At the grave of Elisa Mar'hson

[Trouble_x_2]

The rain fell gently today, weeping grey clouds cast a blanket over the sky and a chill followed it in the air. The tall trees of the Wolfswood swayed with its touch, the creaking of their movement sending a serene feeling over all under their protection.

Tanner approached the flowery grave, a small smile on his lips as he saw the fresh flowers recently laid down, and to it he added his own humbled Lily, before settling beside the marker.

"Hi Love, " he spoke softly in elven, getting comfortable, and speaking as though she were sat right next to him, absorbing every word.

" I'm sorry. I know I promised to visit your parents but... I just couldn't yet. I... don't think Im quite there yet. Maybe next time.
I did what I said though... I took to Mistone. It's been so long since I travelled so far, I'd almost forgotten what the ocean looked like.
Hempstead is a big place.. full of... very strange people."

*he sighs a little and shakes his head*

" We both know its never easy for someone new to fit in. To tell the truth, my True began running low and... "

* he pauses and smiles at the headstone, as though expecting to hear a soft laugh*

" You'll laugh.. I know you will. But I had to go work in the sewers for enough coin for a meal. I know! The sewers! Who could believe it! "

*he laughs softly and shakes his head*

" Still.. it went well. And remember what I was telling you, what I was trying to do with the shadows... slip in and out of them like blankets. Well... it was at the very least a good place to start. Nice and dark down there.
A few times I almost felt it was something... you know... tangible.. I could just cover myself in it.
Still... good training.

* he grins a little at the headstone*

"Just a shame I stunk so bad afterwards."

* he stays an hour longer, just talking, chatting, like he would have if his dear wife had still been alive, until the sky began to grow darker, and now even the tall tress and leaves of the Wolfswood could protect him from the pouring rain.
With a gentle kiss to the headstone, and a promise to return soon, he slips quietly out of the woods and past his own home.. keeping to the shadows so that no one might see him.

[Trouble_x_2]

Tanner stepped from the darkness suddenly, as though stepping out of a door and into the light, not a foot away from Elisa's grave.
The moonlight filtered down through the trees to shine upon him, hiding the dark rings under his eyes and exhuasted look on his face.
He laid a lily down gently, right beside the last one he had left, and sat down beside it.

For some time, he is silent, before he sighs sadly and shakes his head.

"I know you would dissaprove love, but.. I think I need it. It... just makes the days more... bearable.

I'm still out on Mistone most of the time. Met a few half decent people here and there, even if their accent and odd sayings change from one town to the next, some of them are at least decent people.

Made a lot of work, and a small pile of coin... so, I'm going to turn my hand to a craft. Perhaps keep myself busy.
Some goblin caves I came across seem a good place to practice my stealth. The rocks seem to have a red glow, which makes it hard to slip into the shadows... but then.. the harder it is.. the better practice I guess."

He sits for a short time longer, occassionaly taking sips from a metal flask on his belt, before he stands and lays a kiss on the grave stone.
He takes a few steps back, slowly... and stands at the foot of her grave, giving a soft smile.

And then, without even moving, it almost seems as though the darkness and shadows gather and close around him, and if anyone had been watching at that hour... it would have appeared he dissapeared right before their eyes.

[Trouble_x_2]

The small flopping pitter patter of goblin feet came from down the cave tunnel, growing slightly louder and louder as the clumsy feet shuffled onwards.

Taking a quick sip from his flask and pushing it in his pocket, Tanner held his swords by his side and pressed himself up against the rock face.
He examined his little corner, where the shadows fell thickest, where the light came from.
He basically "felt" for the darkness and its edges, and when he thought he had found it, he pushed and pressed himself into it.

The goblin feet pitter pattered closer... inch by inch... and holding his breath suddenly, it was infront of him.
Right infront of him.
So close he could have reached out and touched its head.

Its smell came to his nostrils, he could see every scar, every cut, every detail of its armour and the rust on its little sword.
The thing grunted, looking around, its back to him.
It had obviously heard something earlier and come to investigate.

But now it found nothing.

And Tanner stood not ten inches behind it, hand on his sword.
It would have been easy.
Raise his sword, slide it through the things chest whilst his hand covered its mouth.
Simple.

But he didn't, and soon the thing tottered of, grunting and lisping.

Tanner waited a moment, and tried pulling the darkness along with him, following the goblin where it went, trying to play the game again... and again...

[Trouble_x_2]

As the sun shone down upon Elisa's grave, Tanner didn't sneak up to it.

He strode purposefully, disregarding the few people who sat not too far away, and sat down beside the headstone, laying yet another Lily beside her grave.
Kissing the headstone, he pulled out a pear from his pack and crunched into it, talking as though he were speaking to a friend sat beside him.

"Interesting love. Interesting. Thats all I can say about the past few days.
Interesting places. Interesting people.

From giant caves on Dregar with the fiercest semi-clad dwarf I have -ever- seen, to the Ice caves of Krashin with the most peculiar of women.

