Chapter Text
Our story began on a sunny day in this land filled with the greatest kingdoms, the most charming villages, and the wildest of forests. It's precisely in one of those forests that we find Cameron, one of the best assassins in the land. He can currently be spotted lying on the thick branch of a giant dark oak tree, sleeping with the sun shining on his face. Suddenly a crow appeared on the horizon, slowly drawing closer to the snoozing assassin. Once it was practically flying above him, the crow dropped down, landing with a loud crashing sound on the poor man’s head. The impact caused him to wake up and nearly stumble off the branch he was resting on, just barely holding on. And just between you and me, it probably also resulted in a concussion, though I doubt that his intellect could have significantly decreased by it.
Cam's POV:
Whhhhaaaaa! What just happened! I was just relaxing when suddenly something hit my head so hard it’s kind of hurting. I lost balance, but my amazing instincts kicked in, and I didn’t fall. Yeah, that explains everything now to get back onto the tree properly. And that’s just what I did, and in my personal opinion, it probably looked really cool as well. Not that that mattered seeing as no one's around. Well, except for this black bird that’s just staring at me…… Wait a second, is this bird what hit me?
„Hey, did no one tell you it's rude to fall on people?“ I tell the bird. To Witsch, it just looked at me for a moment and then shook its head. „What! Don’t shake your head at me. Did no one teach you manners?“ I say, and I start not liking this bird very much. The bird now seemed kind of annoyed (well, imagine how I feel arguing with a goddamn bird); it suddenly started flying up to my head and pulling my hair with its beak. „Stop that! No bad bird! Please! What do you want from me?“ After my last question, he stopped and landed in front of me again, now using his wing to point at his neck.
„What the……“ I start talking but drift off, noticing a little red collar around his neck. It had black stitching on it that seemed kind of familiar in some way, and it seemed to have a piece of paper attached to the front of it. „Well, what do you have there?“ I jokingly asked the bird as if it could answer. It just flapped its wing again, still pointing at the collar, more specifically the paper attached to the collar. „Wait, do you want me to take the paper?“ I ask it. The bird seemed to nod. So I carefully stretched out my hand trying to grab it.
The bird didn’t react or even move much until the moment I had the paper in my hand. In that exact moment it pecked my hand, causing me to pull it back really quickly. „Auchhhh, that hurt!“ I exclaimed, feeling the pain in my hand. The bird just turned its head away, almost looking kind of smug. Instead of continuing to argue with that feathery critter, I decided to investigate the piece of paper instead.
I immediately noticed that it was folded a plenty of times, so I, as the smart individual I am, opened it, revealing a letter bearing the insignia of my assassins guild. That’s why the patterns on the bird’s collar looked so familiar—they’re the guilds. „So you little fella work for the same people as me, eh?“ I remark to the bird. But why would they send me a letter via bird instead of the usual footman? Instead of dwelling too long on that question, I started reading the letter:
Dear CamBam, (That’s my assassin code name; it’s cool.)
Firstly, we as a Guild switched from human to animal personnel for our information exchange, seeing as they will be less likely to be spotted for suspicious activity and working against us or reading things they are not supposed to. We have a plethora of animals working for us now; you’ll be able to recognise them by the patterned collars that the letters will be attached to. (An animal post service—this should be fun.)
And secondly, the main reason for this letter is that we have a new job for you. (Finally, I’ve been sooooo bored.) We received quite a hefty sum as compensation for killing the second prince of Rivendell. If you choose to accept this challenge, we will provide you with more information and necessary gear at the exchange point located in the same woods as you.
With deadly regards, you know who we are.
Now if this was my first mission, I would be freaked out about them knowing exactly where I am. But it isn’t, and I know that they just know this stuff somehow. Guess I’ve gotten used to them just knowing all. I’m about to start moving when I look back down at the letter and notice there is more written on there:
P.S: Please give us an answer in the form of a letter written on paper if you choose to accept this mission. Do not repeat any of the previous debacles.
Oh my god!
