Escape From Candlekeep
Author's Note: This is like an intro chapter i guess. I think its called a Prologue. If anyone actually reads these stories i would love to get some constructive feedback, so that i can improve. Hope i wrote this chapter good enough.
I looked over my shoulder, at what was my, now former, home. Candlekeep, a place of knowledge and insight. A place where me and my so called sister grew up together. We weren't really siblings. I was a half-elf, she was human, but our relationship worked as if we really were siblings. We had thought Candlekeep to be one of the safest places on the Sword Coast. But Gorion, my foster father, had rushed to my chambers this morning, and told me to hurry up and pack my things. For some reason, it wasnt a safe home for us any more. I was dumbfounded, until a little later that day, where I was ambushed by some petty assassin in the bunkhouse of Candlekeep. He was asking for Gorions ward. That would be either me or Imoen, but for some reason Imoen wasn't with us, the night we fled. I felt a little guilty, since I hadn't told Imoen of our departure, but Gorion was sure that I shouldn't be telling anyone of it.
The moon glanced down at us, as we ran through the forest, my father constantly looking around as if something could jump on us at any time. Gorion had told me that if we were to become separated, I would have to seek the Friendly Arm inn, where some of his old friends were waiting. He turned around.
"Lets hurry child. The night can only get worse so we must find shelter soon. Don't worry, ill explain everything as soon as there is time". He resumed walking, getting quite ahead of me now. I heard him sigh deeply, and as I looked up to see what was troubling him, he said, with a worried look in his eyes. "Wait, there is something wrong. We are in an ambush, prepare yourself!".
I was shocked. I had heard no such sounds indicating an ambush, but out of the shadows, an armoured man came and with him an archer, and two grotesquely huge men, also known as ogres. I heard him threatening Gorion. I was certain they wouldn't prove a big problem. My father was a powerful mage, and an experienced sage. Nonetheless he yelled, with fear dripping from his voice. "Run child! Get out of here". The sounds of battle quickly faded away as I turned around and began making distance between the fighting scene and me. My foot tripped on something and I fell, landing in some kind of hole. Then I hit my head and I slipped into a state of comatose sleep.
"Hey, wake up you silly elf!". A voice cracked through my sleep almost as if someone was banging on my head with a hammer. Imoen. I recognised the annoyingly joyful voice, and I knew I was about to get hit. It was our ``morning ritual´´. The one who woke up first got to wake the other one up by any means necessary. Just as I was about to open my eyes, I felt a shoe being pressed onto my stomach. Even though she was kind of scrawny it hurt as hell.
"I'm awake, Imoen. Please!". I slowly opened my eyes to two cheery blue eyes, an uncontrollable mane of red-brownish hair, and the rest of her body putting pressure on her feet. She pouted and slowly got off, as if I had done her wrong. "Oh Than, don't be such a crybaby! I didn't even jump!" She was the only one allowed to call me by that nickname. My full name was Thantalas, and I preferred that as well, but I couldn't convince her to call me that, so I had just learned to live with it. I quickly stood up, remembering what had happened before I fell asleep, my eyes growing to the size of cups. "Oh, no no no no! Gorion! Where are you! Gorion!". I ignored Imoen, as I looked around, trying to find signs of my foster father. There was none.
"Than, I'm sorry. Gorion… He, uh. Gorions dead Than!" Imoen jumped into my arms, crying. My arms automatically began hugging her, but I just stood there. I couldn't believe it. My whole life had just been ripped apart. My home. My father. I had nothing left. Nothing by the crying girl in my arms. Deep inside me there was a thing which wanted to hide in a hole forever, mourning the loss of my old life. Tears slowly began streaming down my cheeks, as I began accepting the situation. It felt like a dream. A nightmare. But it was real, and I knew that I had to realize that at a moment. I had to be strong. For Imoen. I took her head into my hands, and looked into her eyes. They were a mess. All red and wet. "Imoen. Look at me. You Cant break down like this. That's not what Gorion would have wanted. That's not what I want. I need you here just as much as you might need me. Siblings have to stick together." She looked at me sniffling. I didn't get why I felt such a big need to protect her. She was only six months younger than me. "Are you serious, Than?" She looked at me, drying her eyes. I could see she was trying to cover up her tears, her trademark happy smile returning to her face. I giggled.
"What! What's so funny?". "
"You! You, trying to be happy, but you got tears smeared all over your face. It looks funny!"
Imoen pushed my away, giggling lowly. "Oh yeah Than! I brought you your equipment! I really don't get why you want to use such heavy weapons though!". I noticed the bag she had, just before she threw it at me. I caught it in the air easily. It really wasnt that heavy. It contained a longsword and a chain mail, some rations and a waterskin. I strapped the sword to my hip and struggled to get my armour on. A well known feeling of security and comfort spread in my body, and I knew everything was going to be okay, for now.
This is kind of like an intro chapter.