The night had settled as Milcroft were heading home, walking next to his steed on the path that led from the gate in the homesteads outside Bree towards the house where Caithrin and Roy would be. Yes, he had been gone for days and weeks, perhaps even months again despite telling Cait that he would not leave again. Gone to secure trade routs with traders in Rohan, after all he was going to rebuild his parents old farm to its former state and when it was going well he felt the need to make profit so that they could live on together happily.
A few raindroppes started to fall on them as they both walked, the house coming into sight, but something did not seem to be right there, no lights in the house, no smoke rising from the chimney, perhaps she had fallen asleep and the fire had gone out as well, Milcroft did not think anymore about it as he closed in on the house he had missed for so long. HE pushed the door open and stepped inside, looking around, the house waqs quiet, no soft breatahing from the bedroom, nothing at all.. the hearth were cold and seemed to have been cold for days.
Milcroft instantly began to worry about what had happened, perhaps she had gone to any of her friends to stay while she waited for him..Mil lit a candle and searched for any note she might had left for him, finding none his worries increased more, had she been taken by bandits or brigands and their son as well? He paced around the house again, searching for clues, as he found noe he looked to see if she had taken anything with her, if anything was missing, clothes..her clothes and Roy's clothes were missing..
"She has gone..taken our son with her.." Mil said low for himself "Oh Mil..you bloody fool..you did it once..you left her in your youth..then you found her and you got caught by bandits..then you left to secure trade contracts, forgetting to tell her that..you fool..the one woman you love.." Mil continued to say to himself in a low voice and sunk down in a corner, the front door wide open as the rain increased. He shook his head, he still loved her, he was certain of that, but did she love him back anymore? He did not know, he thought she did not and that pained him greatly where he sat in the dark house with only a small candle in his hand, its light flickering in the wind from the first real autumn storm that was taking place outside.
