Vaunivor
Tlazolteotl
Syrenrei
AHeartlessNobody
nachonacho
VampiretwilightCrow spent the following week living with Evelyn. While he missed Penelope, he enjoyed being back home so much that the pangs of longing for her were few and far between. He spent most of his time catching up with the villagers and telling stories about his trip to Younis—although he embellished and twisted it quite a bit, leaving out the part where he had been forced to go by the king of Brerra in the first place. Their company was something he had missed, so to have it back was refreshing, and he loved every minute of it.
However, as the days passed and the time grew closer for him to meet up with Penelope, his excitement grew even more. He couldn’t wait to see her again and introduce her to the world he lived in. He was sure she was going to love it. The people were friendly, the culture was lax, and the environment was fulfilling to be a part of. His eagerness to see her again often spilled over into his conversations with Evelyn, who always listened patiently whenever he talked about his love for the knight.
Seven days passed, and as planned, Crow went to the Black Dagger tavern at sunset to meet up with Penelope. He sat at an empty table near the entrance, his gaze transfixed on the door as he waited excitedly to see her again after so long. This was it. Once she walked into the room, they would be free to run off to Farhill to be together. No mission, no chaperones, no status differences looming over their heads. For the first time, they were going to be free to be with each other without any worries.
We’ll get to be together as long as we live, his heart fluttered in his chest with a mixture of nervousness and excitement as he mentally ran through his plan to ask her to marry him. He was going to bring her to his favorite spot by the lake in Farhill—a little clearing on a ledge overlooking the south side of the water—and ask her there. He knew it was soon by noble standards to bring up marriage—peasants got married in less than a week all the time—but she was already giving up her old life to be with him, and he knew he wanted to stay with her, so what was the point in waiting? He swallowed anxiously, hoping she would accept his proposal.
Time passed by slowly and darkness fell as the sun disappeared over the western horizon. Crow drummed his fingers on the table. He hadn’t moved since he got there, wanting to meet Penelope the instant she arrived. However, as it got later and there was still no sign of her, he began to worry that something had happened. He frowned as doubts began to creep into his mind.
What if she changed her mind about being with him after visiting her family? What if she had just gotten caught up in the whirlwind emotions of the mission and didn’t really love him as much as he did her? What if the mercenaries attacked again and something happened to her? His stomach churned as his thoughts began to spiral out of control, and he forced himself to take a calming breath.
It’s probably nothing, he thought, trying to be rational. She probably just underestimated how long it would take to get back, or maybe she just wanted an extra day with her family. Everything is fine. Still, he sat at the table well into the night, hoping she would appear and look at him again with her kind smile, apologizing unnecessarily for making him wait for so long…
--
“Crow.”
The thief lifted his head, blinking dazedly as he looked around. He felt a gentle hand on his back and looked up to see Evelyn gazing down at him with a sympathetic frown. “I need to close up for the night,” she said softly. “I’m sorry, dear, but I need to ask you to go home.”
He nodded and sat up straight, aching his back in a weary stretch. “How long was I asleep?” he asked, rubbing his eyes.
“Not too long,” the tavern keeper assured him. She reached a broom underneath his table to sweep as he stood up. “It’s still the middle of the night.”
“I see…” Crow murmured. His gaze drifted back to the entrance to the tavern and he frowned, wondering what was stalling Penelope.
Evelyn caught his longing stare and offered him a small smile. “Go home and rest, Crow. I’m sure she’s coming as fast as she can.”
He turned back to her and returned her smile, “Thanks. I’ll see you back at the house.” With that, he left the tavern to get some sleep, doing his best to ignore the fears that were trying to bubble up inside of him.
--
Crow continued to return to the Black Dagger tavern every night at sundown for the following week, hoping against hopes that Penelope would show up. However, as the days went by and there continued to be no sight of her, his optimism began to fade. It was starting to look like she had changed her mind about being with him after all.