You make a few small mistakes with letters, and now no one trusts you to write them properly anymore. Everyone makes mistakes every once in a while. And why did they have to specify so many obvious things? It’s insulting. But whatever, let's just write this letter. After taking out my ink, feather, and paper, I start writing:
I Cambam acsept this mission
After finishing, I fold the letter. „Here you go, birdy,“ I say while trying to put the letter on the bird’s collar where I found mine. I say tried because when I was getting close to the bird, it pecked my hand again. Causing me to drop the piece of paper. „Come on!“ I say, pulling back my hand again. The bird just took the paper in his beak and started flying away into the distance. „Well, I guess that’s settled. Now to get to the exchange point, “I say to myself, while gliding down the tree, very gracefully if anybody asks.
—————————
After a bit I arrived at the entrance to the exchange point. which is just the entrance to a dark cave in the side of a cliff. But the exchange point is not the cave, as some might think; that would be too obvious, and someone travelling in this wilderness could just stumble upon it. No, the entrance to the exchange point is hidden just like an assassin in plain sight.
When you enter the cave to the right, there is a slim crack in the wall that looks like it's a dead end. But when going through that crack, you end up in a large grotto. The walls and ceiling in said grotto are covered in this cute glowing fungus stuff. And in the corner is a stone door; it blends into the surrounding area perfectly. If you didn’t know where it was, I doubt you’d spot it.
Quite luckily, I do know where it is, and I know the combination of stones that need to be pushed to open it as well. And opening it is just what I'll do. After I pushed the last stone, the door retracted just like a gate door. It revealed a pile of gadgets and gizmos with a closed letter atop it. The only thing written on the envelope was my name, Cambam. I retrieved the provided gear and put it in practical places. Then I read the target's information provided in the letter.
And if I'm being honest, there wasn’t a lot. The kingdom of Rivendell seems to be the one farthest to the north, and the way there can be quite deadly without a guide. Thankfully it seems like the guild has arranged for me to have one, not that I need it. I would definitely be fine on my own, but it will make the travel easier. Another piece of information listed is that it seems that Rivendell is a kingdom filled with magic, and it’s possible that the prince might have some too. And the only other thing provided in the letter is where to meet my guide.
But that can’t be right! I usually get at least triple the amount of information. And most of this info is speculation or the most basic knowledge of the kingdom. Do we really know nothing about this guy? Well, I suppose that just means there’ll be more work for me. But I am still going to smash this job; I am one of the best assassins, after all. Now to meet my guide.
—————————
I arrived at the coordinates where I was supposed to meet my guide only minutes before the approximate meeting, but all I see is a dusty road. The letter said that the guide would know me to be a professor that wanted to do some research on Nordic plant life and animals. The guild reached out to them pretending to be a university where I supposedly study and teach. Though I am unfamiliar with its name or with who the guide is and why they travel to Rivendell in the first place.
While contemplating my situation, I noticed a strangely colourful caravan approaching on the horizon. It was kind of crazy looking, and I for sure know that it doesn’t look structurally sound. It seems kind of hilarious, though. I wonder where it’s headed? When passing by me, the caravan Suddenly stopped, and a clown lady in a pastel red, yellow, and blue costume with radish-brown hair and a red rubber nose Stepped out of it.
Before I could say anything, she started talking: „Hey there, I'm Shubble the clown, but my friends call me Shelby. And I'm guessing that you're the professor that wants to get to Rivendell?“
"Indeed, I am. My students call me Professor Cameron, but you can call me Cam. And I'm guessing that helping people go to Rivendell isn't your main job,“ I answered her, trying my best to not break character.
„How did you know?“ she said, seemingly surprised.
„Well, you're travelling with a caravan and look like a clown,“ I said jokingly.
„Hahahaha, yeah, I guess it’s quite obvious. But get on board now, Cam; we are wasting sunlight, and I'm on a schedule.“ She laughed at the first part of what she spoke but gained a bit of composure towards the end. And she is right; it’s time to get moving.
„Already then, let’s get going,“ I said enthusiastically.
„Love the enthusiasm,“ Shelby said while helping me board the caravan.
After that we were talking a lot on the road; it turns out that Shelby is a solo travelling circus. And by that I mean that she does all of the acts on her own. She travels with said circus around the kingdoms, Rivendell being one she visits regularly due to their tendency to party and the number of festivals they hold.
She also asked me about my research and what it was like working at the university. Oh, and I love the name of the fake uni I study at, because it's the University of Cambridge. There is my name in there, Cam-bridge. It's genius and so funny; when she asked me for the first time, I was trying so hard not to laugh, but I'm sure she didn't notice. For the research part, I just made up stuff; thankfully, she didn’t question it.
