Chapter 9
Dark and Aeron found themselves back on the road again. They fell into the same routine, walking, camping, on their way to Camelot. A week after their departure from the Stronghold, they reached Camelot and Seer's Village. It was in complete ruins. The castle held up surprisingly well, but everything else was smoldering or torn. They approached the largest of the buildings, the castle, with caution. Aeron told Dark, "I'll go in first. Wait here until I give the OK." Dark grumbled, but agreed. Aeron didn't want to take any more chances her and she knew it, but she still didn't like being treated like a youngling.
Aeron cautiously stepped inside, calling out, "Hello? Is anyone there?" The only thing that responded was silence. He climbed to the second story and called out again. It seemed the castle was deserted. "Dark! It's alright! Come in!" he yelled out. Dark heard his call, and met up upstairs. They explored the rest of the rooms, and concluded that though the castle was protected with enchantments, everyone deserted this castle. It was almost dusk and they decided to use the range to cook dinner. Unfortunately, it was for some reason nearly melted completely, so they had to make due with a small camp fire.
How strange, Dark thought, that this was once a castle, a stronghold of royalty. It once housed the greatest heroes in Runescape, and here we are, two insignificant elves, making a campfire on the beautiful marble floor that used to house great balls. After dinner, Dark and Aeron decided their sleeping arrangements
Dark decided to sleep on the balcony, to keep watch, and be able to see Blod if he somehow came back that night. Aeron would sleep on the ground floor, to guard the entrance. Dark took out her flute and practiced a few simple tunes. It was calming to her, and the sound of home made her and Aeron somehow feel safer. She leaned against the cold stone wall, eyes shut, cross-legged, almost meditating.
All of a sudden she heard a flurry of wings, and she opened her eyes to Blod, no more than two inches from her nose. In his naturally curious fashion, he cocked his head, peering at Dark with a mix of love, loyalty, and hunger for the dinner he had yet caught that night.
"There you are! I was worried about you, silly bird. Have you a reply?" He hopped down from her bent leg and held his leg out for Dark. She read the message, eyebrows raised in apprehension.
Dear Dark Menatathiel,
There are currently 21 survivors in Varrock, some injured and needing medication that we cannot give. We have no leader to guide us, though one man came along who had Hero blood in him and looks like a promising leader. I am Zhanna Ivanov who came to visit Varrock a few weeks ago. After seeing the condition it was in, I decided to stay and help out. I cannot say for certain if our situation is urgent for I have not seen any other cities and therefore cannot compare. There are only a few buildings intact, as well as 2 priests (though all they do is quarrel about Saradomin and Zaros) and everyone else has been finding what food and scraps in what is left of Varrock. If you find these conditions worse than other cities, than please come right away. It is wonderful to hear from another person, and if you do not come, please still stay in touch.
Fellow survivor,
Zhanna Ivanov
"Good boy," Dark said when she looked up again, and handed Blod a piece of meat leftover from dinner. He flew away to find his own perch for the night, silver wings shining brightly in the full moon.
Dark ran downstairs, and told Aeron about the message she received. "There are humans. Survivors. We must help as soon as possible," he said half in awe. Dark nodded replied, "We teleport to Varrock at dawn."