On the seventh night, Crow sat glumly at his usual table, swirling the remains of a mug of ale that he had been sipping at since sunset. He glanced up at the door occasionally, but of course, there was no sign of Penelope. He sighed and set down his glass, propping his chin in his palm as he stared down at the table. After waiting for so long, he was starting to feel hollow. He wondered if there was even any point to waiting for her anymore.
Who am I kidding? He thought despondently. She’s not coming.
He stood up from the table and walked out of the tavern, leaving his unfinished drink behind.
The sun hadn’t quite disappeared over the horizon as Crow walked down the road towards Evelyn’s house. He looked around in a halfhearted search for Penelope, but there was still no sign of the knight. After a bit, he gave up and lowered his gaze, absently kicking a small rock down the road. Part of him was still clinging to the hope that she was still coming, but it was getting harder and harder to hold onto the belief. He wished he had some way to know what had happened and why she hadn’t come to join him yet. It was painful to keep waiting when he was so clueless about it all.
“Did you hear about that assignment the king sent those palace guards on?” a voice caught Crow’s attention and he looked up to see a pair of knights walking towards him from the other side of the street. He hurriedly ducked behind a nearby house to hide, holding his breath as he strained to hear more of their conversation.
“I heard he sent some knights to guard that thief,” the other knight replied. “But I haven’t heard anything since then. Why?”
“Well, I just spoke to Peter from the inner kingdom. He was traveling through on a messaging errand and told me that the king never got the staff he wanted.”
He never got the staff? Crow’s blood ran cold. But that was impossible! How could Penelope and William have lost it when they were so close to the castle? He leaned a little closer to keep listening as the knights went on.
“Really?” the second knight said. “Did the thief fail to get it?”
“Not from what I heard,” the first knight answered. “Peter said the knights were attacked and never made it back to the king. Mercenaries, from the sound of it.”
Oh no, Crow paled. He leaned against the side of the house, suddenly feeling faint. No, no, no. His mind reeled as he began to piece everything together. William and Penelope had been attacked by the mercenaries again, and Penelope had never come back to him. She must have… He closed his eyes, trying to block out the morbid image in his head. It couldn’t be true. He didn’t want to believe it, but why else would she have not traveled back to Silverpool to meet up with him?
He waited for the knights to leave before he came out from his hiding place. Stepping back onto the road, he stared blankly ahead. Every part of him felt numb with shock. She was gone. She was really gone this time. He blinked and brought a hand to his face as he realized that his cheeks were moist with fresh tears. Not wanting to be seen by anyone in his current state, he turned and ran into the woods just outside of the village, heading blindly for a place where he could be alone.
Once he was just far enough away that he couldn’t see the village anymore, he slowed to a stop and sat down on a fallen tree. He finally allowed his emotions to boil over and dropped his head into his hands, crying silently by himself. He wasn’t sure how long he stayed there, but he didn’t move until the pain had faded to a dull ache in his chest. Taking a calming breath, he lifted his hand to his face, wiping away the tears he had let fall freely down his cheeks.
Feeling like he had reigned in his emotions enough to go back to the village, he turned and walked through the forest towards Silverpool again. He had stopped crying, but he still felt raw inside. He didn’t like how his chest felt both tight and empty all at once. He grimaced, bringing a hand up to his chest. He wanted to get rid of the feeling.
As he stepped back into the village, his eyes wandered back to the tavern as he was struck with an unfamiliar temptation. He shifted his weight, but after a moment of hesitation, he walked to the Black Dagger and sat down at the table.
Evelyn was quick to notice him return and moved to his side, knitting her brow concernedly, “You don’t look good. Is everything alright?”
Crow shook his head and looked up at her with a mirthless smile, “Let’s just say I just learned something I’d rather forget tonight. Being me a mug of ale… the strongest you have.”
Evelyn stared at him for a moment, having known him long enough to find his request out of character. However, she didn’t question him and left to bring him the drink he asked for. After a bit, she returned and set the mug down on the table, “Here you go, dear.” She paused for a moment and then added: “Try not to lose sight of yourself… even if it hurts.” With that, she walked away, leaving him alone.
