The Last Standers

1) How It Started

'Is that...?'
'It is..'
'What the hell?!'
'It's a penguin!!!'

Several voices were shouting, talking over one another. Some of them were excited, others disgust, others extremely disturbing.
I looked at Delilah. She had to be kidding me. Was she really going to make me, Fenphine Farren, a strong and independent rogue, travel with these... things.
I travel alone. Always did. And always will. Well.. If it's up to me.. But my last mission didn't really go the way I had it planned...

It happened about a week ago. Or well, my mission started 2 weeks ago, maybe a little less, maybe a little more, I'm not even sure, so much has been happening.
But anyways, I work for the council. I complete missions, from finding lost people, to saving people, to killing them. I bring people and objects from one place to another. I'm important, lives depend on my work.
Delilah is part of the council, she gave me my last order. I had to find a old Dwarf named Bob. I didn't know much about him, all I knew was what his whereabouts could be. Could. No one actually knew. That was no problem though. I often have missions like this. The only other thing I knew about Bob was that he had something. Something the council needed. and I had to make sure Bob would come with me, and get that something to the council. I didn't know what this something was, no one told me. I never asked it either. I always just take the information the council gives me. I know for sure, if there would be anything I had to know, they would tell me. Anything they don't tell me, are things I don't need to know for my mission. The last thing I was told before I started my mission; 'The time is short, and the enemy is dangerous, be prepared to kill.'

I took of about 2 weeks ago. Going straight to the location I was given. I found Bobs shelter. Not much for a house, definitely not a place he was planning on staying longer. I searched the place, but Bob was nowhere to be found. I spend a few more days looking around the forest, till I decided to go back to the council and tell them he wasn't in the forest. I mean, I had searched everywhere.
It was getting late that day, and I would have to find a place to stay for the night. I decided to go back to Bob's place. I was longing for some shelter, I had been camping all these days.

That night I laid down on the couch, my hands folded behind my head, staring at the ceiling in the dark. I couldn't catch my sleep. The fact I still hadn't found Bob was bothering me. On one side because it meant I didn't fulfill my mission, on the other side because I didn't know where he was. What had happened to him? What had happened to that something? What if enemies had gotten it? What would it do in the hands of an enemy? What was it even...?
Outside I could hear the wind blowing through the trees. I hoped the sound would calm me down, and finally let me fall asleep. I closed my eyes and focused on the sound.
I heard a twig crack. I immediately opened my eyes, but didn't move. I swallowed in fear, the enemy had found me. What enemy..? I didn't even know what the enemy was.. but they had found me.

For a moment I wished they would go away, or that I just heard something that wasn't there. But then.. The door opened slowly, squeaking loudly.
I closed my eyes, holding in my breath. I should've moved at this moment. Should've hit behind the couch. Should've planned my sneak attack, my best skill. But instead. I laid there, like frozen.
I heard soft footsteps in the hallway. I was gonna die. Right there, laying on the couch, my hands folded beneath my head. Eyes closed, keeping my eyes closed. I had never before felt so much fear, and I certainly wasn't planning on showing the enemy my fear. Though, my eyes would betray me, so I had to keep them closed. If I was gonna die, then at least with the last little bit of dignity I had left.
The door from the hallway to the living room opened slowly. I was terrified, holding my breath. Waiting for my death to approach me.

When all of a sudden, I heard an old voice.
'Ah, Fenphine Farren, I was already wondering when you would finally come around.'
I squealed at the sound of my own name. I tried to grab my blade, to defend myself. But instead of getting a hold on my blade, I fell of the couch.
Something clearly was wrong with me that night, normally I am a master in sneak attacks and keeping my balance and such. I was a mess right now.
I looked up, looking straight into the eyes that would ki- Wait. Those eyes, that face, I recognised it. This was Old Bob. He Looked at me and smiled slightly.
'I am glad you made it here, but I would've expected you a bit earlier to be completely honest with you.'
I glared at him, as my jaw dropped to the floor.
'I was here days ago?!' I squealed as I, clumsy and all, finally got on my 2 legs again.
The old Dwarf just chuckled at me, slowly shaking his head.
'I know, I know.' He walked over to the couch and sat down, looking up at me. 'But did you stay long enough to meet me?' He asked with a calm voice.
I was so confused.
'I didn't really think I would have the time to stay...' I said, softly shaking my head, looking at the old Dwarf thoughtfully. I took in all the details, every line on his face. The crinkles by his eyes.
'Time isn't of the essence.' He said, staring into my eyes as if he was reading my soul.
'That thought could get us killed.' I said calmly, getting myself back together.
'That thought won't get us killed, it's how we deal with it that might.'

