Well, here it is, the first time skip in this series. About two days have
passed since the man asked Legolas to check on his cousins, and that book
is entirely focused on that! Don't worry, it's a LOT better then it sounds!
Chapter 13
'Can I help you?' Legolas looked up from the wooden tabletop.
'Just some water, please.' he said to the barmaid. She smiled and returned to the bar at the other end of the room. Legolas turned back down at the table.
The tavern was large, or at least it seemed that way since it was almost empty. There were two men sitting at a table in deep conversation about some magical pipe-weed that could heal them should they be injured in battle. Legolas wanted direly to laugh at them, but held his tongue and remained quiet in the corner. The tables were oily and slick from being wiped too many times. Business was obviously slow lately, and Legolas knew exactly why.
Two days further into his journey since the first encounter with the gangs, he ran into them almost every two minutes. They were so numerous; they must have made up half of the population of Rohan. They were easy to divide from the normal Rohan citizens because they always wore all black and sometimes wore masks as well. Legolas couldn't help but feel disturbed that they had grown so plentiful.
The barmaid returned with his glass and he snapped back to reality. She smiled at him again and started to return to the kitchen.
'Wait.' Legolas said. The barmaid looked over his shoulder at him, before turning around slowly with a spark in her eye.
'Yes sir?' she asked.
'Come sit down.' he said. 'I'll buy you a drink if you want.' she smiled and obliged. Legolas didn't smile at all or even hint that he was into her. 'I want you to help me.' he said. The barmaid leaned closer.
'I'll do anything you want.' she said in a whisper. Legolas was indifferent.
'I'm new to the Wold and am wondering about these gang-like people that seem to make up the whole population.' the girl's smile faded. 'Please, I'll give you a gold piece if you tell me all you know.' it was no major sacrifice, and Legolas hardly knew anything about these gangs. However, he wasn't prepared for what he received.
'They first came about five years ago.' she started. 'They didn't do anything too severe. They were only a group of ten back then. There leader was a noble man, at least for that of their line of work. He never stole from families, only from rich men who had more money then they knew what to do with. Of course, there were never many of those save for kings and high- ranked officials. Soon, the gang members turned on their leader and killed him. They started killing and stealing money from poorer people.
'Then, for some reason, they disappeared. Three years went by and people were beginning to feel safe again. I heard someone say that an elf- queen threatened them and they were scared off. After her threats faded, they returned. They started attacking families and would threaten a man's wife or sister. They would kill them if the men in the family didn't join their gang. Soon, everyone feared them and they hold more money then the people of Rohan.
'They all deserve to die.' she finished, clenching her fist on the table.
'But they're all innocent people.' insisted Legolas.
'They took my brother!' she cried, standing from the table and knocking her chair over. 'He didn't want to, but they made him! Then he killed my little sister! He's killed more times then anyone can count! I hate him!'
The tavern fell silent as the bar maiden hurried back into the kitchen. Legolas leaned back in his chair and sighed.
Chapter 13
'Can I help you?' Legolas looked up from the wooden tabletop.
'Just some water, please.' he said to the barmaid. She smiled and returned to the bar at the other end of the room. Legolas turned back down at the table.
The tavern was large, or at least it seemed that way since it was almost empty. There were two men sitting at a table in deep conversation about some magical pipe-weed that could heal them should they be injured in battle. Legolas wanted direly to laugh at them, but held his tongue and remained quiet in the corner. The tables were oily and slick from being wiped too many times. Business was obviously slow lately, and Legolas knew exactly why.
Two days further into his journey since the first encounter with the gangs, he ran into them almost every two minutes. They were so numerous; they must have made up half of the population of Rohan. They were easy to divide from the normal Rohan citizens because they always wore all black and sometimes wore masks as well. Legolas couldn't help but feel disturbed that they had grown so plentiful.
The barmaid returned with his glass and he snapped back to reality. She smiled at him again and started to return to the kitchen.
'Wait.' Legolas said. The barmaid looked over his shoulder at him, before turning around slowly with a spark in her eye.
'Yes sir?' she asked.
'Come sit down.' he said. 'I'll buy you a drink if you want.' she smiled and obliged. Legolas didn't smile at all or even hint that he was into her. 'I want you to help me.' he said. The barmaid leaned closer.
'I'll do anything you want.' she said in a whisper. Legolas was indifferent.
'I'm new to the Wold and am wondering about these gang-like people that seem to make up the whole population.' the girl's smile faded. 'Please, I'll give you a gold piece if you tell me all you know.' it was no major sacrifice, and Legolas hardly knew anything about these gangs. However, he wasn't prepared for what he received.
'They first came about five years ago.' she started. 'They didn't do anything too severe. They were only a group of ten back then. There leader was a noble man, at least for that of their line of work. He never stole from families, only from rich men who had more money then they knew what to do with. Of course, there were never many of those save for kings and high- ranked officials. Soon, the gang members turned on their leader and killed him. They started killing and stealing money from poorer people.
'Then, for some reason, they disappeared. Three years went by and people were beginning to feel safe again. I heard someone say that an elf- queen threatened them and they were scared off. After her threats faded, they returned. They started attacking families and would threaten a man's wife or sister. They would kill them if the men in the family didn't join their gang. Soon, everyone feared them and they hold more money then the people of Rohan.
'They all deserve to die.' she finished, clenching her fist on the table.
'But they're all innocent people.' insisted Legolas.
'They took my brother!' she cried, standing from the table and knocking her chair over. 'He didn't want to, but they made him! Then he killed my little sister! He's killed more times then anyone can count! I hate him!'
The tavern fell silent as the bar maiden hurried back into the kitchen. Legolas leaned back in his chair and sighed.