Crow watched the tavern keeper as she walked away. He knew she was right, but at that moment, he was in too much pain to care. Picking up the mug she had brought him, he sighed to himself. Sorry, Evelyn, but I need to let go tonight. He lifted the mug to his lips and tilted his head back as he downed the whole thing, letting the alcohol numb his senses until he lost himself to its inebriating effects.
However, as the days passed and the time grew closer for him to meet up with Penelope, his excitement grew even more. He couldn’t wait to see her again and introduce her to the world he lived in. He was sure she was going to love it. The people were friendly, the culture was lax, and the environment was fulfilling to be a part of. His eagerness to see her again often spilled over into his conversations with Evelyn, who always listened patiently whenever he talked about his love for the knight.
Seven days passed, and as planned, Crow went to the Black Dagger tavern at sunset to meet up with Penelope. He sat at an empty table near the entrance, his gaze transfixed on the door as he waited excitedly to see her again after so long. This was it. Once she walked into the room, they would be free to run off to Farhill to be together. No mission, no chaperones, no status differences looming over their heads. For the first time, they were going to be free to be with each other without any worries.
We’ll get to be together as long as we live, his heart fluttered in his chest with a mixture of nervousness and excitement as he mentally ran through his plan to ask her to marry him. He was going to bring her to his favorite spot by the lake in Farhill—a little clearing on a ledge overlooking the south side of the water—and ask her there. He knew it was soon by noble standards to bring up marriage—peasants got married in less than a week all the time—but she was already giving up her old life to be with him, and he knew he wanted to stay with her, so what was the point in waiting? He swallowed anxiously, hoping she would accept his proposal.
Time passed by slowly and darkness fell as the sun disappeared over the western horizon. Crow drummed his fingers on the table. He hadn’t moved since he got there, wanting to meet Penelope the instant she arrived. However, as it got later and there was still no sign of her, he began to worry that something had happened. He frowned as doubts began to creep into his mind.
What if she changed her mind about being with him after visiting her family? What if she had just gotten caught up in the whirlwind emotions of the mission and didn’t really love him as much as he did her? What if the mercenaries attacked again and something happened to her? His stomach churned as his thoughts began to spiral out of control, and he forced himself to take a calming breath.
It’s probably nothing, he thought, trying to be rational. She probably just underestimated how long it would take to get back, or maybe she just wanted an extra day with her family. Everything is fine. Still, he sat at the table well into the night, hoping she would appear and look at him again with her kind smile, apologizing unnecessarily for making him wait for so long…
--
“Crow.”
The thief lifted his head, blinking dazedly as he looked around. He felt a gentle hand on his back and looked up to see Evelyn gazing down at him with a sympathetic frown. “I need to close up for the night,” she said softly. “I’m sorry, dear, but I need to ask you to go home.”
He nodded and sat up straight, aching his back in a weary stretch. “How long was I asleep?” he asked, rubbing his eyes.
“Not too long,” the tavern keeper assured him. She reached a broom underneath his table to sweep as he stood up. “It’s still the middle of the night.”
“I see…” Crow murmured. His gaze drifted back to the entrance to the tavern and he frowned, wondering what was stalling Penelope.
Evelyn caught his longing stare and offered him a small smile. “Go home and rest, Crow. I’m sure she’s coming as fast as she can.”
He turned back to her and returned her smile, “Thanks. I’ll see you back at the house.” With that, he left the tavern to get some sleep, doing his best to ignore the fears that were trying to bubble up inside of him.
--
Crow continued to return to the Black Dagger tavern every night at sundown for the following week, hoping against hopes that Penelope would show up. However, as the days went by and there continued to be no sight of her, his optimism began to fade. It was starting to look like she had changed her mind about being with him after all.
On the seventh night, Crow sat glumly at his usual table, swirling the remains of a mug of ale that he had been sipping at since sunset. He glanced up at the door occasionally, but of course, there was no sign of Penelope. He sighed and set down his glass, propping his chin in his palm as he stared down at the table. After waiting for so long, he was starting to feel hollow. He wondered if there was even any point to waiting for her anymore.
Who am I kidding? He thought despondently. She’s not coming.
