Just Girl Things: Part 1
"So what did you tell Erikur?" I asked while my hair whipped past my face, looking ahead at the beautiful scenery before me. "I told him I was going to Mirkwood to visit you since you'd be all alone for awhile. He believed me after a lot of convincing. Don't worry, I left him a note saying you were picking me up." She said with a chuckle and I nodded.
"It's a two day journey to get to the town near our designation. I think we've been there a couple times before, so don't be surprised if people recognize us." I said, looking at the map, holding onto it tightly so the wind wouldn't carry it away. "Two days? I thought it would take a matter of hours to get there on a dragon." Liliana said a bit disappointed.
"I'm so sorry I'm not some magical fairy that can magically teleport you places." Ohen grunted in a pissed voice. Did I ever tell you he was a very sarcastic dragon? I say the contract made him take on a couple attributes of myself. "I didn't mean it like that!" Liliana said while waving her arms around, "I just…it's odd seeing dragons and thinking on how fast they travel. I didn't know how fast it would be by flying you see, since it's my first time and all." She went on.
He gave off one last grunt before continuing flying without saying a word to his unwanted passengers. "So, Angel. How do you like being back in this business. Even if it's only for one trip and all." I said, putting on my hood with a grin. "It's amazing, Panther." She chuckled while looking straight ahead. As our time as mercenaries, some may say, we started to act more like cocky assholes at times. We adorn grins and snide remarks when we're in our mission mode, as we like to call it.
"Which inn are we hitting up?" Liliana asked, looking straight ahead. "The Sleeping Giant's Inn." I said, recalling the inn we usually stayed at in this area. Two days came and passed and we got off Ohen about fifteen miles from the tow, as to not attract attention with a dragon. I was just walking in a comfortable silence before Liliana spoke up.
"Caranthir?" She started out and I hummed in reply. "What are we going to do if this is a total bust?" She asked and I shrugged. "Find something interesting to do, I guess. There are still people in this world who could use some help, especially after the war. It's only been a year and a half you know." I said and she nodded. "It seems like such a long time ago though. You know, I've noticed myself being very antsy all the time, wanting to return to this life." She admitted with a soft chuckle.
"I try to keep my mind off of it, but after an adventure like that it's so hard to live a laid back lifestyle, especially since we never stayed in one place for too long for five years." I sighed and she nodded. "Maybe we should do this more often, until the day when I can't anymore." She said with a sad laugh. "Ya, that sounds good. I'll have to get Legolas occupied though. I say it's so much fun keeping amazing things away from people." I said while stretching out my arms.
"You said it." Liliana said with a louder chuckle. "Let's put all the 'longing for adventure' shit away for now. We're on adventure so that's all that matters. We're back on our two feet again, living the way we used to. The only difference is we have husbands to deal with now." I said while looking ahead. "So that means no messing with other men?" Liliana asked sarcastically. "As long as you're not caught." I said with a smirk.
"You know I'm a bit worried about Erikur." Liliana sighed and I cocked my head to the side. "Why, he can handle himself." I said with a frown, did she doubt my brother? "I don't mean it like that, I know he is stronger than myself, since he isn't restricted to distance fighting. I meant my husband is home all-alone without me. You know, what if the most beautiful woman were to come into town for a weekend and he decides to have a short affair with her while I'm away!" Liliana said, expressing her worries.
"You shouldn't be worrying so much, I doubt he'd ever do anything like that." I said, waving my hand dismissively. "Don't you worry about anything like that with your husband?" She asked, hands on her lips. "He'd never." I chuckled, once again waving my hand. "Legolas is a very attractive man who has a wife that he can't do anything to due to her age. He's out in the world with another man going from place to place. He could easily have any woman he wanted. Don't you worry even a little bit?" She asked me and my fists clenched with every word she said.
