Chapter 6: Missing
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Saelbeth went to the tavern and started talking with people, especially the slightly drunk ones. He first talked about general topic like weather, food, plants, and girls, waiting for them to slip some information out. In an hour, he could gather more information than the last two days.
On the other hand, Melphomian went to chat with the ladies in the kitchen, the center of gossip, no matter they were elves, women or dwarves, it's always the kitchen.
Mel spotted a maid with a lot of used dishes and cups in her hands. He reached his foot to block her way when she walked pass him, to make the maid stumbled.
'I'm sorry lady.' Mel thought.
The maid stumbled and the dishes and cups went flying everywhere. Mel, who was ready for this, caught the woman before she hit the floor.
"Are you alright, Miss?" Mel asked the woman in his arms.
"Ah... I'm.. I'm alright. Thank you, sir." The maid's face turned red when she saw the very handsome man who helped her. She stood up properly with the help from her savior.
"I'm sorry, sir, and thank you very much for your help." She started picking up the dishes and cups.
"Let me help." Mel helped her pick up the dishes and carried them to the kitchen.
"Look who you bring here, Wanda!"
The head cook, a very big, middle age woman, greeted when she saw Mel walking behind the maid with hands full of dirty dishes.
"This gentleman helped me when I was stumbled, and helped me carry the dishes here." Wanda said shyly. "He's so kind."
"And handsome too!" The head cook said. "Sit here young man. Would you like to have some ale?"
"Just a cup of tea please, thank you."
And the chatting had begun.
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The street was almost empty. Elrohir found only a couple of villagers passing by when he walked around the village.
Too quiet.
It seemed like the villagers were hiding in their places. Hiding from what?
The hair on the back of his neck stood in alarming.
Danger!
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"I have to go back home now, Mama Lucia." A girl, the cook assistant, said when she finished washing the last dish.
"It's getting late. You can sleep here tonight, Selda." Mama Lucia, the head cook said.
"I can't. My mama is sick. I've to take care of her. My brother, he is.. you know."
"Alright. Be careful." She mumbled. "Those bastards."
"If you don't mind, I can accompany you home." Mel offered. What did Lucia mean by that?
"Oh, no, you can't!" Mama Lucia, Selda and Wanda said in unison. "It's not safe, especially for a man like you."
"Why? What's going on?" Mel asked.
"I shouldn't tell you this, but you are a good lad. I have to warn you." Lucia whispered. "About a month ago, a group of bandits, and I saw some monsters, came to the village. They killed many of us and took our men captive. We thought they would leave when they got what they needed, but, alas, they do not."
"You mean the bandits are still here in the village?" Mel asked, horrified.
"Yes, some are in the village and some are in the wood in this area. They allow some travelers to pass this village unnoticed, but mostly they like to capture a young lad like you. Selda's brother was captured days ago."
"How about people in the tavern, are they bandits?" Mel asked. Now he was starting to worry about his brother who is in the tavern with those drunkards.
"They are travelers and our men, but I saw some of them in there too." Wanda replied.
"Hurry Selda! Run to your house. If they find someone walking in the street at this time, it's going to be a big trouble, even though you're a girl." Lucia told Selda who hurriedly left without another word.
"What'll they do if they find someone walking outside?"
"They will be hurt." Lucia replied.
Mel's face turned paler.
Elrohir!
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"Sael." Melphomian called his brother who was drinking ale and chatting with his new companions.
"Hhm?"
"Urgent." Mel whispered.
"Alright." Saelbeth stood up drunkenly. "I've gotta go now, mate. My baby brother's sleepy now. Seeya 'round." Saelbeth said goodbye to his companions and left.
"What's it?" Saelbeth asked his brother when they were out of other earshot.
"I think Roh is in danger, Sael!"
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Saelbeth and Melphomian hurriedly went outside to search for the younger twin.
"There is a trace of battle here." Saelbeth told his brother when they stopped at a deserted stall at the end of the street. "Look carefully. Find some marks that Elrohir might leave for us."
"Alright." Mel nodded and started searching the ground for any sign.
"Sael!" Mel called his brother. "Look!"
Mel pointed at something hidden between the wall of a nearby house and a pile of woods. Saelbeth retrieved it and looked closely.
"A piece of broken arrow. Here, the mark of Imladris. It must be Elrohir's."
"What does it mean?" Mel asked.
"I found some blood and some pieces of net and rope. I think there was a fight here, and Elrohir was probably captured." Saelbeth told his brother.
"What will we do? Find Roh?"
"We will go back to Elladan and Legolas. Come, Mel, before they see us here!"
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The camp was destroyed. Elladan and Legolas were nowhere to be seen. There were blood and broken weapon everywhere.
"Valar!"
Melphomian cried when he saw the state of their camp.
"Hush, Mel! We don't know whether they are still here." Saelbeth warned his brother.
"Where are Elladan and Legolas?! What happened here?" Mel whispered panicky.
"I guess they were attacked, maybe by the group that captured Elrohir." Saelbeth replied worriedly. "I'm certain that Dan and the prince had a fight these attackers since there is blood everywhere."
"We have to find them." Mel said. "They must be around here. They would not abandon us without warning."
"Aye."
Before they moved from the spot, an arrow was shot from somewhere and embedded itself just an inch above Melphomian's head!
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[..tbc..] Thank you for your reviews and correction of my grammar. I think I seriously need beta-reader. Anybody? Please. ^^"