Anklamoria's Inn

enevier and Coltranthum were on the far western mountains nearly sinking, illuminating an orange ray throughout Neriwonda. The breeze was already cold; clear evidence that winter is nearly approaching. The pain on Aruniel’s hand subsided and they were on the highest point of Trollmorloom where the ocean of Quariumora was visible. It was a unique experience for Aruniel and Dourofeek, for it was the first time that they actually saw a true ocean—not a problem for Aruniel, who just simply glimpse at the ocean from time to time. But for Dourofeek it was different, the young dwarf beamed like he never did before, a huge smile reaching from ear to ear. And if not for Aruniel’s warning before they left, Dourofeek would have said a lot of things about the ocean. So he remained quiet, enjoying the surroundings he never had before.

“Are you enjoying the scenery Dourofeek?” Adrei said as he walked his horse beside Hedril, for the young dwarf was riding with Hedril.

“Aye, P’ince Adwei!” Dourofeek was quick to respond still not losing the beam he had.

“It was night when we pass this road,” Aruniel butted in, “So Douro didn’t saw this view when we traveled going to Hollow-hill. Right, Douro?”

“W’ight!” the dwarf responded.

“That’s not white Douro, that’s blue!” Hedril said pointing the ocean, and they all laughed.

“How old are you Douro?” Adrei inquired.

“He’s just nine.” Aruniel answered for the dwarf.

“Aye, Douwofeek is nine.” the dwarf said in agreement.

“Don’t worry Dourofeek, I too was tripping over my tongue when I was about your age.” Philip added.

“I think you still are, from time to time.” Hedril said, “Especially when the king is in rage!”

Their laughs echoed as if they were little children, and that time no one would think of them as hunters or as the elite soldiers of Hywel, for they were the vanguards of Hywel. And it was during these times that they could express their selves freely, so to speak, the hunting season was an awaited time for them.

“Get used to them.” Adrei said as he stopped his horse and Aruniel stopped too.

“Nay, it’s alright!” Aruniel answered smiling.

“This is our much love time, when we are in the wilds of Neriwonda.” Adrei said. “You will not see them like that in the castle.”

“Why?”

“Oh well, we have to be the models of the soldiers.” Adrei replied in a bored tone. “We are supposed to behave as men. We are strong, we are well-behave, we are serious, we are so on and so on… And we’re tired of that!”

Aruniel just smiled as a reply.

“And I’m glad that we met, during this time.” Adrei continued.

“What do ye mean?”

“Well, it’s not everyday that you will find a strange lady.” Adrei explained. “Strange in the sense that you’re… you’re so different. The way you speak, the ‘ayes’ and the ‘nays’, the ‘an’s’ and the ‘’ems’, and those sorts of your accent.”

“Ye haven’t met a lady with a dwarven accent before?” she said.

“I did, but you have a very strong dwarven accent.” Adrei answered, he paused for a moment and continued, “You’re strange in a good way. You’re strange; it’s like that I want to know you deeply.”

They were both speechless for a few seconds and then Adrei broke the silence in a dwarven accent “Com’n then me dwarven princess, let’s follow ’em Hunters of Hywel!”

Aruniel laughed and said “Ye’re so tall for a dwarf, and ye need to grow a beard!”

A few hours later the sky grew dark and the stars were slowly appearing on the horizon. Far north about another hour of stride, Anklamoria’s Inn was seen together with the houses of that small town.

It was just about time for dinner when they reached the town. From the gate, the sound of merriment and music playing was heard; it was clearly coming from the inn. Soon, they entered Anklamoria’s inn, they had a dinner where humans were singing and dancing at the sound of musical instruments.

“It looks like that they’re the Hunters of Plamaehan.” Hedril said referring to the humans dancing and drinking.

“Yes, it’s them.” Adrei replied. “I think they finished hunting a day earlier than us. So this might be their second night here.”

Philip butted in “Well, this will be much fun! The more the merrier!”

“Aruniel, you’re from Duin Hall, right?” Hedril asked who was on the other side of the table.

“Aye, why?” Aruniel replied her face obviously showed that she was wondering why Hedril had to ask once more.

“Well, isn’t it that dwarves are fond of singing?” Hedril continued. “Can you sing a dwarven song for us?”

“Right! That would be great if you will.” A soldier beside Hedril said.

“Well… Ahmm, I dunno…” Aruniel said hesitating.

“Com’n ’Euniel! Ye’ good in singin’!” Dourofeek said.

And so Philip stood up and went at the stage, and said “Ladies and gentlemen, can I have your attention. We have a special guest tonight. We have a lady here from Duin Hall, and she’s going to sing a dwarven song for us, would it be fine?!”

The crowd then cheered and applauded as Dourofeek grabbed Aruniel’s hand pulling her to the stage. “Come’n ’Euniel, show ’em ye’ good voice!”

“Stop it Douro…” Aruniel said, “I can’t…”

“Come’n what a’ ye afwaid of?” Dourofeek said as he pulled Aruniel.