"Liliana?" I asked her and she looked at me. "Yes?" She asked me, her lips sticking out a bit. "Shut your fucking mouth." I spat, glaring at the ground. Like I didn't worry about shit like that! I was a very clingy, selfish bitch who doesn't like sharing in the slightest. "So you do worry…?" Liliana asked with a grin. "No shit, bitch!" I nearly shouted and she rolled her eyes. "I was just checking, geez. Don't get your panties in a twist." She said with a smirk.
"If I even smell another type of perfume on him when he gets back I will skin him alive." I hissed under my breath. "Perfume is easily washed off." Liliana said with a little tune. "You'd actually be surprised. With heightened senses the smell of perfume is so strong we can smell it even if it was placed there a month ago. Very feint, but still there as long as I'm clinging to you and sniffing you." I chuckled darkly and Liliana gave an involuntary chuckle.
"Is that the town?" She asked me and I nodded. "A small town known for milling mostly. A nice river flows by the small cabin houses, yes this is the place." I said, looking around. I saw a couple of kids running around in the distance and a couple of adults going about their own business. "Ah, I remember this place now." Liliana said with a smile.
We walked over to the inn and got two rooms for the night before we decided to do some digging. "So, I heard there is a small cave around here." Liliana said to the man tending to the bar. "That cave is no good, don't even think about going over there, ma'am." The bar tender said while gazing over her. "How is it 'not good' may I ask?" She questioned, leaning onto her hands while I sat calmly next to her.
"We've heard of travelers disappearing near that cave, and a week ago Kod's son Kervin went over there to check it out, and hasn't been heard of since. Kod has been a wreck since it happened and everyone around here is too scared to actually go and check it out." The bartender said while leaning over closer to Liliana. "Where does this man live? Kod you said?" I asked in a gruff voice, trying to adjust myself to a guy's lifestyle again.
"He lives off to the edge of the town, right next to the river. The front of his house has some blue mountain flowers around it, it's hard to miss. Talk to him if you want to know anything else about that cave. I warn you though, don't go in there. A pretty lady like you shouldn't have to; neither should her companion." The bartender said before getting back up and washing out a tankard.
"You thinking what I'm thinking, Panther?" Liliana said while looking at me. "Of course, Angel." I chuckled before we got up and walked out together. We found Kod's house easily; it was hard to miss. When he said there were blue flowers around the house, he meant it was like covered in them. Liliana knocked on the door three times before an older man with a buff build opened the door.
"Something you need?" He asked in a very deep voice. "Yes, we want to know about that cave around back." Liliana went straight ahead and started the conversation. "You must've heard some rumors, haven't you? Come on inside." He said, moving out of the doorway so we had easy access inside. "What do you want to know?" He asked once we sat down on the large couch.
"About the disappearances mostly. What might be in the cave? Did your son have any clue before he left?" I asked him and he shook his head. "He had no clue what was going on in there, which is why he went to find out. Maybe find the missing people. After all we heard that a woman and her thirteen-year-old son went missing about a month ago and he couldn't just sit around. He went after it, and never came back. As for the disappearances…a lot of travelers said when they were coming here there were at least one or two people from their group going missing overnight in that general area." Kod explained and we nodded.
"We were planning on going to that cave tomorrow." Liliana said, looking down. "I see; you should probably rethink that though. Only very strong people can even hope to make it back in one piece." Kod said while looking at us. "We may not look like it, but this is Panther and I'm The Angel of death, as some like to call us, and we do this type of thing for a living. If you want, we can keep an eye out for your son and anyone else that may have gone missing." Liliana introduced and the man's eyes got a slightly wider.
"I remember you two now, you helped out Jeckleson when his wedding ring was stolen by a couple bandits. You were those two mercenaries." He said, looking over us. "That would be us. Anyway, we've wasted too much of your time and we should really get going. Goodbye Kod, and I hope we find your son when we go to the cave." Liliana said while getting up, me following close behind.
"Um, thank you." Kod said while closing the door after us. We walked back to the inn, ate some food, then went to my bedroom. "What do you think we're dealing with?" Liliana asked, gnawing on a bit of dried beef that we got with dinner. "I have no idea. Maybe orcs or goblins, they did say that the travelers went missing at nightfall and that's when they usually come out. Maybe some bandits who sell people? I really don't know." I said, laying on the bed and letting my hood fall off my head.
