Original Stories Fan Fiction ❯ Lathanos's Great Journey ❯ The Port City ( Chapter 5 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

Ch. 5
The Port City

When Lathanos and Romona got up close to the city mere hours later, they were in awe. It was a large city with towering walls. They were made of some of the purest and finest marble. The doors to the city were in the middle, and were made of a fine, cherry-stained oak. They were bolted with fine steel. Around three fourths of the city lay the sea, the foam crowning the waves quite beautifully, almost divinely.
They both continued to stare in awe as they found the door. The guard glared at the two. He was a short, stubby man; he would have passed for a dwarf had he a beard. His black, crinkled eyes looked up at them, lingering on their weapons. Lathanos, about to speak, was stopped when Romona raised her hand slowly.
Smiling encouragingly, she said, “Damien, I did not expect to see you here!”
The guard smiled, his lips hardly moving as he said throatily, “Since the war, no,” They then burst out laughing, leaving Lathanos completely clueless. He shrugged his shoulders, a dumb look upon his face.
Romona looked to Lathanos, saying, “We fought together…once upon a time,”
The man known as Damien motioned with his hands for the gates to open. They did with great protest, revealing what was inside the walls. The houses were all made of the same material as the walls. It would be a bleak and lonely place if no one walked the streets, though everyone did so. Everyone was dressed in bright colors, and most smiled and laughed as they went about their business.
Romona and Damien talked amicably, leaving Lathanos slightly stranded. He could only sigh and shrug his shoulders. “I can tell we are going to be here awhile,” he said, sighing heavily. His head drooping, he found a bench along one of the many streets and sat down. “Oh well, until they get finished catching up – or whatever they’re talking about – all I can do is wait,” he said, gripping the hilt of his older katana.
He slowly and carefully drew the sword to examine it. It had an all black hilt. The blade was a gleaming silver and was about four and a half feet long. It was light, yet still lethal. He swung it around gracefully, yet carefully, continuing to examine it. A few of the passerby gave him a nervous look. At this, Lathanos sheathed his sword.
“This…is so…boring!” Lathanos said quite loudly. He got up to explore the city. “What city is this anyway…?” he muttered.
“This is Thranduil, Silly,” a familiar voice said behind him. Lathanos spun around to come face to face with Romona. She was grinning widely.
“Whoa!” Lathanos said, stumbling back into the bench he had been sitting in. “Where’d you come from?!”
“I just came to get you. Damien said he would get us rooms at the tavern!” Romona replied. She grabbed his hand and rushed off towards the tavern, dragging him along behind her. Her smile would change anyone’s mind; it was one of the most beautiful smiles Lathanos had ever set eyes on.
Once at the tavern, they noticed that Damien was waiting for them in the lobby. “Romona, Lathanos, so good of you to come!” he said brightly. “Your rooms are at the end of the corridor on the second floor. Here are your keys,” He handed them each a brass key the color of gold.
“Thank you very much, sir,” Lathanos said, bowing politely. With that, they headed for their rooms.
Once in his room, Lathanos unsheathed the sword he had gotten from Viscone back in Bascal Village. It was unlike any sword he had laid eyes on. It had a gleaming, light blue blade. On the end was a light yellow flame pattern.
“Wow, this sword is amazing!” Lathanos exclaimed. He then noticed an inscription on the side of the blade: Ut unus fio unus per is vesica, nusquam can subsisto lemma. ‘What in the hell does that mean?!’ Lathanos thought.
“Etiam, EGO teneo Latin,” said a voice from the doorway.
Lathanos turned to the doorway. Romona was standing there with a smile upon her face. “Eh?” Lathanos said, dumbfounded.
“I said, ‘I know Latin!’” Romona repeated, rolling her eyes. “That inscription on your sword is in Latin,”
“Oh good! Then could you tell me what this means?” asked Lathanos, pointing to the inscription.
“Let’s see…It means, ‘When one becomes one with this blade, nothing can stop them,’” said Romona. “I wonder what it means…You will have to use that sword. Viscone told you to anyway,”
“I know; I’m excited!” said Lathanos with a grin.
Romona could laugh, but the boyish expression Lathanos was wearing was just too adorable. Finally, she muttered, “…Melior adepto movere…”, which means, “Better get moving,” Then, looking up, she smiled. Lathanos was busy joking around with his sword. Romona laughed and simply left through the open door.
