Lia Of Pirn Hollow Part 3
Based on a personal Dungeons and Dragons character played by the author. Dungeons and Dragons is published by Wizards of the Coast.
Thumbnail Art by: Axel R. @pikachuslutR on Twitter
Pirn Hollow far behind them, Lia relaxes into her saddle, taking in the woods around her. This is new grounds, although almost identical to the one Lia is sworn to protect. She was on high alert, not wanting to take any chances. Ruven has been quiet, looking a bit nervous. About what? Lia wasn’t sure.
“Waterskin for your thoughts?” Lia lobbed over her waterskin to her sister, who surprisingly caught it, despite her far-off look. Ruven quietly takes a sip, savouring its refreshing taste. Then wiping away the excess above her lip in an uncharacteristic move.
“This is the farthest I’ve been from Pirn.” Lia looks her over confused.
“Don’t you go on those trips with your friends to the northern mountains?” Ruven is quiet for a moment, carefully choosing her words.
“I’ve always found an excuse to say no.” Lia nods, not wanting to pry further.
“Well if it makes you feel better, I haven’t traveled too far out from Pirn and its surrounding forests. I’ve been to most of the neighbouring villages and woods.” Ruven keeps a steady pace, looking towards the horizon, not much in the mood for conversation. They’ve been traveling for most of the day and the sun was beginning to set. Darkness would be overhead soon.
In a swift movement, Lia dismounts her horse, leading it by the reins towards the edge of a small lake they have come upon. Ruven, uncertain of her sister’s actions, follows suit despite knowing Lia’s oddity. She trusts her tracking and animal skills. Brushing her horse gently with her hand and whispering in a voice Ruven did not understand, she sees her sister is happy. She has never seen Lia like that since they were kids.
Lia’s voice cuts her off from her thoughts. “You’re lucky I am going easy on your first night. There is a village nearby where we should be able to find some lodging for the night.” Mounting back onto her horse, Lia motions Ruven to do the same. Entering a slow trot, Lia points to flickering lights ahead.
“The Pirn Forest is no stranger to beasts, nor is the Acres woods. The people here have helped us many times in defeating Giants, and even some undead. I owe many of them my life. We will be safe here.” Breaking into a galloping run, Lia charges forward towards the lights.
“Lia! Gods you are…can you at least wait up !?” Frustrated, Ruven beckons her horse to follow suit and quicken its pace to catch up with her sister, who has already reached the edges of the treeline.
It has been several years since Lia has been in Acres, but it hasn’t changed a bit. Outsiders, unfamiliar with gnomes or this terrain, may miss Acres but to the trained eye or an ally, it is a perfectly quaint town. Humble homes nestled in the natural hills of the town, camouflaged doors of vine or flowers. Stores carved into trees that, upon first looking at it, may just seem to be its natural face. The lights seen from the lake are fireflies… Upon a closer look, it would show you they are encased within small jars, held aloft by some sort of magic. Lia has always felt welcomed here. Bending down to pick out one of the purple wildflowers below her, Lia feels her sister finally catch up and dismount beside her.
“Lia! I think you have finally lost it…I don’t see any village here.” Lia lets out a laugh and can hear other snickers around her from the residents. Placing the picked flower behind her ear, she turns to her sister.
“Oh, Ruven of little faith. Open your eyes for once,” and whispers in her ear an odd, probably gnomish, phrase. Everything described before suddenly becomes visible to Ruven. Clutching her chest in shock she almost stumbles over a stocky gnomish man with a grizzled, thick beard, carrying several scrolls.
“Oh I am so sorry sir I am…” In trying to avoid him, she narrowly misses a small group of children barely reaching 2 feet in height.
“Ah, ok… I am not from here so sorry.” Lia can’t help but smile, seeing her sister acting not like her usual self.
“Well before you push over any more locals, let’s get a drink.” Lia takes some food out of her satchel and begins to feed her horse and lead them to what looks like a natural bridge. Tying, up their horses, Lia nudges Ruven forward. Finding there to be steps, Ruven gingerly descends them, trying to not get any mud on her clothes. Pushing through thick leafy vines Ruven, is suddenly met with a warm crackling fire and a rollicking display of dancing, drinking, arm wrestling and lively conversation. Ruven can’t help but be wide-eyed and surprised at how wonderful and warm this place is. Lia slaps her on the back as she moves from behind her. Ruven and Lia both need to bend their heads as to not hurt themselves on the ceiling. They find a table in the corner with average human-sized chairs and seating. The tavern is lowly lit and crowded with gnomes of various backgrounds.
Lia has only been to The Forest Stone Tankard once before…
She came here with the other Rangers who helped take down two Giants and a band of undead who terrorized the Acres and Pirn Hollow for almost a full year. At that point, Lia had only partaken in low level hunts and tracking, nothing of this magnitude. She had tracked down one of the Giants but she was alone. Her fellow rangers were occupied with the other one. That was where she happened upon an Acres patrol. With their help and knowledge of the terrain they were able to defeat the Giant and remove any lingering undead fiends still present. As a celebration and show of good faith, Lia along with the others in her group were invited back to Acres for a weeklong celebration, one that still has Lia blushing from time to time.
Sitting down at an empty normal sized table and chairs in the corner, Lia finds the little arrow she notched into the wood from the previous time she was there. She absentmindedly traces the design Ruven is distracted by the strange new environment she has found herself in.
“Now, I would know those flowers anywhere.” A voice from behind Lia causes her to turn around and face its source. Wide-eye and recognizing the young, colourful gnome behind her with long chestnut brown hair tied nicely in a long single braid, her warm gray eyes meet Lia’s.
