Changes in Autumn (Open-PM)

[TearsoftheWorld]

Caitlyn: http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r108/elvenchild03/caasdad.jpg
---
The sun began to set behind the tall trees, their multi-colored leaves blowing gently in the wind. Resting against one of trunks, a young woman listened to the wind and watched as it scattered the fallen leaves around the dirt road that she had been traveling on. Her dark hair moved over her eyes, obscuring her view for a few moments until she pushed the strands behind her ears with her hand. A smile spread across her face as she stood up on her feet.

Putting her hands in her jacket, she turned and started walking down the road. Caitlyn could never stay in one place for too long, and she was always on the move. No one knew where she came from or where she was going... she would just show up, stay a little while, and then continue on her way.

It would take some time before she reached the next village, traveling along the dirt road while the light turned into darkness. Carrying nothing with her, save for a little bit of coin, Caitlyn perceived in the distance the light of an inn. Walking a little further she came upon a major road in the outskirts of town, a few folk standing near the entrance and sharing a drink or two. Naturally she obtained a few glances from the men as she continued on her way, opening the door to the tavern and walking inside.

 

[MilkManDan007]

Tanner Enters the Tavern

Tanner Blackwell stood outside the stone tavern, sipping lightly on an hour-old ale, while staring into the softly swaying leaves. Tanner was not one to easily blend into a crowd. His 6’ 9”, 225-pound frame towered above many of those who stood around him. His raven black hair flicked lightly in the breeze and his dark chestnut eyes gazed down the well-worn path as the evening light began to fade.

A woman was approaching. Alone. She was either a traveler or a gypsy. Either way, Tanner knew the men in the tavern, most of who had been drinking for the better part of the evening, would be less than chivalrous.

She walked past him and into the tavern. He gave the men leering at her a stern look and narrowed his eyes. While not a violent man at heart, Tanner was known around the town as a gentleman with a short fuse. The two shorter men shrugged and went back to their ales, ignoring the tall man as he ducked through the door and entered the tavern.

 

[MilkManDan007]

The inside of the tavern was noting out of the ordinary. A dull haze of acrid smoke filled the space as men boasted and retold and embellished their own tales of adventure while swilling the locally brewed ale. The round wooden tables and worn chairs were crammed into every corner to maximize the number of patrons that could be wedged into the small space, leaving little room to maneuver.

Tanner stepped through the door and stood just to its side, casting his gaze across the crowded room. It was almost comical to watch the pickpockets work the room. One would brazenly walk up to his mark with two ales and pretend to stumble as if he had tripped. The mark would almost reflexively try to catch the mugs coming at him while the pickpocket “fell” forward and steadied himself on the mark’s coat, deftly removing the coin and any other valuables before offering the mark one of the pints as thanks for catching them. Often, the two would drink for a short while together so the pickpocket would not draw suspicious attention for scurrying away quickly into the shadows.

The woman had moved deeper into the crowd and several sets of drunken eyes looked her up and down. Tanner decided to follow her into the crowd.

 

[TearsoftheWorld]

Caitlyn never particularly enjoyed the smell of smoke, though she tried not to let it bother her too much. The inside of the tavern was packed with men and women, young and old, friends... and the not so friendly. A few drunkards had brushed her by, but she had little worth stealing if they were after her money. After a few moments she had squeezed her way to the innkeeper, though after patting her pockets down she realized what little money she had was already gone, swiped away probably. Sighing she smiled at the elderly keeper, turned around and began heading back outside.

"Did you need something?" he called back to her as she started walking away.

"No I'm fine. Sleeping under the stars again." she said, a warm smile spread across her face as she walked away, her hands slipping into the pockets of her coat as she tried to wiggle her way back outside. While she wouldn't have minded sleeping in a nice mattress for a change, Caitlyn was more than accustomed to sleeping on a bed of grass.

 

[MilkManDan007]

Tanner was only a few steps behind the woman when she turned and sighed. Obviously, one of the locals had gotten to her and relieved her of the money she was going to use for a room.

Tanner already had a room for the night, and he was not averse to sharing it, especially with a young, beautiful woman. He reached his hand out and placed it on her shoulder as she approached.

“You look like you could use a good night’s rest. I have a room already and I would be more than willing to share,” he said to her as she looked up at him. “Plus, I wouldn’t really recommend sleeping outside anyways because the crazy ones always come out after dark, and they’re more likely to just take what they want rather than asking for it. I’ll be in Room 9 if you decide you want a warm, safe place to sleep.”

Tanner smiled at the woman, nodded, and began working his way through the tavern to the adjoining inn. He knew that if she wanted to follow, he would not be hard to spot.

 

[TearsoftheWorld]

Caitlyn felt a hand grasp onto her shoulder, and she turned her head to see who it was that had stopped her. Now while she herself wasn't exactly a small-fry, (standing about 5'8") the man standing before her was extremely tall. Her dark eyes looked up to see him towering over her, and she wondered why she hadn't noticed him earlier.

He offered to share his room and that caused her to smile at his generosity. He hadn't waited for an answer, instead giving her a bit of advise to stay away from being outside at night and then walking away. Turning on her feet she moved to follow after him.

"Thank you. I appreciate the offer." she said with a smile as she caught up with him.

"My names Caitlyn. What's yours?" she asked as she walked next to Tanner.

 

[MilkManDan007]

Back to the Inn

The smaller woman wheeled and began to follow Tanner through the crowd as he made his way to the less-crowded inn.

"Thank you. I appreciate the offer," she said. "My name’s Caitlyn. What's yours?"

He looked back at her as she followed him. He could see why the drunkards had been ogling her. Most of the women in town had lost their mystery. Their families had been in the area so long, people had gotten used to them. It was rare a new woman, especially one who possessed any beauty, came to town.

“My name is Tanner,” he said as he headed down the small hallway to the nine rooms of the inn. Tanner had been fortunate enough to get the room at the end of the hall, neighbored by the owner’s supply closet on one side and the hill into which the inn was built on the other. Whenever Tanner stayed at this inn, he always hoped for this room for its quiet and isolated nature. The boisterous and rowdy drunks couldn’t be heard in Room 9 as they stumbled their way to their own rooms.

“It’s rare to find a woman out alone, especially during the twilight,” Tanner said as he inserted the small brass key into the lock on the door. He swung the door open and stepped into the small room. It was furnished sparsely, the innkeeper’s way of cutting cost and maximizing his profit. The floors were simple plank wood resting on the packed earth below. The bed sat against the far wall, flanked by a small table and a single chair. A thin and worn wardrobe stood against the wall opposite the bed. Tanner removed his cloak and hung it on the edge of the wardrobe, careful not to knock the longbow leaning against the wall to the floor. He then unbuckled his belt and hung it, complete with short sword and scabbard, over the back of the chair.

“I’m sorry, where are my manners, please come in,” he said, bowing slightly and motioning with his arm for her to enter.