The wisdom of this Dwarf was already getting on my nerves. And now don't get me wrong. I love my job, I love saving people. There are just some people I rather don't hang out with.. I rather don't have around me for days on end. Most of those people, are old and wise. People that have seen everything in life, and know the answer to anything. That always talk in riddles. People like old Dwarf Bob.
I looked around the room, still feeling Bob's eyes looking at me.
'Maybe, if time won't kill us, like you say.. Well then maybe we should take some rest tonight.'
there was a short silence. I was waiting for his answer, an answer that didn't seem to come. I sighed, this Dwarf staring at me wasn't really comforting me.
'I was thinking.. maybe.. uhm.. we should start our journey back to the council tomorrow morning, by the first rays of sunshine.' I said, scratching the back of my neck.
'That sounds like smart plan, young halfling.' With those words he stood up. He waved his hand as a signal for me to follow him, and so I did.
He led me to a small room, with a bed, and actually... Nothing else.
But then again, I would only stay for the few hours of night I had still left. so it didn't really matter much.

I couldn't really catch my sleep that night. Till the day of today, I can not understand why not though..
The morning came soon, too soon maybe. The old Dwarf knocked on the door, before any ray of sunshine had come through the window.
I groaned.
'Common young halfling. Sunshine will be upon us soon. We must get ready for a long trip today.'
This damn Dwarf. I swear, if it wasn't for my mission, then I would've killed him right at this very spot. I just can't stand how he is so calm and 'wise'.
But yet I did as he told me. I got out of bed, looked at my reflexion in the window. I sighed, crossing my eyes.
I walked into the kitchen, to see the Dwarf had made us breakfast already. I said down at the small table, and gratefully started eating. The Dwarf smiled at me, shaking his head. I looked up at him..
'Good to see you are enjoying this meal, but we have to head off soon.'
I took the hint, and finished the meal. When I was done I looked out of the window, there still was no sign of any ray of sunshine.

Bob and I were ready to head off. I walked out of the front door. I inhaled the cold morning air, and turned around to watch Bob walk out, when through the trees I saw the first ray of sunshine fall down on my face. Bob looked at me, shook his head, pulled my arm as he started walking.
'As you pleased, we started our journey at the first ray of sunshine.'
I looked confused, thinking about it. I tripped over a tree-trunk.
'Common young halfling. We don't have all the day the time.'

Those words were stuck in my head that entire day. This Dwarf was so slow, he walked like an old dying man. I mean, he was old, but he wasn't dying, he could just speed up a little.
I hate traveling with others. I want to be able to decide where I'm going, when I'm going there, and how long it will take for me to get there.
This Dwarf took his time for everything. Something I just can't.

It started to get dark, Bob and I decided to stop for the night. I felt like we had just walked a mile or so this entire day. Bob said we should take turns keeping an eye out for enemies. I offered to take the first turn, Bob agreed.
We made a small fire, Bob laid down, and fell asleep soon. I got bored pretty soon. I looked around me, trees everywhere. I had no idea where we were.. How long it would take to get to the council.
I decided to climb to the tops of the trees, to see if I could find out how close to the border of the forest we were.
For what I could see it would take us another 3 or 4 days to get to the border. Or, in the pace we traveled in, maybe something more like 5 or 6 days..
On my way down I heard a scream. It was Bob. I jumped down the tree branches. when I got down, I saw Bob laid there, a spear in his chest. I ran over to him.

'Bob!! Bob!! Say something, please don't be dead!!' I cried out as I fell to my knees next to his bleeding body.
'Fenphine...' I heard Bob's old, wise voice whisper softly.
I looked at his face, saw his eyes filled with pain and fear, but as well filled with dignity and acceptance.
'Bob! I'm so sorry, I wasn't careful, I'm gonna get you to the council. I'll save you!' I cried out grabbing his hand.
'Don't try to save me, I am a lost cause. Save yourself. And tell Delilah that I failed, the enemy has it now.'
'It? what is it??' I asked, but as I said those words, I saw the life slip out of his eyes.
'IT is mine!!' Laughed an unknown voice.
'Not as long I, Fenphine Farren, am still walking this earth!' I said with a deep voice, as I stood up. I turned around and saw a man with a cape, his face over shadowed by a big hood.

The man in the cape said something, I couldn't hear his exact words, but then everything turned black.