Chapter 1: Just Another Day
"Done already?" Delwin asked Garret when he saw the young man approaching from the fields.
"Yes, sir." Garret replied with a light nod. "The fields are all plowed. They are ready for planting."
"Good, good." The farmer said happily. Just then Delwin's wife, Lenna, approached the two men. She bowed lightly with a smile before turning to her husband.
"Dinner will be ready shortly." She stated.
"Thank you, dear." Delwin replied, giving her a light kiss. "Will you be joining us, Garret?" he then asked turning to the young man.
"I…I don't want to be an intrusion." He replied.
"None sense." Lenna said sweetly. "There is plenty to eat. It is the least we can do for you helping us."
"Thank you, ma'am." Garret said with a light bow. "I would be happy if you would have me as a guest this evening."
"Then it is settled." Delwin said with the clap of his hands. "Come on in and rest a while, get cleaned up. Then we can all sit down to a nice meal."
Garrett followed Delwin and his wife inside. As with most if the houses in Carvahall, theirs was a simple stout log house with a low roof. It was one of the many buildings that were rebuilt after the Battle of Carvahall when the entire village was razed by Imperial soldiers after the townspeople fled through the Spine Mountains to Teirm.
Garrett had heard a great deal about this battle. It started back when Imperial soldiers were sent to the town to take a young man by the name of Roran into custody. Roran at the time was hiding in the nearby mountains keeping a distant eye on the situation hoping to wait the soldiers out. But things escalated quickly when a group of soldiers had gotten drunk one night and killed one of the townspeople after a bar squabble.
The villagers decided that enough was enough and retrieved Roran from hiding and convinced him to led an attack on the soldiers. They succeeded in driving them back for a short time but knew that the soldiers would return. So the town of Carvahall began to fortify itself to prepare for the inevitable attack to come.
They were right in doing so because a short time later, the soldiers returned led by two foul beasts known as the Ra'zac. The villagers managed to hold off the attacks for some time but when Imperial reinforcements arrived; they decided it was best they fled the village else be killed.
And that was how the Battle of Carvahall came to pass. Many of the townspeople had lost their lives in this battle but they did not go down without a fight and they took a good number of the King's men with them. Though the town was lost, the townspeople showed that even a handful of farmers could take on Imperials when they were backed into a corner.
"You can wash up in the room on the left at the end of the hall." Lenna said as she pointed Garret to the hall. He thanked her and made his way to the hall to get clean. He was glad that he had an extra change of clothes in his pack at the time.
After he had washed up and got dressed, Garrett made his way to the kitchen. He entered the room to find the table set. Delwin was already seated at the table with a plate, waiting for everyone to sit down. Garret took an empty seat and almost immediately had a plate of food set before him by Lenna before she seated herself with a plate.
"Thank you." Garret said, but she just smiled like it was nothing.
Normally, Garrett was dining on simple foods he bought with the little gold he earned or whatever he managed to bag while hunting. It wasn't often that he got to enjoy a real home-cooked meal. So when he got the chance, he made sure he took his time to savor it.
After they had eaten their fill, Garrett had offered to help Lenna with cleaning the kitchen but she stated that it was fine and she didn't need help. Delwin motioned for Garrett to follow and then headed out onto the front porch. He followed and found Delwin sitting on an old wooden chair and gestured to the free chair next to him.
"Quite the sky out tonight, huh?" Delwin asked looking out at the stars.
"Yep." Garrett replied. "I never get tired at lookin' at it."
"Me neither."
Delwin turned and picked something up from beside him. He then turned and handed a small pint-sized jar to Garrett before taking one for himself.
"What's this?" Garrett asked. Delwin unscrewed the lid on the jar he was holding and after taking a whiff of the liquid contents, he took a hearty swig.
"Just a simple little brew." Delwin said smacking his lips lightly. "It's a cider made with sweetly spiced black berries."
"Thanks but, I don't really drink much." Garrett replied as he attempted to hand the jar back.
"Ha, me neither." Delwin replied with a smile and pushed the jar back. "Go ahead…you've earned it."
"Ahh, what the hell." Garrett said with a shrug and removed the lid before taking a sip. The cider stung his throat lightly before it was replaced with a refreshingly sweet flavor.
"Now that's not a drink." Delwin stated.
Garrett took a bigger swig coughing as the alcohol burned his throat for a moment. Delwin chuckled and clapped a hand on Garrett's back.
"There ya go." He laughed before taking another gulp. Just then, Lenna appeared at the door.
"Kitchen's done, dear…I'm gonna turn in and call it a night." She stated.
"Alright, I'll be in there shortly." Delwin replied.
"Okay…oh, and Garrett; there is a bed all set in the guest room. Just fall in when you're tired."
"Yes ma'am, and thank you again." Garrett replied with a light nod.
She returned inside leaving Delwin and Garrett to their drinks. Delwin finished his with a few hearty swigs. He set the empty jar aside and stood up with a groan.
"I think I'm gonna turn in for the night." Delwin yawned. "Gotta get up early to start with the planting."
"Alright…" Garrett replied. "See ya in the morning."
