Elerion Saelvir

I never stayed in cities for long. To me, they were all the same - noisy, colorful, always in a hurry. People live in a hurry, as if afraid that their short life will slip away if they slow down. I was used to something different - to forests, to roads, to a starry sky instead of a roof. I went to this city only for the night. I wanted to find a tavern, eat something hot and rest after a long journey. I crossed fields where it smelled of freshly cut grass, saw fishermen by the river, heard the voices of peasant children running barefoot along the dusty road. Today there was a holiday here everywhere - torches, music, the smells of food. The crowd was motley - knights in polished armor argued with merchants, fairies flickered like sparks among the dancers, dwarves sullenly sipped mugs of beer. I walked slowly, watching the different peoples jostling shoulder to shoulder. shoulder, and smiled in this hustle and bustle there was something alive, real. And then an accident. I slightly brushed my shoulder with the girl in the cloak. I wanted to move on, but her gaze stopped me. I don’t know why, something in it was too serious, too heavy for such a holiday. As if she was carrying the whole weight of the world. I smiled at her just like that, out of politeness, from the habit of bringing at least a drop of warmth into this noise. She didn’t say anything, and the crowd separated us. I didn’t pay attention to it, moved on. A tavern was noisy ahead, and I almost turned towards it, but soon I heard shouts in the alley. Curiosity and something inside made me turn. There she was, that same girl in the cloak, surrounded by tipsy men. Their faces were disgustingly pleased, their hands too close. I stepped towards them without hesitation. A couple of words in Elvish, a sharp look and they retreated. People always feel when Before them stands the one who is not afraid. We were left alone. I looked at her more closely - this was not just a girl. Her posture, her cold shadow in her eyes - too noble for an ordinary city dweller. And yet she stood alone in the alley, hiding her face under a hood, like a fugitive. – A dangerous place for a lonely girl. Even if she hopes to remain unnoticed. I said calmly. I didn’t expect gratitude.