She didn’t go to her room, but left to wander the streets. This city held so many memories, some deeply painful. Touching her ears subconsciously, they seemed to stand out.
She felt a hand grip her shoulder, and she nearly jumped out of her skin. Hot breath brushed her neck and she pulled away, but a pair of arms were already snaking their way around her waist. Instinctively, she rammed her elbow into the unknown person’s stomach. The instant her elbow connected, the arm let go. She heard them hit the ground.
She turned to face the person, and gasped. “Solem, I didn’t know it was you! I am so sorry about that!” Romona apologized, slightly embarrassed. “However, you could have said it was you! You scared me half to death!!”
The one called Solem picked himself up off the ground. He was wearing a simple, emerald tunic, a pair of off-white slacks, and a pair of brown, leather boots. He had electric blue eyes that seemed to sparkle in the sunlight. His dark hair reached halfway down his back. He smiled innocently as if nothing had happened. “N-no worries, Romona. Now, please, come with me,” he said.
Romona followed as she was told. He led her to the beach. An ecstatic sunset was on the horizon. Reds and yellows mixed with blues and purples. It was quite a sight to behold. “It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” Solem asked, stopping to admire the sunset.
“Yes, it is simply gorgeous!” she replied. She too was watching the slowly setting sun. It was almost…hypnotizing. It was one of those once-in-a-lifetime sunsets that are truly a beautiful and romantic wonder, filling the horizon with its hypnotic rays. “So, why have you brought me here, Solem?”
“It has been such a long time since last I saw you! I just wanted to walk along with you beside me, just like old times!” Solem said. “It is alright if we walk along the beach together, is it not?”
“Of course it is Solem. Anything for a friend!” she said. She linked her arm with his and they slowly began to walk down the beach, listening to the soothing sound of the waves gently caressing the shore.
Romona soon found an arm around her waist. She could feel the blood coursing through her cheeks as she blushed. She soon snaked her arm around Solem’s. “I have wanted to ask you something for a long time now, Solem,” she said as they continued to walk.
“Ask away, Romona,” said Solem.
“Why did you leave all those years ago?” Romona asked. “You just up and abandoned the whole Elven race!”
Solem stopped suddenly and turned to Romona, looking deep into her eyes. His face was now serious. “I…I felt no need to stick around…I felt that I was no use to my people!” he said, turning away from her and looking out onto the horizon.
“Don’t say that. You were a great help to us all, Solem! You were one of the best in our military!” Romona exclaimed, placing a hand on Solem’s shoulder. “I know you, Solem. You are trying to protect me from being hurt by the truth. Whatever it is, you know as well as I do that I can take it!”
“Ok, you want the truth? Fine, then here it is. I was targeted by the man that became Etheros! I knew that my presence in the royal city would only endanger you all. I had no choice but to leave!”
As the sun was only partially visible in the sky, Solem went in to kiss Romona, but she placed a hand in front of his lips. “Solem, you know that I could never love you in that way. You were never there for me as it is. I am truly sorry,” she said.
“I see…If only I could be there for you, my love, if only…”
The rest of the day was a haze. Romona managed to get back to the tavern. Upon entering her room, she fell onto the bed. Her emotions were raging, and for the first time she didn’t smile through this pain, but cried.
The sun had set, the sky alight with a painter’s hand. Bright oranges and yellows flared in the sky like a blossom of color. For those who watched, it had been a memorable day. The night, however, would prove just as memorable as the sunlight faded away.
Lathanos finally sheathed his sword, looking to the doorway. ‘I see Romona has returned,’ he thought, seeing her closed door.
He left the tavern to look around. The sea air felt soothing to him. It was cool, calm, refreshing. Unlike the daytime, the city was quiet, the streets empty. It was actually kind of creepy.
As he was passing a dark alley, someone pulled him into it. Lathanos was about to shout out, his hand gripping his sword hilt, when the man put his hand over Lathanos’s mouth and his other hand gripped the wrist holding the katana. “I mean you no harm,” the man whispered.
Lathanos let out a sigh of relief, and the man released him. “So what the hell do you want with me?!” asked Lathanos, confused. He got a better look at the figure. He was a tall man with short, black hair and silver eyes. He was wearing a black cloak that covered every inch of him.