"Well whatever is in that cave, we better be careful." Liliana mumbled and I nodded. I pulled out an extra vile of poison and tossed it to her. "If need be, coat some arrows in that poison. It's a very strong paralysis one that should give you time to attack larger enemies." I explained and she nodded while I got up and started to coat my hidden weapons in the same type of poison.
"Caranthir?" Liliana asked and I looked up at her. "Yes?" I questioned back and she looked at me in the eyes. "We have got to be safe. It isn't just us we need to worry about, but also the people who are missing." She whispered and I nodded. "Don't worry, this isn't our first rescue mission, remember the one by Bree? The one with the little girl who was kidnapped for money? Once we found her we found about five other children who were all being held for the same sum?" I asked and she nodded.
"Now think of that, although with more mature adults." I explained and she nodded in agreement. "I guess you're right…I still worry though. We don't know what's in that cave…" She mumbled a bit and I sighed. "Whatever it is, it can't be worse than what we've already seen." I replied, drinking some apple juice that they served here.
"We should probably rest though, it's like a couple miles to walk to the cave." Liliana said finally while getting up and leaving the room. I checked over all of my supplies before I made sure all of them were accountable. I looked down at my two rings. The wedding ring fit perfectly on my finger much like the engagement ring did. The ring though was a solid gold with a very small green dot in the middle that is an emerald. Of course Legolas has a matching one although the ring size is slightly bigger.
I played with the rings before falling back onto the bed and closed my eyes. It would be a long time until morning comes, I knew it. I got up and put my cloak back on before I headed out and started to look around town. The place was a pathetic excuse for a town, but it would serve it's purpose with a nice adventure.
I started to walk around, looking everywhere until I decided to lay down in a flower field by the river. My hood fell off my head and I smiled, listening to the stream next to me. I started to hum a melody when I heard a twig crunch off in the distance and I readied my dagger in my boot, holding it near my chest in a defensive stance while I was still sitting down.
"Don't worry, I'm not hear to hurt ya. I thought I heard someone humming near here and checked it out." A man's voice rung out in the distance. I sighed before looking back, seeing him despite the darkness that engulfed the land. "I apologize if I woke you." I said in a calm voice, looking over at him. The man walked closer to me and I noticed he was maybe seventeen at the most and he sat down next to me.
If he tried anything I could just take the hair clip out and cut him with the poison coated blade. That is, if I needed to. "I didn't see you come into town." He said, looking at me with a smirk. "Well I am obviously in the town now, so I obviously had to come in." I said, looking at the river. What the fuck was this guy doing over here?
"Also, don't worry about waking me up. I don't live close to here; I couldn't sleep and decided to go for a walk. I happened to come across you and decided to have a conversation to pass the time." He said, also looking at the river. "Well I'm not exactly the most interesting person to talk to." I said under my breath, not wanting to really hold a conversation with anybody.
"It's cool, I just needed the company of another person." He admitted and I nodded silently. "So, what's keeping you up?" He asked me, squinting to see me through the blanket of darkness that surrounded us, the only thin illuminating the place was the moon. "I can't sleep…" I explained. The only time I am ever able to 'sleep' is when I'm next to my hubby, anywhere else is a big no.
"I see. Worried about anything?" He asked me and I shook my head. "Why would you think that?" I asked him and he shrugged. "I don't know. Usually I can't sleep when I'm worried…" He admitted and I nodded. "Does this mean you're worried about something?" I asked him next and he nodded. "Yes, actually I am. My sister is visiting me; she left about two years ago with her husband to a far off town. Sadly I haven't seen her at all. She came here alone, trying to be secretive. She was supposed to have arrived three days ago, so I'm worried…" He huffed and I nodded.