I will confess I'm not as skilled as them. Its obvious. But my skills in melding with shadows is growing, and it seems to be the one thing keeping my neck above the water... so to speak.
Lately it is almost tangible. A few tricks I've learnt of camoflague has helped me meld into backgrounds and shadows. It's almost like.. I could tug the darkness along with me, make it gather around me where ever I went."

* he smiles and shakes his head at the antics of the past few days*

"Anyway. I've taken up a new hobby, keep my mind occupied. Fletching. I know. Can you see me over a hot forge love? It's comical....."

* he trails off, talking about various things of his time away, and answering questions he can almost hear being asked by her, until the sun settles below the horizion.
And with a soft kiss to the headstone, he walks away and melds into the growing shadows that dusk brings.*

[Trouble_x_2]

Tanner settles by the grave stone, going through his usual routine once again.
A lily lay nestled beside the previous he had brought, and he kissed the gravestone softly.

As he began to relate to her the events of the past few weeks, he gradually dug small holes all around where she lay, and reaching into a small pouch, pulled out a hand full of seeds, carefully dropping a few into each hole, before covering them back up.

" Just you wait and see love. A few weeks and they will be blooming for you..." he said, and sat crosslegged beside the stone, unfurling a cloth bag and helping himself to a few tasty treats.

" I did what you asked. And.. I tried to be... sociable."

" Some it worked on.. but then.. some it didn't." he pauses to smile a moment, a rare small smile that barely touches his cheeks, " Though I did speak to one elven woman. She was... very different. And reminded me so much of you. So clear minded and positive. Seeking knowledge of Ilsare or.. training or.. the likes."

He pauses thoughtfully, sighing as he stares at the apple he'd been biting into.

"Though I'm afraid it wasn't long before I did exactly what you said I do. I... moped. Hey.. I tried.. I did! And I'll keep trying!" he laughs suddenly, as though answering some unspoke question from the grave stone.

"Others.... " he shrugs a little, "... dont really no what to make of me. And.. I guess thats fine for now. I see so many of them whilst I train in the shadows anyway... they all hover around the vast caves of the Red goblins.

" Sometimes, I just like to listen and watch, hidden in the darkness.
Which.. I must say love... you would be -extremely- impressed to see how well Im doing!!"

He laughs and shuffles forward towards the stone, as though the next words were only for him and her.

" Its so strange. Its.. the darkness and shadows. Its almost like... they're not just -there-... but... they are solid.. tangible... almost alive. I feel so strong and safe when I slip into them, almost like... like... when you used to sneak up on me and.. and wrap your arms around me... embrace! Thats it.. its almost like they embrace and welcome me everytime I move into them."

He smiles and shakes his head a moment, drinking from his hip flask and fastening it on his belt.

"I know it sounds silly but... truly.. I think there's something else there. Its almost like... its waiting to tell me something really important. And.. I just need to practice more and listen more to hear it."

The day passes. He eats his food, lies amongst the grass and speaks of various other things, his fletching, his exploring... until the sun settles behind the trees.

Pouring a few drops of water from his canteen onto every seed he just buried, he kisses the gravestone gently and walks off... and as the sun sets and the darkness approaches, it almost seems as though the shadows bend and lean in to him... eager to touch and grasp him first before all else.

[Trouble_x_2]

Tanner said he was going to leave. But he didn't.

He slipped into the darkness, wrapping it around him like a comfortable blanket, its wispy hands caressing and holding him as it melted all around him.
Wrapped so tightly, he called as he walked towards the gate that led to the surface.

" Be wary down here. My time is done...."

To the three, his voice grew distant, as though he was leaving.
But he stopped and turned, shrouded in the darkness, and slowly began making his way back towards them.

The three adventurers headed down a passageway in the cave, and he crept up silenty behind them.
Two goblins ahead grunted and squealed at the sight of them, and they drew their wicked curved blades and charged.

The first was Argos.
Whilst the young man fought, Tanner slipped forward and pressed himself against the cave wall, mindful of the swinging blades of both the young Toranite and the goblin he faced.
Keeping the darkness pressed to him, he timed their battle.. the arc of their swings... and seizing the moment, he slipped up stole a potion from his belt... never allowing the darkness to leave him.
The potion came away easily. It was only a minor one... half full as it was....but he took it anyway.

The next was the dwarf... screaming in his battle rage to the honor of Vorax.
This he knew was a simple task. The dwarf had one eye only, and it was simplistic but to slide behind him in one graceful movement and pluck a bottle of ale from the dwarfs pack.
Keeping the darkness wrapped to him, he melded back into it and slipped the ale bottle back into his pack.

As the battle continued, Tanner concentrated and steeled himself, eyeing the woman Rory, the third.
She has skills herself in hiding in the darkness, and a sharp pair of eyes to boot. This would be a real test.

Timing each slash and thrust of her blades, he exhaled slowly... as though trying to enlargen the shadows around him so he could get closer... inch by inch.
His hand outstretched slowly.. perfectly still.... his fingers trying to take hold of a single strand of her hair as she fought, her braided hair bobbing up and down making the task more difficult.
She paused a moment to defend a thrust from the goblin, and in that moment, he took his chance, and with two fingers, snapped hold of a single strand of hair... and pulled....