He stood up from the table and walked out of the tavern, leaving his unfinished drink behind.
The sun hadn’t quite disappeared over the horizon as Crow walked down the road towards Evelyn’s house. He looked around in a halfhearted search for Penelope, but there was still no sign of the knight. After a bit, he gave up and lowered his gaze, absently kicking a small rock down the road. Part of him was still clinging to the hope that she was still coming, but it was getting harder and harder to hold onto the belief. He wished he had some way to know what had happened and why she hadn’t come to join him yet. It was painful to keep waiting when he was so clueless about it all.
“Did you hear about that assignment the king sent those palace guards on?” a voice caught Crow’s attention and he looked up to see a pair of knights walking towards him from the other side of the street. He hurriedly ducked behind a nearby house to hide, holding his breath as he strained to hear more of their conversation.
“I heard he sent some knights to guard that thief,” the other knight replied. “But I haven’t heard anything since then. Why?”
“Well, I just spoke to Peter from the inner kingdom. He was traveling through on a messaging errand and told me that the king never got the staff he wanted.”
He never got the staff? Crow’s blood ran cold. But that was impossible! How could Penelope and William have lost it when they were so close to the castle? He leaned a little closer to keep listening as the knights went on.
“Really?” the second knight said. “Did the thief fail to get it?”
“Not from what I heard,” the first knight answered. “Peter said the knights were attacked and never made it back to the king. Mercenaries, from the sound of it.”
Oh no, Crow paled. He leaned against the side of the house, suddenly feeling faint. No, no, no. His mind reeled as he began to piece everything together. William and Penelope had been attacked by the mercenaries again, and Penelope had never come back to him. She must have… He closed his eyes, trying to block out the morbid image in his head. It couldn’t be true. He didn’t want to believe it, but why else would she have not traveled back to Silverpool to meet up with him?
He waited for the knights to leave before he came out from his hiding place. Stepping back onto the road, he stared blankly ahead. Every part of him felt numb with shock. She was gone. She was really gone this time. He blinked and brought a hand to his face as he realized that his cheeks were moist with fresh tears. Not wanting to be seen by anyone in his current state, he turned and ran into the woods just outside of the village, heading blindly for a place where he could be alone.
Once he was just far enough away that he couldn’t see the village anymore, he slowed to a stop and sat down on a fallen tree. He finally allowed his emotions to boil over and dropped his head into his hands, crying silently by himself. He wasn’t sure how long he stayed there, but he didn’t move until the pain had faded to a dull ache in his chest. Taking a calming breath, he lifted his hand to his face, wiping away the tears he had let fall freely down his cheeks.
Feeling like he had reigned in his emotions enough to go back to the village, he turned and walked through the forest towards Silverpool again. He had stopped crying, but he still felt raw inside. He didn’t like how his chest felt both tight and empty all at once. He grimaced, bringing a hand up to his chest. He wanted to get rid of the feeling.
As he stepped back into the village, his eyes wandered back to the tavern as he was struck with an unfamiliar temptation. He shifted his weight, but after a moment of hesitation, he walked to the Black Dagger and sat down at the table.
Evelyn was quick to notice him return and moved to his side, knitting her brow concernedly, “You don’t look good. Is everything alright?”
Crow shook his head and looked up at her with a mirthless smile, “Let’s just say I just learned something I’d rather forget tonight. Being me a mug of ale… the strongest you have.”
Evelyn stared at him for a moment, having known him long enough to find his request out of character. However, she didn’t question him and left to bring him the drink he asked for. After a bit, she returned and set the mug down on the table, “Here you go, dear.” She paused for a moment and then added: “Try not to lose sight of yourself… even if it hurts.” With that, she walked away, leaving him alone.
Crow watched the tavern keeper as she walked away. He knew she was right, but at that moment, he was in too much pain to care. Picking up the mug she had brought him, he sighed to himself. Sorry, Evelyn, but I need to let go tonight. He lifted the mug to his lips and tilted his head back as he downed the whole thing, letting the alcohol numb his senses until he lost himself to its inebriating effects.