"Did she by any chance take a route that passes right by a cave?" I asked him, turning my gaze to see his features, short, shaggy brown hair, brown eyes, and a slightly tan complexion. He was pretty muscular, looks like he is probably works at mill if the smell of wood on him is anything to go by. "Yes…how did you know?" He asked me, flashing me a frown.
"I heard there has been many disappearances in the general area is all." I said with a frown and his eyes widened. "Well I heard about Kervin, he is a good friend of mine. I know he's been missing…but I didn't think it with my sister." He said with a frown. "Well maybe someone will bring them back." I said, resting my head on my knees.
"Maybe…I can only hope…maybe I'll go out tomorrow and have a look at this place." He said, furrowing his eyebrows. "I wouldn't do that. Look what has happened to Kervin. You should never go into a cave all by yourself." I explained although I was a total hypocrite. Hell I was worse than anyone, I went into a dragon's lair by myself for goodness sakes.
"I can't just let my sister rot in some cave." He snapped at me and I glared at him. "Oh, so you think rotting down there with her is the best chance you got?" I asked angrily, knowing that a mere man would even have the audacity to snap at me. "I have a chance to save her. What can a weak girl do?" He hissed and I rolled my eyes.
"A hell of a lot more than you can." I said back with a grin. "Ya right. That's it, I've made up my mind. Tomorrow early morning I'll go and borrow a horse and go to the cave." He said with a smirk and I scoffed. "Just remember, it's your grave." I said before I saw him get up. "What's your name?" He asked me and my eyes narrowed.
"Not one I'd give to the likes of you." I spat at him, still glaring. "I'm Thymir." He said before walking off. "Goodbye, Thymir." I whispered as he left. I laid back into the grass for another couple hours before I saw the sun coming up and adorned my cloak once again and went to the inn to clean up before my journey.
Liliana made me eat a "healthy breakfast" as she likes to call it. It consisted of eggs, toast, an apple, and orange juice. I don't even know why she wants me to eat all this junk, but I ate it nevertheless. I would've killed for a breakfast steak though, that sounded like absolute heaven if you asked me. We grabbed all our things and started to walk to the cave with smirks on our mouths.
We decided it would be best to walk in the shadows. We started walking out of the town when we heard horse hooves and we moved out right in time to see a man riding out of town. He obviously didn't know how to properly ride a horse, but it didn't stop him from trying. "Thymir…" I hissed under my breath and Liliana looked over at me.
"Who's that?" She asked me. "I snuck out last night to enjoy some solitary and he decided to join me. He's heading to the cave today to find his sister and his friend, Kervin." I said with a glare. I sent a man to his own death. "Why didn't you stop him, telling him you'd go?" Liliana shrieked, knowing that he'd ultimately die like so many other reckless people did.
"I tried, but he saw me as a woman and said I couldn't do anything about it so I shouldn't have a say in what he does. Don't worry, if we clear out the cave he'll be fine. He might get captured for an hour or two, but we can rescue him." I mumbled and Liliana just gave me a disapproving look. "You know we're more than capable of saving a couple people. We fought a war." I said with a glare.
"As you are right, I still feel bad for the man." She said with a frown. "Yes, I understand. Don't worry, I promise he'll be just fine." I said before we started our silent walk, sharing a couple ideas every now and again. We mainly just stayed with the shadows, not wanting to be seen by whatever lurks in the caves. Once we arrived at our destination we looked around.
There was a single horse tied to a tree, which was the only thing of interest there. "Well that Thymir guy at least got to the place safely…" Liliana mumbled and I chuckled. "Well of course." I said with a smirk. It's not like the road itself was dangerous, just the cave. We slowly edge towards the entrances of it and started to hug the walls while listening for any sounds. Nothing.
The sounds that caves make was the only sound there was, that and our shallow breathing. There were some dripping sounds in the place and some mushrooms that illuminated the cave dimly. Once we came to certain part of the cave, I knew what the dripping was. Glow worms dung dripping off from the ceiling. Liliana's mouth dropped a bit and I smirked before giving the shush motion.
