[Lady of Lore]: 394.Throl Embar, Chapter the First, Part 1

Chapter the First
Dusk settled like dust over the road and watchtower five miles from the Elvin Throl of Embar. Two elf maidens trudged along side by side, one tall and slender, the other lithe and small. They walked at a leisurely pace towards the tower where they had been stationed for the passed fifteen years. They were in no hurry. The shorter one sighed loudly and transferred the bag on her shoulder to the other one.
“I’m so tired of this job.” She said a bit downcast to the elf beside her.
The taller elf chuckled slightly at this remark, shaking her head.
“Cadmilla, don’t you remember that it was you who got us into this job in the first place?”
“Don’t say that, you sound like my Grandmother.”
Another laugh and Cadmilla halfheartedly waved a hand in the air, putting on an air of regality.
“Now Cadmilla, if you’re father were here to see you say such things about watchmen…he’d be shocked.” She said in a tone of a stern matron then breaking into a peal of laughter. The elf beside her shook her head again, smiling. Cadmilla pouted a bit.
“Oh, come off it! As if the mighty Willowharp Embar could do us better?”
At this the taller elf straightened a bit indignantly.
“As a matter of fact I could have if it weren’t for you sniggering about the chamberlain’s dress shoes. You knew how much he prided himself on his clean shoes and you had to say they looked like what was it again?” Willowharp paused for a moment before her and Cadmilla said at the same time, grinning from pointed ear to pointed ear,
“Were they made from a cows backside?” to which they both burst into laughter. 
Up in the wooden tower the two elves made themselves comfortable for the long night ahead. They lit the lamp and sat cross legged on the hard wood floor. The lamp stood out alone in the darkening world, a beacon to travelers. Willowharp opened the pack and drew out a loaf of bread for the two of them.
“Your mother makes the best bread in town.” she said in between bites. “You should bring it more often.”
Willowharp half smiled, breaking a notably smaller piece for herself. She took a bit and sighed to herself. This is how it had always been between them since they were twenty and initiated into the elfin workforce. No one ever chose watch duty as their career though, that was reserved for those the Chamberlain had a particular dislike for. This had been so for the passed ten years now and would continue to be, Willowharp thought to herself, if Cadmilla kept harassing the travelers who went by. Despite talking both Willow and Cadmilla’s grandmother had given her Cadmilla still poked fun at the travelers going by. Cadmilla could be sweet Willowharp knew well that Cadmilla could be sharp. 
A rickety wagon trundled slowly along the path. The horse and driver were old and evidently weary from a long trek.