Delwin nodded before heading inside. Garrett remained there for a moment, taking another sip of his drink. He closed the jar and made his way inside. He found his bag in the guest room. He slipped the jar of mead into it. He wasn't that much of a drinker, and with his head already buzzing pleasantly, he decided it best to save the rest for another day. Then, with a tired sigh, he stretched out on the bed and promptly fell asleep.
His liquored mind sent him on fascinating adventures all across Alagaesia. He ventured from the dwarven strongholds of the Beor Mountains to the elven villages hidden deep within the vast and mysterious forests of Du Weldenvarden. He experienced amazing things and met wonderful people. He got to be in the presence of dwarven and elven royalty as well as meet powerful dragon riders.
Garrett found himself lying haphazardly in bed. His thoughts were still reeling from the world his dreams had shown him.
"Were it so easy." He said to himself. "To be able to see things like that…the dwarven and elven cities. And to be able to meet a rider." He had heard tales of a recent rider that had helped a group of outcasts known as the Varden and together, with the help from the dwarves and elves, overthrew the tyrant king Galbatorix. "Those like me, so common and low, just don't get many chances to experience things like that."
He focused on getting up and ready to start with the planting in order to keep his mind from dwelling on such things. He splashed some cold water on his face from a small basin in the room before he got started with his day.
After a small breakfast, Garrett and Delwin made their way out into the fields. The sun was just starting to peak over the horizon. They wasted no time in getting started. They spent the morning doing one more pass with the plows. After a lunch break, they then took the afternoon to get all the planting done as well as a quick watering.
They stumbled their way along back to the house as the sun started to tickle the horizon and the sky grew dark. Once clean, they sat and enjoyed a nice meal. Like the night before, Delwin and Garrett decided to sit on the porch and enjoy the evening before turning in.
"I can't thank you enough for all you have done to help us, Garrett." Delwin said.
"It was nothing." Garrett just shrugged.
"No…it was." The farmer replied. "You see, things have been…difficult since our son Elmund was taken from us. He died in the Battle of Carvahall after he was struck by a spear."
"I…I am sorry for you loss." Garrett said slowly. Delwin just waved his hand.
"We've moved on…or at least tried to. There isn't a day that goes by where I don't think about what could have been. I still hate those damned soldiers for taking my son from me, but at least that wretched false-king is gone now. But like I said, since his passing, things have been hard. It probably would have taken me twice as long, if not longer to do this on my own."
"Well then," Garrett proclaimed, "I am glad I was able to be of some assistance and make things easier for you."
The two went silent for a moment. The chirping of crickets seemed to be carried on the light breeze and in the distance, a brush owl hooted. All in all, it was a nice and peaceful night.
"So…" Delwin said breaking the silence. "What do you plan on doing now?"
"I'm not quite sure yet." Garrett replied. "I figured that I would travel south along the valley to Therinsford and see if there was work that needed to done there. Then I thought I might continue on to Teirm. I'm sure there could be plenty on jobs for me there."
"That is a lot of traveling for someone alone." The old man said. "Especially going to Teirm. You would either have to travel all the way to Woadark Lake and then follow the Toark River west or try cutting through the Spine. Either way, it will be a long journey."
"I thought about that." He admitted. "Since there are stables in Therinsford; I figured on getting a horse. That would make getting to Woadark Lake easier."
"That is a sound idea. It's also safer than trying to go through the Spine. There is something odd about those blasted mountains. Not many dare travel deep within them and most of the ones that do fall ill to tragedy."
"You do have a point on that." Garrett agreed.
They didn't talk for too much longer before Delwin decided to call it a night. Garrett couldn't agree with him more. He practically fell into bed where he almost instantly fell asleep. If he had dreamed of anything, his tired mind did not remember it.
Garrett woke to the sun shining through the window. He gathered his belonging and made sure everything was together and ready for his departure. Lenna had offered him some breakfast so Garrett decided to eat before saying his goodbyes.
"I take it you are heading off?" Delwin asked once the table was cleared and Garrett started to collect his things.
"Yea…" he replied. "I want to get going before the sun gets too high."
"Alright…oh, before you go, I have some things for ya."
"Oh, you don't have to give me anything."
"Nah, I insist." The farmer handed him two jars of his home-made mead. Lenna also had something for him. She gave him a small package of dried meat and a rolled up blanket.
"Just in case things get a bit cold at night." She explained.
Garrett took the meat and mead and tucked them away into his pack before tying the blanket to the top. Just when he was about ready to leave, Delwin handed him a small leather pouch. It clinked with gold coins as he handed it over.
"I-I can't take this." Garrett said and he tried to hand it back. But the old man refused to take the gold back.
"Take it." He said. "It is the least we can do."
"You have given me more than enough." Garrett replied. "I do not need payment in gold after all you have given me."
"Take it." Delwin repeated. "Save it to buy a horse in Therinsford. You'll need one if you do plan on going all the way to Teirm." Garrett reluctantly gave in and tucked the pouch into his pocket.
"If you are ever in Carvahall and you need a place to stay, or door is always open to you." Lenna added.
"Thank you for the kindness and hospitality you have shown me." Garrett replied. I will have to take you up on that offer if I should ever find myself traveling this side of the Spine.
"You take care of yourself now, kid." Delwin joked.
"You too, old man." Garrett replied with a grin before turning away and starting south. He turned and gave a last wave before continuing on his way outside the town.
Next Chapter: Travels to Therinsford