And before I even knew it, the mountain on which Rivendell lay could be spotted on the horizon.
—————————
We arrived at sundown on the outskirts of the kingdom's capital, which pretty much is the whole kingdom.
I was starting to head out for my mission when I heard Shelby behind me: „I wouldn’t head out now; it’s getting dark“.
Shit, I’ve been caught. Stupid me being way too careless again. Quick brain, think of an excuse, “Yes, that’s exactly why I’m heading out. The nighttime is perfect to see the night-blooming flowers that grow on this here mountain.“ Please believe what I'm saying.
„Ohhh, so one of the species you want to research is the lunar bloom. I’m not sure you know, but you’re a day too early; they start blooming tomorrow.“ she said with a bright smile.
She believed it, okay; just gotta keep this going, “What makes you so sure that they’ll start blooming tomorrow? Throughout the entire library of Cambridge, I could only find out that they bloom in summer; never once was a specific day mentioned.“
„Wait, really? Your information on the Rivendell plant life must be very scarce then if you didn’t even know that,“ Shelby said in a surprised tone.
„Yeah, every piece of info we have was recorded a century ago; all was written by the same person, and let me tell you, their handwriting is illegible. At the university there is barely Any info on the plant life here and that gap in knowledge is why I'm so interested in learning more!“ Towards the end I tried acting super excited and motivated.
She laughed a bit and then said, „Well, in that case, let me tell you what I know about that flower tonight at dinner, and you could take a good look at it tomorrow.“
Well, I should keep going, but I guess it would be better to keep my cover; one day doesn’t make a big difference anyway. „That sounds amazing,“ I tell her cheerfully.
And thank god I did, because I have so much intel now. She told me that the lunar bloom always opens its petals on the night of the summer solstice, which is happening tomorrow, and its petals stay open for about a week or two. During that time Rivendell holds its Sommer festival, for which Shubble the clown brings her one-woman circus to town.
But the most interesting part for me is the opening speech of the ceremony. It seems as though the second prince of Rivendell will be holding it this year. If I can find a high place with a good view of the stage, it would be a clear shot when he’s talking. Almost too easy for someone as skilled as me, but I suppose that that’s a good thing. Tomorrow I'll get my job done.
—————————
It’s the day of the Sommersolstes, and it’s the day I’ll finish my job. After eating breakfast, I said goodbye to Shelby for the day and decided to find the stage where the prince will hold his speech. And this must just be my day, because the library is across from where they are setting up the stage for this evening. It’s also high enough to have a clear view, and nobody would bat an eye at a professor staying in a library to study. Now I just need to find a nice place with a nice view of the stage and pretend to read. I probably should find a book about the flower of the day first so it looks like I'm doing important research. Now we're to start looking for it. When looking all over, I notice that there doesn’t seem to be anyone in the library, not even a librarian, and I can’t find a specific order the books are in either.
After searching a bit more of the book-filled aisles, I noticed an elf-boy sitting at a table surrounded by an obscene amount of books and scrolls. He seemed stressed and completely enamoured with a scroll he was writing on. He was switching between reading something from the books surrounding him and writing something on the scroll in front of him. He has beautiful blue hair that is extremely messy and seems super fluffy. He probably didn’t brush it this morning, and it somehow still looks gorgeous. He’s wearing a slightly wrinkled white blouse with a light blue sweater vest. It looks so stylish on him even though it’s so plain.
He is absolutely stunning.
He suddenly got a bit more frustrated and crumpled the paper he was writing on and threw it against an already overfilled bin. Looking at the sheer amount of crumpled paper in there, he’s probably been throwing papers there for hours.
He then looked up and spoke: „I’m not sure what it’s like in the kingdom you’re from, but here in Rivendell staring at people you don’t know for that long is considered either creepy or rude.“ Shit, he noticed me.
And he is looking at me now, with those beautiful…… stunning…… blue eyes…. Snap out of it; you need to say something, or it's going to be really awkward. „Sorry, I just wanted to ask if you knew where to find books about the lunar bloom, but then you seemed kind of busy, and I wasn’t sure if I really should be bothering you. Really, I’m sorry.“ Every word I said just came out as a nervous stutter. But why am I even nervous? It’s not like I’ve been caught red-handed or something; he’s just kind….. maybe……. Really pretty.
