My night ended suddenly, as a big Hand grabs my shoulder and shake me firmly and careful. "Wake up!", a deep male voice spoked to me. The voice was quite familiar but strange somehow. "Just five more minutes!", I muttered and tried to fall asleep again. The Hand don't let go of me but rather shook me again. "Come on!", the voice prompted me again. With a deep grumble I buried my face in the warm and scented hay. That was the Moment I finally woke up. Hay?
Shocked I sat up, I blinked and saw the man who tried to wake me. Brown curly hair, broad shoulders. I couldn't believe my eyes as I stared in blue eyes. "Thane?", I asked in confusion about that what was in front of me. I was sitting in Hay, face-to-face with Thane. "Come on, get up! I think you wanted to be present so badly.", he said as he got on his feet. Short time passed until the words makes a little sense to me. Present at what? The Question were making circles in my head, but I got up and looked around me. Besides to me there was a bag and a cloak I had slept on. Quickly I took both and followed Thane.
We left our shelter what exposed to be a barn and got on our way. Near the barn was a little house with a big sign with the big letters of "Hammerheads Inn" on it. I gasped and my eyes grew wide as we enter it. Like a pilgrim to Mecca I was stepping through the door in awe and wonder. There were not many people inside but a group of men were already celebrating something. I kept close to Thane as he ordered drinks and food. Together we sat down on a table far away from the bunch of revel men, and I was happy about that. Very happy. Firmly I send a look to them to keep an eye on them, but it just made me more uncomfortable before I moved closer to Thane. He gave them a glare but then he attended to his food in front of him.
"Well, where are we going?", I finally dared to ask him and shifted nervous on me seat. Thanes look at me showed me confusion. "What do you mean with where are we going? You already know that!", he replied harsh, obviously thinking I tried to tease him. I looked down on my feet. I never thought that he might be so much interesting. As I lifted my sight I realize that he was watching me his eyes full of worries. "We're going to the tournament I want to compete, remember? You don't have to tease me, and you don't have to ask again. , he spoke to me, laying his big hand on my shoulder to comfort me. A tournament, he said? Surprised I looked up to him. I don't want him to worry so I gave him a bright smile. He calmed and responded it.
I didn t know what was going on, but something inside me was happy and excited.
After we finished our breakfast, we left the tavern. We went to a small village. A feast was there on the marketplace. In the middle was a ring surrounded with a wooden fence. There were many people and I kept close to him because I was afraid to get lost, but I can't resist looking at all the things around me. Merchants were selling their goods and a good scent of food was in the air. All the impressions were distracting me so I don't see it coming, when Thane suddenly stopped. I bumped into him and almost fall on my rump, but he catches me before I hit the ground. "Watch out!" he grumbled to me. He nods to the side of us and shove me a little bit further around the wooden fence. "There are the others.", he said, and as he mentioned the others I saw them. There leaning on the fence were Marek, Dagen and Teela. The seemed to be waiting for something, but as we got in their sight they smiled at us. I couldn't believe my eyes but well, I was traveling with Thane. I thought it couldn't get any weirder.
"Hey Marek, Dagen, Teela, would you look after my sister, while I'm trying to enroll?", he asked before he greets Teela and sent her a loving glance. Marek s reply was a firm nod, while she smiles at me. "Greetings, nice to meet you!", she said as Dagen shoved her aside with a handsome grin. "Hello there.", he added to me, but Marek stopped him with a warning look. "Don't dare you to philander with Thanes little sister!" Dagen smiled widely. "Oh look, you're jealous, dear Marek. Don't worry, I've just eyes for you.", he claimed. Teela looks at me friendly. Her face was showing kindness and true beauty. While Marek and Dagen were arguing, Teela took me closer to the fence. Together we watch the first duelists fighting. A short look behind me showed, that Marek and Dagen were still arguing. But then Marek joined us while Dagen was walking away. "What's with him?", I asked her. Marek shrugged with her shoulders in disinterest and then watched two rivals fighting. Then during I was trying to understand what was happening, there was a delightful gasp from Teela catching my attention. I looked up as Thane was entering the ring. His sword and his shield in his hand prepared to fight. I cob Teela and myself holding breath while Thane barely dodged a hit of his rival. Marek was calm all the time, and I wished to know how she could be. "He will be fine", she promised me. I nodded. I truly hoped so. Dagen made me jump when he suddenly appeared beside me with a wide grin. "Where have you been?", I wanted to know as he took a purse out of his pocket. "I took a rich man from his burden. And we can drink later at my cost.", he said and let the purse vanish again. "As long as you don't try your pickpocket skills on me, I'm fine with." I respond and tried to watch Thane. "No, I don't steal from friends.", he defended himself raising his hands. Marek laughed to my right, while he was on my left. "You stole from me.", she teased him a little. Dagen kept pretending defending himself. "You weren't my friend at this time." I tried not to listen, because I don't want to burst out laughing while the two were arguing again with me in the middle and turned back to the fight and back to Thane, ignoring the thief and the mage. I saw him looking to Teela with care and can't help myself but giggle a bit. As his rivals all were beaten he came to us. Teela climbed over the fence and hugged him tightly, while he seemed to be exhausted but happy. He was a hero, especially for me and I was happy for him. I joined Teela and Thane in the ring and gave him a firm hug. "Congratulations, Thane.", I talked to him almost whispering. Thane smiled. "Did you enjoy it?", he wanted to know and I nodded with a bright smile as I replied "I did!" "Now friends how about celebrating?", Dagen interrupted us after Thane took the trophy money.
All of us gave him a nod. I wanted to follow them to the next tavern, as a thrilling tone get to my ears. I stopped. Blinked. That was the moment I recognized my alarm clock. It was just a dream, but it was a very nice one.