“Well, you are the skilled warrior from the spreading rumors, are you not?” asked the man. Lathanos nodded and the man continued. “Oh, my apologies! My name is Aegnor. I need you to go to a local prison,” He pointed to a stone building near the alley. “Once there, a woman at the front desk will ask you how she can help you. Tell her –”
“Why should I help you?!” asked Lathanos, his eyebrow raised.
“I…I can pay you!” said Aegnor.
“How much?”
“How about…four thousand sycles?”
“Four thousand?! I’m in! so, what exactly do I have to do?” said Lathanos excitedly.
Aegnor chuckled. “Well, as I was saying, you will need to ask her to visit cell thirty-seven,” he continued. “She will ask why you would like to visit that particular holding cell. Tell her that you are his cousin; she should allow you to the cell then,
My brother is in that cell. He is in prison for a crime he didn’t commit! I need you to free him from that wretched place! I have heard that your blade can cut through iron, titanium even! Is that true?”
“I don’t know about titanium, but my sword can definitely cut through the toughest iron!”
“Splendid! Then just cut the bars to his cell and lead him back the way you came,
The guards will be waiting for you at the end of the hall and will have sealed the exit! Fight your way through them and get to the door,” Aegnor paused and handed Lathanos a piece of chalk.
“What’s with the chalk?” asked Lathanos.
“Well, the door will have been sealed with Elven magic! You will have to draw a transmutation circle on the door with that chalk and place your hand against it. Concentrate on it, and if you concentrate just enough of your energy to it…boom!!! You’ll blow the door right off its hinges!!”
“Hold on, alchemy?!” Lathanos interrupted. “Can’t I just cut through the door with my sword?”
“Like I said, Elven magic will have been used to seal the door, so alchemy will be the only way other than more Elven magic! Anyways, once you have blown open the door, there will be just a few more guards and then you’re home free! Just bring him back here,”
“Sounds easy enough. You will have your brother back and out of prison in no time. I promise!” With that, Lathanos then headed for the entrance to the prison.
Once at the front of the prison, Lathanos entered through the wooden doors. He was greeted by a blank, gray room with a wooden desk at the back wall. A strong-looking, Elven woman with long, silver white hair was behind it. “May I help you, Sir?” she asked without a hint of emotion in her voice.
“I am here to visit cell thirty-seven, Ma’am,” Lathanos said.
“Would you happen to be a friend or relative?” asked the woman.
“I’m his cousin,”
“Well, then follow me, please,” The woman stood up and made her way to a large, metal door. Lathanos did as he was told and followed her. She pushed open the door like it was nothing, even though it was quite thick, and made her way down a long hallway and up two flights of stairs, Lathanos close behind. They passed several holding cells before they came to number thirty-seven. “Here you are, Sir. I shall be at my desk if you have any further questions,” she said. She then turned and made her way back down the hall.
“Well, what do you want?!” the man in the cell grunted just as the woman had started down the first flight of stairs. He was tall – a bit taller than his brother – with very long, shaggy, black hair and a beard to match. He had the same eyes as Aegnor. He was wearing a simple, gray shirt and ragged pants to match. Shackles bound his hands.
“Your brother sent me to get you out of here! By the way, my name’s Lathanos,” Lathanos replied.
“The name’s Tasartar. I can’t believe that me own brother – me own flesh and blood – didn’t come ter get me himself!” the man growled.
“I’m here, aren’t I?! Wouldn’t it be better for me to get you out of here than you staying here and rotting?!” Lathanos snapped.
“Yeah, I guess yer right! How are ya gonna get me out o’ here though?” asked Tasartar. Without a word, Lathanos unsheathed his sword, cut through the cell bars and sheathed his sword again. The bars fell the ground with a clang.
“Come on! We gotta go!!” Lathanos exclaimed, gesturing for Tasartar to follow.
“Wow! Now that’s somethin’!” said Tasartar as he got out of his cell. Him and Lathanos then started down the long corridor. “So, any idea how we’re gonna get out o’ here?”
“Yeah, simply back through the front door!” Lathanos replied with a slight grin. They were almost to the end of the hall, and still no guards.
“Are you crazy?! There’ll be tons o’ guards waitin’ fer us!” Tasartar exclaimed.
