Apprenticed Inventor

Well, well. It has been awhile since my last post, hasn't it? I blame real life (and maybe a little Wii). Anyway, enjoy the flick.

Onward!

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Nightfall came unnaturally quick within the tall, snow-capped mountains of Dun Morogh. Trever had not spoken a word to the stubborn little Gnome at his side for the few hours they had traveled. At last, they had reached the gate to the neighboring Dwarven area of Loch Modan, just as the sun dissipated over the terrain.

“Welcome te' the South Gate, traveler,” the guard called out in a chipper tone, “mind me askin' where yer headed?”

Trever smiled.

“Not at all,” he began, “we're on our way through Loch Modan, to find a certain creature in Searing Gorge.”

He caught something the Dwarf suddenly threw at him. A blanket.

“Jus' because ye may find an inn in the Loch don't mean ye should be travelin' empty handed,” he stated while smiling, “good luck to ye both.”

“Thank you for your kindness,” Trever said while gesturing to the blanket, “we must be off.”



The Dwarf waved them on and opened the thick bars of the gate. Trever slung the thick fur blanket over his shoulder as they entered the stone passageway. The rough clanging of metal sounded behind him.

“We should camp soon,” Trever stated to his Gnomish companion, “probably won't make it to the Dwarven town tonight.”

“Pick the place, champ,” Ami said with sarcasm.

As they exited the gate's tunnel, another pair of guards were present. Their faces were lit aglow from two torches burning brightly upon the stony walls.

“Do you mind if we set up camp close by this gate?” Trever inquired to the two stocky guards.

“Not at all, lad,” the left one spoke up, “make yerself at home 'ere. Aint nothing going te' bother ye' with us on guard.”

He bowed deeply.

“Thank you,” he said before finding an area a few yards away with his eyes.

He approached the clearing and settled down onto the grassy floor.

“Well, this is just great,” Ami said with clear frustration, “we don't have anything to set up camp with! Maybe we should be smart and go to the inn.”

He held out his hand to silence her before concentrating his magical energies. He placed his hands out before him and began twisting them in strange patterns, a purplish light flowing from him. After a few moments, a soft and plush object was now cradled within his hands. A pillow.



It as not a normal thing for a Mage of the Arcane to have the ability to conjure anything other then food or water for him or herself. He had learned the strange art from his master while cleaning out his vast library one day. He had stumbled upon a book titled, “The Real Facts of the Magi.” Upon inquiring to his master, he taught him how to conjure almost any small thing he could think of.



Trever conjured an additional pillow and, as an afterthought, an extra blanket for Ami. He held them out to her upon completion. To his surprise, she turned from him in defiance and sat upon the moist floor herself.

“I don't need help from you,” she said as she laid down upon the earth, “we Gnomes have a bit more pride then that.”

Trever decided against saying anything. He quickly spread one of the many blankets he had made for himself down upon the ground, finishing with the fur one the Dwarf had given him earlier. Despite the situation, he was quite comfortable. He let out a sigh as he allowed the whispering wind overhead and the light crackling from the flames of the gate's torches calm him.



After awhile, his head rolled over to Ami. Her arms were crossed at her sides tightly, eyes closed. Although she attempted to remain stoic, he could detect the presence of shivers running throughout her body, as well as stifled whimpers escaping her lips.

With a sigh, he sat up in the bed and drew upon his magic once again. Once he had created another blanket, he grabbed at the extra pillow and approached Ami quietly. A gentle hand slipped beneath her thick hair and propped her head up while the pillow was slid underneath. He then spread the blanket over her, stopping a moment to tuck the fabric beneath her.



Once his work was finished, he lied back into his own bed.

“Thanks, I guess,” Ami's voice was heard over the sounds of night, followed by her turning away from him.

Trever chuckled lightly as he allowed himself to grow more tired.

“Stubborn woman,” he muttered under his breath as his eyelids shut out his vision.



* * * *



“Wake up, you pillow making freak,” Ami's voice entered his head, along with a couple of wraps upon his skull, “it's morning.”

He grunted acutely and opened his eyes to see two crystal blue irises staring back at him.

“How do you expect we carry all of this stuff now?” she said to him while taking a step back, “didn't think of that, did you Mr. Mage-”

*Vrump!* the pillow now held in his hands vanished from sight.

“Hand me your blanket, please,” he commanded to the dumbfounded Gnome.

She offered the material to him. With a flick of his hand, followed a quick draw of magic, the blanket dissipated from her grasp.

“Well, now that that's settled,” she said while attempting to swallow her pride, “what do we do about food?”

“What do you want?” he asked her while stretching a bit.

At this, she got an expression of mock amusement on her face.

“Oh, I don't know,” she said as she put a finger to her mouth, “maybe an egg and cheese omelet with buttered toast and a glass of orange juice? Can't always have what we want of course-”

*Vrump!*

“Here you are,” Trever said in a nonchalant tone as he handed her the exact order, all upon a glass dish.

She stared at him in shock for several moments. She then snatched it from him with a frown. He concentrated briefly while creating his own breakfast, a replica of Ami's.

“I'm not your average Mage,” he said with a small chuckle while they ate, “my master taught me some interesting things.”

Ami didn't say anything. Trever looked to see her focused upon her food.

“How is it?” he inquired while gazing at her.

No response. Trever shrugged and went to his own plate eagerly.



They each finished their breakfasts, Trever dispelling the dishes from sight. Finally they were ready to go.

“I never knew Gnomes could eat so much,” Trever chortled as they were on their way once again.

At this, he felt Ami's eyes upon him.

“And what is that supposed to mean?” she asked him with acidity.

Trever sighed.

“I'm just trying to be friendly,” he said, the feeling of dislike for this individual gone.

It wasn't worth the effort, he thought. He would be working with her after all, the least they could be was civil to one another.

“Well, you can keep it to yourself,” she said, her gaze faced forward once again.

Trever sighed. Others did not function the way he did, he thought with a frown.