บท 2: /2/: Friends, Family, & Army

The night went on as five of them being serious in that bar. The whole room turned into total silent after Arthur said his own thought. The weather became so much cold in the night time, snow poured down just like a thousand arrow from the skies that would make everyone freeze if they weren't put something warm around them. There were few people in the street, nobody came out after eight o'clock in the Reverie, but the tension inside the bar was chaotic just like the situation outside. There're cold around them even though the fireplace lit and burned a lot of logs but that's the only sound that appeared around fifteen minutes.

Arthur continued to drank his whisky and four of them tried to think about what he just said. Five people in the room but nobody wanted to rush, they were thinking and tried to think the next step. Arthur found these people when he was younger and didn't have enough friends. He just wanted friends and luckily, he found them in their unique way each of them, and now they became his sword and shield. They had their special skills and each of them are one of the best soldiers in the Reverie. They called "The Four Horseman"

"Do you think that it's a good way Arthur?" Finally, someone break the tension, and now all the eyes were point at him. It was Kenric, people called him "The Owl" because of his magical hand. He's the greatest spell caster and learned a lot of magic spell in the Reverie and one of the best in the Holy Trinity land, he had a Grandmaster title that only 3 in each empire.

Arthur put his glass down and stare at Kenric, he wanted a more explanation. "I mean, give us the reason first before I come further." Kenric continued.

"Yeah, Arthur. I think that he has a point," One man walked and stood next to Kenric. He was Maximus, the best fighter in the Reverie. He's the only person that could level Johnathan and Arthur in the fight. People were afraid of his appearance with a lot of scar in his face especially the three scars in the eyes. He got his scars when he was teenagers and fight with two lions when he practiced in the wood. He killed both of them with only hands and now he called "The Lion" because of his strength and his story.

Johnathan silent still and drank his rum still, he's the closest to Arthur and he slightly understand what he meant. He saw Arthur is full of ambition and he just want only good things to his people. He did know that Arthur isn't the war maniac who didn't want a peace around him.

Arthur stood up, "Ellia, Kenric, Max, and John," he stared at them one by one. He looked to their eyes and they knew he's being serious at that moment. They saw some fire in his eyes and it was at that moment they knew Arthur have some big dream by looking at his eyes. It's burning and it couldn't just fade away because they all understand Arthur would never give up for his dreams.

"I speak to all of you as your friends. Just see me like your friend right now and not your commander." He explained, "I know it would sound crazy but you know me, it isn't me if crazy word doesn't go with me. I was talking to my father about our situation. You all know that winter is coming and it just the matter of time until the Reverie full of white snow. Beyond the Holy Trinity empire, our kingdom is the big one and it also mean our kingdom is the one who get the great winter with the storm and anything."

They listened carefully and Arthur saw they paying attention to his words, "I just want only good things to this kingdom, to our people. I speak to our man and this year would be the greatest winter that only happened once in hundred years. And honestly deep down in my heart, I still can't forgive and believe those bastards who attacked our homeland and now they hide behind the "mercy and peace". They started the war but now they want peace around the Trinity. I mean that ridiculous," Arthur sighed.

"So you want a war against them?" Maximus was the one who give the reaction."

"No! That doesn't mean I want to fight them, no. The only thing that make me angry is my father who lower the guard while the winter—"

"—but Arthur, I can understand. Maybe our Lord want them to rest a little and just like what you said it will be the greatest winter this year. We can't force our man to stay at wall Maria the whole month and steady for something that maybe it won't happen." Ellia interrupted.

Arthur nodded because he's a smart person. He knew about that probability. "But El, I also understand. That's why I asked for your help. I want you guys to help me, I just wanted the best thing for our people and you know that. Believe me, this winter would be disaster to our people."

They silent still but after what he said they understand Arthur didn't say something without any reason. They looked at his eyes and they knew Arthur speak with his heart. "So, who's with me?" Arthur asked again after he explained his crazy operation.

"I'm in," Maximus was the one that approved. "I'm in," Kenric raised his hand and then Ellia sighed with a little smile in her face, "You're fucking sick. I hope you know what you're doing Arthur." She also raised her hand but still couldn't believe that she wanted to join to protect their kingdom in the middle of the winter without any command from their lord.

Arthur laughed, "I promise." Now he turned to Johnathan that still stick in his rum and drank it without any single word from the start. "How bout you?" Arthur asked and Johnathan turned and looked at him, "You asked me? Really? You already know the answer you bastard! I will follow you just like our promise,"

"Okay now the Four Horseman will fight with me," He smiled again even though he knew it wouldn't be an easy job for them. "Now lets drink until we couldn't get up anymore," they continued their party and talked all night long as a friend. They acted like the conversation wasn't exist and just enjoy their friendship without even questioning what would they do and what would happen tomorrow.

***

They end their day with laugh and went home with joy in their heart. Arthur, Johnathan and Ellia were the last person in that bar, Maximus took Kenric back to his place because he was too drunk to walk all by himself in the middle of the night.

"Are you guys sure don't want to stay at my place? It's so cold out there," Ellia offered to both of them because outside was chaotic with snow poured down so fast and probably would be storm after that.

"Yeah, we're good. I think I should go home after this," Johnathan felt dizzy in his head and didn't think he would survive if he took another shot. "Hey Arthur, do you think that the thing you're afraid of would happen anytime soon?"

Arthur nodded, "Honestly, I don't know. But somehow I feel that I did the right thing." He tried to reassure his best friends and didn't want to make them afraid of something that wasn't clearly possible. He surely understood and had a serious feeling that someday the war will happen again. He didn't want it to happen or at least he wanted his kingdom to be ready if that day came.

"Get down you two!" Ellia screamed, both of them didn't know what happen but she jumped from the counter and grabbed their head to get down. Within second the window break and there's an arrow right above Arthr head.

The whole window didn't break but there's a crack hole in the middle, the arrow out of nowhere tried to aim Arthur's head but luckily Ellia saw it coming before. "Shit! I couldn't see clearly who it was." Ellia stood up and grabbed her bow. She walked out the door and look around but there's nobody out there, she couldn't see with a clear vision because of the snow.

"Wait, El! You obviously couldn't see where the archer is," Arthur dragged Ellia to come in and Johnathan closed the door. Johnathan flipped the bar table to cover them in case there's an arrow flying out of nowhere. "Who the hall it was!?" Johnathan screamed with an anger in his voice.

"I just saw a shadow in the roof when both of you were talking and I the arrow reflected little light so luckily I could save you before it was too late." Ellia tried to explain what happen. It all happened within second and it was so fast until both of them couldn't think about anything except hide behind it.

The three of them didn't put a suit, so they couldn't fight with a proper suit and equipment. The only thing that they brought just their own weapon without any proper suit to fight in the outside. Ellia grabbed her arrow tightly and Johnathan with his sword. Arthur couldn't reach his sword because he had a feeling the enemy still out there.

Another arrow flied into the room and now it's above them all with a little paper in it. Ellia shoot the light in the room so nobody could see them inside the room from the window. "Wait, El! Don't rush into anything. Just wait for another minute before we make a move. Whoever they ware, they wanted to send a message for me." Arthur calmed the situation down.