We started to walk until we came to a large boulder. It seemed like the cave was a dead end. Had we come to the wrong cave? I thought that until I saw a small glowing coming from behind the boulder and I squeezed through.
Torches hung on the walls in the narrow walk way. Someone had definitely been here, and recently too. We still hung to the wall, being cautious about our footsteps and shadows. We came to a narrow area and saw a dozen or so cave trolls. We hugged the wall in terror as we realized what this was. A cave troll lair. Of course this didn't explain the torches or…well much of anything man-made items in the area.
Perhaps someone was using the cave trolls as a protection type of deal going on here. Like they're hiding and don't want anyone knowing. Well duh, if they're kidnapping people then obviously they don't need anyone coming in. The cave trolls might've been here already, but they sure as hell were using it to their advantage.
I saw Liliana fiddle with her arrows while looking at me and I shook my head. We might need the trolls later, who knows? We would need to find a way to get their attention elsewhere and we can just slip by them undetected. I quickly ran over and hid behind a rock while motioning Liliana to do the same. The way up was a hard one.
There is a slope that we need to make our way up and the cave trolls are everywhere, two blocking the way up the slop and another blocking the entrance to the next area. I wished I had a poison that made someone go cra…wait a moment. I may not have a poison to make someone or something go crazy and start attacking others…but I do have a paralysis poison.
If one of them were to fall, the others might want to go investigate, or at the very least look towards the injured one. We can use this to get passed the. I saw one standing in the corner of the room, far away from us and smirked.
I quickly got one of Liliana's arrows and coated it with a nice amount of paralysis poison before carefully handing it back to her. She aimed the arrow at the one I pointed to and took in a small breath before shooting it. The troll froze for a moment before falling down.
We heard loud, thundering footsteps running around the room and my heart felt like it would pop at any given time. I grabbed Liliana's hand and we started to run behind rocks until we made it to the slope. We decided instead of just walking up the slop, we would climb the wall in the very corner. After all the slope wasn't that big of one, just enough to make it a slight challenge.
I scrapped my knee slightly and bite my tongue so I wouldn't make any sounds and heaved myself upwards. Liliana followed close behind and we saw one cave troll still standing near the door. "We need to take it out." I whispered directly into Liliana's ear and she nodded, readying her arrow. She shot it, one coated in poison that is, and it fell. I stalked closer to it and drew my katana, shoving it through the mouth.
It looked at me before its eyes turned lifeless and it went limp. I looked up and noticed the other trolls were started to leave the paralyzed one and quickly got Liliana and I the fuck out of there. We started to follow the hall and my breathing hitched slightly when I heard footsteps.
We clung tighter onto the wall and saw two men walking through the hallway. They wore some old armor that was obviously taken from a corpse. The walked past our hiding places and shot her the look of mischievousness and we nodded before running out and knocking the two men out before they could make a noise.
We quickly stripped them from their armor that smelled like death itself and put it on. It was so big on me it even covered my katana. Liliana and I tied the men up and put them in a corner with gags on their mouths so when they woke they couldn't scream for help. We both smirked before walking off silently. The helmets covered our faces and we were eventually met with a room full of them.
We walked past the men nervously, careful not to touch any of them and keeping our head down. We walked past a couple rooms and got to a supply chest and took off the stuffy armor once we were sure we wouldn't be seen by any other people. We started to navigate through the small area until we came to a small door that hung loosely on its hinges. We carefully opened it and we were met with a couple pairs of eyes, looking directly at us.
Weeee~ I actually uploaded on a Thursday like I always say I will! Isn't that magical? Not to mention it isn't even eleven p.m yet which is super magical if you ask me! So anyway Liliana and Valaina go on a two part adventure of weirdness and awesomeness! And once again Valaina is the amazing Caranthir! Tada~ Anyway I love you all and don't forget to review this chappy, byes! Oh also if anyone can guess what the 'Sleeping Giant's Inn' from I might give you something super speciel, the catch is you need to be logged in so I can privately message you about it later! Now an official goodbye~