture as he shook his finger at the youngest Silvan, while Cedmon remained looking away from them as if he had nothing to do with the situation. Still, it did not remain so for long, for after the two troublemakers were forced to promise not to drink together again, they soon sat down for this grand meal that was promised.
Perhaps he could not notice it at the time, the silence, the exchanged looks, the tension that rested in the air. Perhaps he was too naive. Perhaps he felt too safe. Yet he cherished this moment, the moment of rare peace and quiet, a moment of friendship as they shared a meal, as they rested. Perchance by morning they would already be off on another adventure, singing around campfires...
Galtharian woke up with his head pounding from the affairs of last night. He reached out to find his waterskin as he could not even force his eyes open, the sunshine that pierced through the thin curtains making his headache worse. He pulled a blanket over himself, trying not to make any noise that would wake the others as he slowly forced himself awake. Yet as his eyes opened he stopped, his brows furrowing in confusion as he stared at the other beds. Empty. The covers on them folded and stacked as if calling for another visitor to claim them as their own. The floor once covered in books now was barren, nothing but odd specs of dust covering it.
He slipped out of bed, clinging to the blanket as he pulled it tighter across his shoulders, glancing around the room for any sign to where the rest could have gone. The room laid emptied, silent, offering him no answer, no explanation, no reassurance. His steps became hurried, running around the small chamber with a panic, desperately looking for a note, for anything. He stopped after a time, the blanket slipping from his shoulders and falling to the ground softly, raising a small cloud of dust. He leaned against the window, the cold glass stilling the pounding in his head. Bright blue eyes searched the streets of Bree beneath his as he fell silent, a feeling of panic and urgency growing in his chest.
Where are you?
Come back...
I need you...
I don't want to be alone again.
Please.
Please don't leave me here.
Don't leave me like they did.
I'm scared.
Ten years. A decade. It was over. There was no hope left.
They are gone.
