So this was meant to be put up last week but, again really busy, have a load of people visiting atm and it's been hard trying to get a minutes to upload or even write, but do not fear, the updates will still be coming.
"Thank the Maker." Brian exclaimed as they reached the top of the hill over-looking the village of Redcliffe.
Elissa pulled her horse to a stop at the crest of the hill looking down at the small village harbour. The fading sun casting a deep orange glow that left purple and blue stains on the darken horizon.
"Come on, we can stop in the village for the night and request an audience with the Arl in the morning, I'm sure we'll be able to find some rooms for tonight." Elissa pulled the reins on her horse, Ruari following closely behind her while Jarvis and Brian directed the carriage.
Although much of the tension that had plagued the group after hearing of the death of the Couslands had left, Elissa and Ruari still remain quite in the group choosing more often to spend time speaking together of happy memories of Highever.
They stopped at the entrance of the village at the stables leaving the four horses and carriage to be looked after by a young man named Tomas, before making their way to the Tavern.
"Is there an inn far from here?" Elissa asked Tomas.
"Yes milady, there's a Tavern at the bottom of the hill on the way in to the village, it should have some rooms, we don't get many travellers to the village round this time of year."
"Thank you." Elissa said, handing the man extra silver.
The village market was closing as they made their way down in to the village. Last minutes buyer quickly made their way through the remaining stall as other closed for the night. They quickly navigated their way through the scattering crowd towards the tavern.
The bar smelled of ale and wood as saw dust was laid in the corners of the room that was beginning to fill with patrons.
"I'll go and see about getting us a few rooms." Ruari said as he made his way to the bar where an older red headed and pot bellied man stood.
Elissa and the others walk over toward a large unoccupied table at the back of the bar as they sat down a young red haired woman came over.
"Hello, I'm Bella, can I get you anything?" she said with a smile.
"I've got us a few rooms for the night but it looks like Soris, Jarvis, Brian and I shall be sharing again." Ruari said as he joined them at the table.
"That's fine Ruari, come on we'll get a hot meal and some nice mead, Maker know we could use it." Brian said directing a bright smile to the waitress.
"Well we do ha-" the waitress was cut off by the sounds of shouts and screams that rang out from the streets outside the tavern.
"What the-" Ruari began as the door to the tavern bust open and a crowd of people rushed in.
"What's happening?" Elissa asked as she made her way towards the front of the tavern.
"There are creatures coming from the castle!" a hysterical woman shouted
"Well close the door before you let them in to my pub!" The owner shouted as he made his way from around the bar.
"What creatures?" Elissa pressed ignoring the man.
"They look like the walking dead!"
Elissa turned to look at her party who were already gathering their swords and shield. "Does this place have a cellar?" she turned to look at the owner.
"What!?" he exclaimed
"A CELLAR? Does this place have a cellar?"
"Yes, but-"
"Take everyone you can down in to the cellar, anyone able to swing a blade come with me."
There was a loud shuffling in the room while people stood to gather weapons and others ran towards the back of the tavern.
"Now wait a minute, I can't bring all these people into my cellar! They'll steal anything they can get their hands on!"
Elissa felt her temper flare as she grabbed the front of the man's shirt in her fist, dragging him towards her till they were at eye level, "TAKE THESE PEOPLE TO THE CELLAR" she shouted at him before thrusting him away from her.
She made her way out of the tavern, closely followed by Jarvis, Brian, Soris, Ruari and Kallian. The streets where filled with fighting, as half armoured men fought against the strange skeleton like creatures. Elissa quickly jumped in to the fray as one charged towards her, she ducked and swerved to avoid being hit by its sword kicking at its leg to knock it to the ground before bringing her dagger down on to its neck. A bust of dust came from the creature before the bones seemed to collapse into the dirt.
"We need to get to the Chantry, get as many people we can where it's safe." They made their way in to the centre of the village killing any creature they came across, telling all of the villagers to head to the Chantry where a large group of the militia had already gathered.
Elissa made her way towards a large dark haired and bearded man who stood shouting directions. "What's happening here?" she asked him.
"Does it look like I know? These creatures just started making their way across the lake and attacking the village." He answered.
"Their coming from the castle!" a voice shouted out.
"We need to get archers into those buildings!" Elissa turned to see Kallian standing behind her looking down the road the creatures were coming from that headed towards the lake. "They'll be able to pick off a large number of them before they reach the rest of us."
"Good idea," Elissa said looking back at the man, "Get some archers in to the buildings."
"Excuse me, who are you to tell me anything! I'm the mayor of this damn village and I'll not sit and take orders from some woman and her Elf."
Elissa clenched her fist before bringing her hands up to indicate towards the family crest on her daggers. "I am Lady Elissa Cousland, Daughter of Bryce Cousland the Teyrn of Highever and I am ordering you to put some damn archers in those buildings."
Taken aback the man nodded with a dumbfounded face before moving to order the archers in to place.
The archers kept picking the creatures off as the rest of the militia took out those who had made it through while the villagers continued to run in to the Chantry. They fought for hours with only small breaks between waves of creatures until it stopped completely hours later.
"I think it's finished." Soris said as he dropped on to the ground exhausted, quickly joined by the others as they tried to catch their breath.
"We'll keep some men posted close to the lake in case anymore are spotted, the rest of you grab the wounded and head in to the Chantry." the dark bearded man said as he replaced his shield.
"Now you," he said as he made his way towards Elissa, she could see Kallian bristle near her as she gripped her dragger tighter. "Last I heard the Cousland's were all dead, so how'd you get here?"
"I am here to see Arl Eamon." Elissa said through gritted teeth, ignoring the man's question.
He paused for a moment, his eyes appeared to soften slightly before he spoke again, "Well, I'm Murdock, the Mayor and I'm afraid the Arl is sick, well last I heard he was. There hasn't been much traffic up to the castle except for a few of the kitchen staff."
"What about the Knights stationed here?" Ruari asked.
"Ha, what Knights? The Arlessa has been sending them out on a fool's errand looking for some magical cure for the Arl."
"There are no Knights stationed in the village?" Elissa asked in disbelief.
"Well no, but there are soldiers in the castle."
"There might not be any more if that's where these things where coming from," Brain said as he kicked at the remains of one of the creatures.
"We'll send someone to the castle in the morning; everyone should stay together in the Chantry in case there's another attack." The man sighed as he rubbed wearily at his face.
"There are a few people hidden in the cellar of the tavern." Kallian said, finally replacing her daggers.
"Lloyd actually let people in to his storage?" Murdock asked.
"He was persuaded." Elissa said without much humour.
"We'll send someone up to get them in to the Chantry."
"We'll go; we left our supplies and three of our party behind when the fighting started." Elissa said, after some quick promises to talk about what was to be done in the morning, they began the short walk towards the tavern. It had been a long night, and it seemed as though it was far from over.
Yay we've finally reached Redcliffe! Well some of our heroes have anyway. Have to say really like Elissa in this chapter, being bad ass as she is :P Really wont be long until our groups start to join up. Tho writing the beings of a few of the romances is being a bit of a pain in the ass! -_-