He suddenly started giggling a bit; I was probably acting pathetic enough for it to be funny. But his giggle was just sooooooo cute. My face is starting to feel kind of warm. „The lunar bloom, eh? Well, the good news is that all the books you’ll find in this library on the topic are already compiled around me; the bad news is I kind of need them,“ the elf said with a soft smile, laying back in the chair he was sitting in.
"Really every single one? What do you need so many for“. I questioned, slowly regaining the confidence in my voice.
“Let’s just say I need to write an important presentation and was hoping it would inspire me,“ he answered, sounding slightly hopeless. A presentation, so he’s probably a local scholar.
“Judging by your frustration, I’m guessing that you don’t really have it yet?“ I asked him while walking a bit closer.
“Yeah, I really want this to go well, but I just don’t know what to say,“ he answered.
“Well, maybe I can help you. What’s the presentation about?“ I offered after going to stand right in front of him.
He looks even prettier from this close. He started talking, snapping me out of my thoughts, „Well, I need to talk about the lunar bloom. It symbolises the start of summer; it represents magic and, I guess, the kingdom too somehow. And it's all just too much. I need to get this perfect, and it just won’t sound right.“
When talking, he seemed passionate about the things he mentioned, but he also seemed stressed, and if I know anything, it's that stress is the worst enemy of any creative process, which obviously includes writing. If only there was a way he could just speak his mind without being so overwhelmed, it might help. Maybe if…. „That just sounds boring; why would you need to talk about such an unimportant flower?“ I tried my best to sound as condescending as I possibly could; let's just hope he takes the bait.
„What, the lunar bloom isn’t unimportant!“ he stated, falling for it hook, line, and sinker. And he drifted off after just a few of the following words. "It always blooms at the start of what we see as summer. It’s a magical plant that glows bright at night to protect our kingdom from harm and darkness. Our ancestors built Rivendell under its protection; it's said that it was given to them as a gift from Aeor to forever protect this mountain and the creatures living within its land. That’s why we celebrate when its beautiful petals open to spread its magical properties and grant us a new year of prosperity and happiness.“ He suddenly turned to me and said, „You still think it’s unimportant?“
„I never really did, but I must say that was a grand speech you just held there. I may even say that it could be perfect for a presentation you plan to hold.“ I winked during my last statement.
He looked flabbergasted for just a short moment (so pretty) before he said, „Did you just trick me into saying all the things I couldn’t bring to paper?“
„Only if it worked,“ I joked.
He started smiling, and oh my god, his smile is sooo……. I can feel my face turning warm again. He recomposed himself and ran a hand through his hair before saying, „Thanks for the help, cutie. Sorry, but I need to head off now; I still have a lot to do. See you around,“ and with that he left, taking the blue backpack on the floor with him.
While he was walking away I saw the rest of his outfit; the jeans he was wearing looked wide enough to be comfortable but tight enough that they fit his figure perfectly.
He was just wow.
I wanted to say something when he was leaving, but I just couldn’t. God, I made a fool out of myself, didn’t I? Why couldn’t I just act how I normally do? How did it even come to this?
Right, my job. I need to focus. From the outside I saw a window that should be on the second floor of this place, with a perfect view of where the prince will hold his speech. Now just to take one of the books the bluette was reading and stake out the stage till sundown, which I think is when the speech is being held.
—————————
A lot of people are gathering around the stage; it’s probably about time. I should get into my assassin outfit and get my gear positioned in a practical way. Thankfully there was no such thing as a security check here; I was able to just take my backpack with everything in it with me without any issues whatsoever. They really should tighten their security, such fools.
After adorning my assassin’s wear and preparing my bow to be ready for a quick kill, I noticed that it’s already gotten darker outside. Did I really take that long? From what I could tell, the sun was behind the library, so it won't be in my eye when I'll be aiming. This is just too easy now; all I have to wait for is the start of the speech, and that can’t be far off, seeing the amount of people that are gathering all around the stage.
While observing the crowd, I saw Shelby juggling a few colourful balls at the side of the stage. It seemed as though a lot of children were around her. My best guess is that she was entertaining them until the start of the opening speech.