“Don’t worry. We are getting out of here!” Lathanos and Tasartar peered down the first flight of stairs to see a guard charging up them. He was wearing blue robes and pants to match, and he wielded a simple katana with a brown hilt. His long, black hair was tied back into a ponytail. Lathanos turned his back on the guard. He unsheathed his sword – who had also sheathed his – and thrust it through the guard. They then continued down a second flight of stairs.
Once at the foot of the stairs, Lathanos saw the six guards charging them. Still running, he readied his sword. He cut through the first guard, then hacked off the second one’s head. Jumping into the air, he knocked out the third one with a kick to the head and then the fourth with the butt of his sword. The last two, upon witnessing this, turned tail and ran. Lathanos reached into his pocket and pulled out eight kunai knives. Readying them between his fingers, he fired them at the guards. They got knocked to the ground and were now forming a pool of blood around themselves.
Lathanos turned and ran back to the two fallen guards. Coincidentally, they had fallen near each other. Lathanos took the blade of his sword and, with one clean sweep, beheaded them. He wiped the blood off his sword and sheathed it. He then turned around and ran back up to Tasartar.
“Why did you do that?! Those guards were already dying as it is! So why did they have to die?!” asked Tasartar, confused.
“It had to be done if you are to continue living here,” said Lathanos calmly. “We are to leave no guards alive,”
Suddenly, six guards barged through the door at the end of the hall, accompanied by the Elven woman from earlier. The guards unsheathed their swords. “You will not leave this place with your lives!” shouted the woman coldly. The woman then turned to the door. She placed her hand to the door and it began to glow green. She appeared to be muttering something under her breath. Just as quickly as they had begun glowing, they stopped.
‘She must have sealed the door,’ thought Lathanos. Lathanos unsheathed his sword and readied it.
Three of the guards charged at Lathanos. One by one, Lathanos cut through them, blood splattering this way and that. He then started for the door. The other three guards charged. They all met the same fate as the others. There was now blood everywhere: on the floor, the walls, even the ceiling.
The silver-haired woman was clapping slowly. “Well done! I see you have defeated my guards,” she said, “but now you have to die,” She was smiling something of malice. “Although, I believe you should know the name of the one who is to end your life. My name is Ernesta!” she said. Lathanos then noticed the sheath secured to the back of her waist. She reached back and unsheathed a thin katana with a gold blade and readied it. “Come,” she taunted, grinning.
“With pleasure,” said Lathanos. Lathanos charged, his sword at the ready. Ernesta simply stood there. As Lathanos reached her, she moved so quickly she seemed to disappear. She moved behind Lathanos and prepared to strike, when Lathanos disappeared. He reappeared behind her and thrust his sword through her back.
“…Damn…you…”she sputtered as she slid off the blade and onto the hard, cold floor.
Lathanos wiped the blood off the blade and sheathed it. He then took out the chalk.
“Chalk? Why chalk?” asked Tasartar.
“Watch,” Lathanos said simply. He drew a transmutation on the door with the chalk. Then, tossing the chalk aside, he placed his hand upon it. The surface under his hand glowed a bright blue, and there was a large explosion. The remains of the door crashed onto the floor in the lobby. Tasartar was so stunned that he was speechless.
There were four more guards in the lobby. Lathanos unsheathed his sword and, as fast as lightning, cut down all the of them before they could even draw their swords. Tasartar was wide-eyed now. “Now, no word about my ability to your brother, got it?!” Lathanos warned. “Now, let’s go!”
“Got it…” said Tasartar. Lathanos and him then started for the alley Lathanos had met Aegnor in.
“Tasartar!” shouted Aegnor joyfully at the sight of his brother.
“Aegnor!” shouted Tasartar just as excitedly. Tasartar ran to Aegnor and tackled him in a bone-crushing hug.
“My money, Aegnor?” said Lathanos, holding out his hand.
Aegnor and Tasartar got up off the ground and brushed themselves off. “Oh, right. Here you go, four thousand sycles!” said Aegnor, handing Lathanos a pouch filled with sycles. Lathanos then pocketed this.
“Thank you, Aegnor,” said Lathanos. “Well, I best be going. You two take care of yourselves!” Lathanos then headed back to the tavern for a well deserved sleep.

A/N: Well, what did yall think?! A lot of blood I would say. I know it’s been forever, but the next chapter won’t take as long, I promise!