The war was still vivid to me especially in my dreams. I was nervous before the fight like any sane man would be, but being only sixteen made the time harder to deal with. my armor felt heavy and my sword felt unbalanced, i felt like i could pass out right there but before my body gave out our general stude up and began to speak. I can't remember what he said with the adrenaline rushing through my body but it seemed to be words of encouragement because all the other men let out cries of recognition and then that was when the blood bath began.

I was frozen in fear at the site I was witnessing. People were being killed left and right, the scent of iron filling the air from the blood spilt. Then before I knew it the enemy was charging me, sword in hand and full blood lust. I wanted to run but my legs couldn't move and before I could react he had closed the distance and tore into my shoulder with his blade, severing off my arm with his cut.

I could feel the loss of my arm but strangely it did not hurt at first. It was as if I had suffered no injuries at all and I was at peace. The peace did not last as the enemy's blade dug into my other shoulder, this time only cutting half way through. Immense pain went through my body as I let out a scream of anguish that was clouded by the battle around me. The man tried to pull out his sword from my shoulder which caused even more pain to go through me but Before he could take out his blade, our general rammed into the enemy with a shield covered in spikes. I fell to the ground, soaked in my blood and filled with unbearable pain. I felt as if I was going to die without doing anything.

“Wake up you drunken bastard”. I woke from a hit to the back of my head from a familiar voice and my head resting on a table. As I raise my head from my metal arms I'm met with the face of a not so happy hobbit also known by the name otton gamgee. From what it looks like he's pissed that I passed out again and is about to give me another lecture.

“Listen gam i'm sorry for drinking too muc-”

“This is the third time this week clyde! As a bartender I'm happy to take your money but since I'm probably the only friend you have, I got to tell you to get your shit together.” he lets out a sigh of disappointment “go wash yourself up in the bathroom, you look like shit”.

“I'm sorry, I promise I'll try to be better, '' I say as I start to stand up”. “Just go wash up you dumbass”. He puts up a rough exterior but I know he's just worried, which makes me feel even more guilty. That means I'm just a burden on his mind. “I really do need to get my shit together,” I whisper to myself as I enter the bathroom.

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As I reach the sink the consequences of my careless drinking finally hits me like a mace to the head.

“Fuckin hell” i say trying to calm down my spliting headache by splashing my face with water. After I get it to a bearable pain I start to take a good look at the drunken mess that is me. My black hair is a complete mess and in desperate need to be cut shorter since it almost reaches my shoulders. My face doesn't look much better with the short beard that I had grown ever since I stopped shaving. The bags under my green eyes have grown in darkness, making it look like I haven't slept in days. “Well i don't have a razor on me so i guess i'll just look like this for now” i say slightly disgusted with his own appearance.

As I come out of the bathroom, the smell of meat hits my noses. As I look over behind the counter of the inn I can see Gam cooking what smells like breakfast and I suddenly realize that it's morning.

“I didn't realize I passed out for so long,” I say ,pulling out a stool and taking a seat at the counter.

“I tried to wake you up before i closed for the night but you were completely out and you're double my height so i couldn't carry you so i just left you there” gam says as he sets a plate of bacon, eggs and hashbrowns in front of me.

“You really know the way to a man's heart gam. you'd make an excellent housewife”.

“And you'd make for a good mop with that messy hair of yours. Now get eating because I got a job for you today.

As I finished eating, gam went around and cleaned the inn before opening for the day.

“So what's this job you have for me?” I ask as he walks back behind the counter.

“Well I was supposed to get a shipment of food and alcohol from windmont two days ago but I think something happened to the wagon that was carrying them in the woods nearby. All I need from you is to go take a look around there and retrieve whatever you can if you find the wagon.”

“isn't that place known for being infested with wolves and goblins?” I said slightly nervously.

"What is a soldier like you scared of a few goblins?”

In fact I was scared at the thought of fighting. I keep a sword at my side at all times but I haven't even drawn one since the war.

“I don't know if I can, '' I say, looking down at the meatal pams of the prosthetic arms that replaced my original ones. “I just think that someone else would be better suited for this job.”

“Listen I know that you need money right now and I'm sorry but fighting is really the only thing that your desant at.”

His words hurt but I know that they're true. Fighting has been the only thing that I can say I have experience in. That's the reason I went off to fight in the war because I thought I could actually do something useful, but I ended up just being a burden for my comrades. I consider his offer for a moment taking in all the risk factors.

“Fine, but I'll only do it if you clear my tab as well.”

“Only if you end up finding my goods” he says, taking my now empty plate away.

“Well i'll be off now” i say as i get up from the stoll and start hedging for the door.

“Don't go dying out there. I don't want to lose my most indulgent customer” gam yells to me over the counter.

“Oh so you do have fillings after all, and here I thought that you were just a grumpy old hobbit” I say with a smirk on my face.

“oh i couldn't give a shit about you but if your pockets are lined with silver then i want it spent on my goods. So make sure to stay alive so i can run your pockets dry later”

“Will do boss” I say in a sarcastic voice as I open the door and walk out.