Then a thought crossed my mind: I wonder where the cute library guy is standing. I mean, the whole kingdom is here, so he should be too. But for the life of me I couldn’t find him anywhere in the crowd.
Two guards walked onto the stage and started playing a little opening tune on a wired instrument I have never seen that kind of reminded me of a horn or a trumpet, grabbing the attention of the whole crowd. Shelby even stopped juggling and looked to the stage; this must be it.
When they stopped playing, one of them spoke in a booming voice: „Please welcome for the opening speech of tonight’s festivity our second prince, Scott Denholm of Rivendell.“ The crowd started clapping and cheering.
An elf boy in expensive and fabulous clothing, probably those that royals wore on special occasions, and a golden crown that resembled stage horns, stepped on the stage. The moment he reached the podium he would be talking at, he raised his head from the floor, allowing me to see his features clearly. He was……. He was the guy at the library!
The cute boy that caught me off guard. The guy I thought to be but a scholar worried about his final presentation. Was actually the prince! He wasn’t working on a presentation at all; he was trying to write the opening speech for tonight. He is the second prince. My target, the person I'm supposed to kill. Okay, Cam, you need to compose yourself; this is nothing extraordinary or weird. It’s a job like any other. Just focus on the target, and everything will work out.
He is speaking to the people and changed clothes from the last time you saw him. Now wearing those super fancy racks, the kind I don’t even like. And yet he is somehow making them actually look good, like really good. No getting distracted; focus on something else.
Like his hair; I saw it before, but this time it looks more well kept. He probably washed and styled it. It’s not messy at all now, but it still looks sooooo fluffy, like I would just want to run my hand through it and …….. no…. I’m still not focusing.
His eyes are…… This won't work either; he's just so distracting for some reason.
But I need too shoot, before he finishes the speech. I don’t even know how far he is. Maybe I should have listened at least a bit. But all of that doesn't matter; who even needs focus when shooting an arrow? Just aim in the general direction and let go. Now the arrow is flying, and it hit the stage…
at least two meters to the right of my target.
But that’s okay; I’ll just try again. But when trying to grab another arrow, I remembered a vital little detail: I felt so confident this morning that I decided to only bring one arrow. Why did I have to be so arrogant! There is nothing left I can do now, except for gathering more intel by listening to the speech… Wait… He’s still talking; no one moved.
Normally an arrow shot like this should scare people, but here no one is reacting. What is going on! Suddenly the prince, Scott, made a grand gesture and walked over to the arrow. He picked up the arrow and tied something that looked like a closed flower bud around it.
He then faced the people again and continued, „We are strong because we learn from that past, but don’t let us be defined by it. We are ourselves because we know our history and think of the future. And with that, it’s time to celebrate the beauty that was given to us that we strengthen every following year. Let the summer finally begin!“ As he spoke his last line, he took the arrow in his hands as if he were holding it on a bow. Then that bow that was but an insinuation made by his pose before became a reality in the form of a bow that seemed to be made out of golden light. He pulled the arrow back to aim before letting go on the word „Begin“.
The flower tight around the arrow opened its petals right as it was shot. I immediately recognise its shape. It’s definitely a lunar bloom. Its outside is dark like the night sky without the stars, and I now understand why it's so spacial. The Patel’s that were hidden just moments before were glowing, the light almost feeling celestial. As the arrow flew above the crowd, every lunar bloom it passed opened and started glowing, the light quickly spreading across the city and beyond the horizon.
It was breathtaking. Every single moment of what I just witnessed just made me want to smile.
Then I felt an unnatural air current on the left side of my head. It was my arrow that the prince had just sent flying. Now being able to see it this closely, I noticed that there was something else under the flower. A piece of paper. What does it say? I suppose my curiosity got the better of me because I decided to read it:
Dear assassin who shot this arrow,
Your aim may need work. If you want, there is a public archery court on the west side of the city; you may need the training. ;)
P.S: I know you are the cutie from the library earlier; loved the help with the speech.
Love, Scott
He thinks I'm cute………… Wait, no, how does he know who I am? And what is the first line? Is he trying to insult me? Is it some kind of trap? What the heck? I’m starting to think that this job is going to be harder than I originally thought.
But I won't lose against some prince, and definitely not a kind of good-looking one.