“Phoebe! Wow-I thought you would be halfway out of here by now?” The gnome puts down the tray of drinks she was balancing and goes over to give Lia a warm hug. Lia, crouching almost on her knees, bends down to make it easier for Phoebe to reach her.
“Someone has to manage the place. Father dearest isn’t the best with staying sober on shift.” She gestures towards the bar, where a half-sleeping gnome with his glasses balancing on the tip of his nose snores loudly and still holds onto the stein from which he was drinking. Lia nods in understanding. Getting off of her knees, Lia gestures to her sister.
“Phoebe, I would like to introduce you to my sister, Ruven. The reason I’m here.” The two shake hands.
“Well, Ruven you are more than welcomed here. Pleasure to meet you. We still tell stories of your sister here and her bravery.” Phoebe winks towards Lia and she blushes at the comment.
“More like dumb luck from a half-scared elf.” Lia looks down to her hands twisting them nervously. Phoebe, picking up on her usual shyness, speaks up again…
“So, where are you two headed? The only reason people usually pass by here is for travel.”
Ruven speaks up this time. “Oh right. Lia is escorting me to the Bergate Coast. I am to marry the young Lord there.”
Phoebe ponders this information. “Well that is quite the first meeting. Ha! Hello and then I do!”
Ruven goes beat red. “No sorry I should have been clearer. I am traveling there to meet the Lord. The intention is that we get to know each other. Then, if all goes well and with time, we will be married.”
Phoebe nods approvingly. “That sounds exciting! I wish you luck on your endeavor. Now, will you both be having ales and dinner then ?”
Lia looks up again. “Yes and rooms if possible?” Phoebe sucks in a breath, looking around the bustling room.
“I only have a single room left. Are you two ok to share?”
Lia, sharing a stern look with her sister’s disapproving face, agrees and says “That is fine with us. I have been in more precarious sleeping arrangements than sharing with my dear sister.” Ruven rolls her eyes as Lia gives her a teasing wink and looks around the crowded tavern again.
“Grand! I’ll get you the key, your ales and a bit to eat. Be back.” The gnome skips off to the back room of the tavern.
The rest of the night goes off with light chatter and the two sisters make their way through their dinner and several ales. Feeling full and sleepy from their journey, the two make their way up to their room as the tavern slowly empties of patrons. A small, modest candlelit room greets them, a small single person bed laid in the corner and a small vase of flowers stands by the small window. The sisters, around the same height, must crouch down as they enter the space. It’s not a place used to taller guests such as Lia and Ruven. Lia places their bags and things on the ground and starts to unroll her bedroll onto the wooden ground.
“You can take the bed…I’m used to the ground.” Ruven nods approvingly, gingerly sitting on the edge of the bed.
“Very nice of you, Lia. It will be a little cramped but definitely better than the floor.” Lia smirks to herself, placing her bow and quiver to the side of her bedroll up against the wall and her cloak on-top of it. Ruven undoes her braids and straightens out her hair, looking at herself in a small mirror placed on the side table. Sleep comes quickly to the both of them. A long day on the road and warm food in their bellies lulls the elves to a peaceful slumber.
Lia feels that she is still sleeping. It has to be the middle of the night, but the noise is so vivid. Popping sounds, wood breaking, warmth, a lot of heat. Stirring awake Lia is greeted by screams and smoke billowing in the room. Slowly understanding what is happening, she instinctively and hurriedly gathers their things while furiously shaking Ruven awake.
“Ruven! Ruven! Fire! We have to leave!” Groggy and still not fully awake, Lia’s urgency starts to sink in and Ruven is met with the same shocking image, bolting upright out of bed. Lia checks out the window. It is probably their safest route out. However, to Lia’s shock the whole town is on fire. Gnomes are lining the street gathering buckets of water from the nearby lake. The whole town is panicking and trying to put out the flames. The sisters carefully climb out the window and onto a clear piece of roof, untouched by the flames and dropping down easily onto to hysterical street. Lia looks around for Phoebe, finding her easily at the front of the tavern proper.
“Phoebe, w-what is happening?” Phoebe, a mess of soot and slight burn marks around her wrist, looks worriedly at Lia.
“ I-I’m not sure. Not many folks know we live here. According to those still awake, there were five hooded horsemen who came in and set fire to as much as they could and left just as quickly.” Trying to piece together why and how this could happen and seeing her frightened sister hugging herself, Lia takes a deep breath…
“Did anyone see if they were gnomish or more human-like ?” Lia asks Phoebe, while staring sadly at the burning tavern.
“From what they could tell, they were larger more human-sized, going south.” A group of gnomes with one last haul of water are able to extinguish the lingering flames inside the Forest Stone Tankard.
Soot-covered and falling apart, tears start to fall out of Phoebe’s eyes. “You and Ruven should get going out of town to somewhere safe.”
“Wait! You want us to leave!? Gods, Phoebe… We can help. The town is still burning! Why would we leave now?”
“If you really want to help this town, get those bastards. We won’t be able to. Now go!”
Sternly, Phoebe walks away to survey the wreckage of her Tavern. Lia, head bowed and understanding what is needed, goes back to her sister and places her cloak around her, noticing she didn’t have time to change into her riding clothes. Without a word, Lia collects their horses and hands the reins of one to her sister and mounting her own. Sensing the urgency, Ruven doesn’t question their leaving but notices the determined look in Lia’s eyes as the licking flames reflect in her irises. In a fast gallop they ride out of town, the smell of smoke and burnt wood following them into the night covered woods.
END OF PART 3
Art by: Axel R.
Twitter: @pikachuslutR
Ko-fi : https://ko-fi.com/pikachuslut
I am in love with the design he came up with for Lia! Go follow him on Twitter and if you have a character you want a design for he is still taking commissions! Or support him on Ko-fi!