Aruniel who was nearly at the stage with Dourofeek then walked face down going to the stage. Her heartbeat was loud as if she could hear it right through her ears. Slowly she tried to look at the audience but she can’t. She’s wondering why all the sudden that she was afraid to sing, for she often asked by King Roulfen to sing in the halls of Hollow-hill, in front of thousands of dwarves. Yet, her crowd was just more or less forty.

“Come on don’t be shy Aruniel!” someone shouted from the crowd. She didn’t even bother to look, but she was sure it was one of the soldiers of Hywel.

She bit her lips one or two and then she breathed in and exhaled heavily, trying to lessen the tension.

It became very quiet, still and silent that you would even hear the sound of the wind blowing smoothly from the windows and as if everyone was waiting for a single note to come out of her lips.

She then stood straight, still facing down and start releasing a tune.

I’m searchin’ for ye, how me heart looks for ye

From time to time, I’m wondrin’ where ye are an’ when are ye goin’ to find me

Though I know ye not, though we haven’t met

I know ye for some reason

I know ye by heart

She paused for a moment, and then faced the crowd as if she gained the confidence she was looking for.

I’ve been up, I’ve been beaten down

Still me heart knows ye’re comin’

An’ after all the years

Me smile is complete coz finally ye’re here…

The emotion of the song finally took Aruniel, her voice was soft yet powerful, and her melodies soar throughout the room, the notes dancing with the wind, and the emotions was so strong.

She then lifted her hands and placed it on her heart; she closed her eyes as the song goes.

Because in ye I found the one I’m prayin’ for

In ye I see, all the things I adore

And with ye I could sing all day all night long

Because ye are…

Ye are the meanin’ of this song

Ye are my angel, ye are from above

Ye came and find me and ye gave yer love

With yer sweet smile, I can get through the hardest mile

There’s a magic in yer eyes that brings the love in me alive

Because in ye I found the one I’m prayin’ for

In ye I see, all the things I adore

And with ye I could sing all day all night long

Because ye are…

Ye are the meanin’ of this song

Because ye are…

Ye are the meanin’ of this…

Song…………

The song ended smoothly and lovely, she slowly opened her eyes. Everyone was speechless, but what she quickly noticed was an old lady wiping her teary eyes, and the old lady started to clap.

One by one every person in room stood from their seat and clapped until the room was filled with applause. Aruniel then quickly bowed, while the applause continued joined with whistles from the hunters of Hywel.

As she went back to her place, there were various feedbacks from the tables she passed by “You made me cry.” the old lady said. “You should visit Plamaehan one day and be our guest singer!” said a hunter from Plamaehan. “I never heard a song like that before, that was great!” another comment said, “I’m sure your parents are so proud of you.” said an old man. And on every comment she heard she just simply smiled as a reply, until she reached her seat.

“That was great Aruniel!” Hedril said.

“Thank ye.”

“You should sing in the Castle of Hywel when we get there.” Adrei said.

Aruniel just smiled as the fiddle started to play a fast music of merriment and all the musicians joined in a double time.

Adrei stood up and grabbed Aruniel by the hand “Come let’s dance!”

“Nay, I dunno how to…” she said but she was already pulled by the prince.

“Yes you can!” Prince Adrei said, “Just look at how they do it.”

“Alright…” Aruniel look at the dancing couples and then put her hands on the prince’s shoulders.

“Now just follow me and don’t let go!” Adrei said. “I know dwarves don’t dance like this!”

The two of them then rotated turning clockwise holding each other joining the dancing crowds and then Prince Adrei held Aruniel’s hands and they stretched their arms so that their weight would balance them as they turned faster in counterclockwise. They stopped after a few minutes when it seemed that Aruniel was about to fall, but it didn’t bother them, for Aruniel was laughing as she held tightly on the prince’s shoulder for she felt dizzy.

“I really don’t know how to dance! I’m sorry” she said.

Adrei laughed and said “I guess you’re really are a dwarf! Come on I’ll take you back to your seat.”

As soon as Aruniel got back on the chair Adrei went on the bar to get a drink, while she noticed a strange man on the table next to them looking intently at her. The man’s head was covered with a hood as if he was trying to hide his face from her.

“Are you really from Duin Hall?” the man said.

“Aye, excuse me do I know ye?” she replied.

“You’re not from there…” the strange man said.

Aruniel got scared and answered not the man, waiting for the prince to come back.

“Aruniel is a pure dwarven name, and it means the daughter of the king.” the man continued.

“Are ye saying that I’m lying?” Aruniel answered uneasily.

“Are you?” the man replied.

“Ye’re without a manner!” she said irritably.

“Is it rude to ask a question? Or shall I say asking for the truth?” the man said as he stood seeing that the prince was coming back. The man took his cloak hanging on a chair and whispered as he passed by at Aruniel. “I’ll be watching you Lady Aruniel…”

“What’s the matter?” the prince asked as soon as he came back for he saw that Aruniel’s countenance shifted to a troubled one. “Did that man bothered you?”

“Nay, its nothing, I guess his just drunk!” Aruniel said and smiled trying to hide her troubled heart.

Anklamoria's Inn

Recent Chapters

Recent Blog

Latest Members