The Chronicles of Elorenn - Chapter One

This is the sequel to the Wandering Elves!

Hey everybody, this is Chapter One of my main Fantasy novel. I'm still unsure of what the permanent name will be, so it remains Chronicles of Elorenn until I find a better name.

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Evening had fallen over Fayfield, all was peaceful and the evening cycle had just started. Townsfolk began arriving at the Shattered Tankard, the only Tavern in Fayfield. Within a few hours the Tavern would be bustling with activity, it was the perfect place to unwind after the hardships of the day.

"More travelers" sighed a Guard, leaning against the stone archway surrounding the large oak doors that lead into Fayfield. "Aye, mysterious lookin' ones too" replied another Guard, leaning on the opposite side of the doors. He nodded, before returning his focus to the four hooded figures, walking down the cobblestone path.

"Reckon we should let em' in?" questioned one of the Guards, "Eh, I'd rather think we should. Don't look like much trouble really, part from those bows. But I reckon there just hunters, returnin' from that forest" replied the other Guard, his grip tightening around his swords hilt just as an extra precaution as the four hooded travelers arrived at the gate.

"May we enter? We seek refuge for the night" said one of the four figures, as he stepped forward from them to greet the two guards. "I don't see why not, I'll get them to open the gate for ye' now" replied the Guard "You up there, open the gate. We got some travelers". Without any replies from the Guards manning the gate, the doors begun to creek open. The two Guards stepped to the side, to avoid the heavy doors as they opened "Don't cause any trouble, or you'll be answerin' to the point end of my sword" he tapped the point of his sword with his forefinger, the leading figure nodded before entering into Fayfield, a small, wolfish smile hidden by the darkness of his cowl.

"Ah, where to then?" questioned one of the hooded figures, the leading figure looked around for a second before he caught a small group of people outside a tall, wooden building with a sign of a broken tankard hanging on a small wooden pole that jutted from the roof. "That tavern" he said, pointing to the tavern, the others nodded and followed him as he lead them towards the tavern. Upon arrival at the Tavern, the figure gestured for his follows to come near "Cithral, Anoril. Take the gatehouse, I noticed a ladder that led up onto the wall" ordered the leading man "Elvor and myself will prepare, we shall come to the gate when everything is in order". "Quel fara (Good hunting) Theion" replied Anoril, Theion nodded and the four parted, ready to change the face of Elorenn forever.

Anoril looked back once more, but Theion and Elvor had disappeared into the Tavern. "Anoril, keep yourself focused" ordered Cithral, as he eyed the ladder that acted as the only way onto Fayfield's stone wall. "Look, if we get onto the wall then bring that ladder up, it'll stop any more guards from getting up" Anoril nodded, and they made their way towards the ladder that lent against the large stone wall.

Cithral begun his ascent up the ladder, under the cloak of night he was almost invisible to the people that littered the streets. Anoril followed, before hauling the ladder onto the wide stone wall. "The two guards manning the gatehouse seem like the only two, but there might be some others patrolling the walls. I'll take a look around to wall" said Cithral, "Looks like I'll secure the gatehouse then, good luck friend".

Anoril watched Cithral dash off, before making a slow progression towards the gatehouse. He could see the two guards clearly, they lent on the fortifications that jutted out of the wall in regular intervals. In the center of the gatehouse roof was a large lever which more than likely operated a system of pulleys that opened and closed the gate. He neared the guards, crouching as he progressed to stay out of their vision "Yallume (At last)" he whispered, before withdrawing a short, curved blade from inside his robes.

"What's that?" questioned one of the guards as he noticed a silvery gleam to his left. "Whats what?" replied the other guard. "Not sure what, b-" his final words where cut off as a shadowy figure jumped from the shadows. Anoril violently thrust his dagger into the guards chest, before tearing it out and turning towards the other guard. Before he time to react, the hooded figure lunged at him, bringing the blade down into his chest. The guard whispered four faint words "I h-have a family". Anoril looked at him for a second, before tearing the blade free from his flimsy leather armor "So did my ancestors, but that didn't bother you did it" the guard fell backwards into a slump against the fortification, he made an attempt to look up but before he finished the movement his head fell limp.

The townsfolk never paid much attention to the two strange figures who had entered the tavern, they had somehow slipped in noticed and before anybody realized they where gone again, almost immediately forgotten in the minds of the townsfolk. "Climb up, quickly" whispered Cithral as Theion clambered up the wooden ladder and onto the stone wall. He then turned and hauled the ladder up onto the wall, to prevent anybody else from climbing onto the wall. "Cithral, climb down and deal with those two gate guards. We'll join you soon" ordered Theion, Cithral grabbed the ladder and walked off to find a spot where he could climb down the other side of the wall.

The cloaked figure Theion pulled his hood down, revealing a youthful face with a traditional Elven tattoo across the right side. He un-slung his longbow, pulled an arrow from his quiver and nocked it against the string. Anoril approached him, a small glowing gem in his hand, he pressed it to the arrowhead causing the tip to burst into flames "Let it begin" called Theion.

The arrow flew through the air, before diving down into the side of a wooden building. It exploded into a large fireball on impact, engulfing the building in a fiery blaze. Screams begun to erupt from throughout the town as the fire spread between the wooden buildings. People ran from their houses, their attentions immediately turning to the three figures that stood on the wall "You humans have lied to the Elves of Elorenn for centuries, of our ancestors fate. Tonight marks the day when we retake are honor as Elves, when we make you pay for what you have done"...

Fire had consumed almost the entire town, people sped around in a desperate panic trying pointlessly to avoid their inevitable fate. "Worry not my son" cried a woman, in an attempt to comfort her son "Adrian, you must stay strong. You must, please" she hung her head, tears running down her cheeks. "I'm sorry mother" replied a boy of no older than fifteen, his face blackened by smoke. "Do not be, there is hope yet. The crack in the wall, your just small enough to fit. Go, you must save yourself" she pointed to the large crack in the wall. "But mother, I won't leave you. I cannot" replied the boy, shaking with fear as the orange flames surrounded them, slowly closing in.

"You must go now. You cannot stay, I will not let you" growled the lady, the boy looked at her and hugged her tightly "I will, I promise" he whispered in her ear. He pulled away and ran towards the gap, crawling through it. The boy looked through the crack, his mother managed a small smile "I will make you proud, I promise". Flames destroyed his vision, engulfing his mother in the blaze "I know son, I know" she whispered...