The night was still and unnervingly quiet as Thomas stood atop the village wall, his eyes scanning the treeline beyond Brighthollow. The militia had been stationed here for hours now, awaiting word from Lord Aric and his knights, who had ventured into the dark woods to hunt the monsters that had plagued the village. Behind him, the low murmur of the other men betrayed their own unease.
"Can't shake this feeling, can you?" Marcus asked quietly, his voice just loud enough for Thomas to hear as they stood side by side, both of them gripping their weapons tightly.
"No," Thomas admitted. "Something feels wrong. Too quiet."
"Lord Aric knows what he's doing," Marcus said, though the way he glanced out into the forest suggested he wasn't entirely convinced himself.
Just then, Thomas heard a familiar voice call up from below. He turned to see Jack standing near the wall, along with Lila, Milo, Finn, and Emory. Jack's face was serious, his eyes reflecting the same concern Thomas felt. The younger children looked anxious, huddling close to their older brother.
Thomas sighed and glanced at Marcus. "I'll be right back."
Marcus nodded, giving him space as Thomas climbed down from the wall. As he approached his siblings, he knelt to their level, his expression softening.
"You shouldn't be out here," Thomas said, his tone gentle but firm. "You should be inside where it's safe."
Lila stepped forward, her voice quiet but worried. "We couldn't sleep. Milo and Finn said they heard noises outside… like the monsters."
"They're not here," Thomas assured her, though he knew their fear wasn't unfounded. "Lord Aric and his knights are out there taking care of it. We've got men on every wall. You're safe."
Jack crossed his arms, looking unconvinced. "What if something does get through? You can't guard the whole village."
Thomas met his brother's eyes, understanding his concerns but trying to stay calm for the others. "That's why we're all here. We're ready if something happens, but we're not expecting an attack tonight. Lord Aric will handle the monsters."
Milo, always the most cautious, looked up at Thomas with wide eyes. "What if they don't come back?"
"They will," Thomas said firmly, kneeling to their level. "Lord Aric's been doing this for years. He knows how to fight these things. Right now, we just have to hold the wall and keep watch. That's our job."
Finn, the dreamer, piped up. "What if they bring back something big? Like a dragon?"
Thomas smiled at his brother's excitement despite the tension. "Let's hope it's nothing like that. But if they do, we'll be ready."
Emory, the youngest, clutched his wooden sword—one that Jack had carved for him a few months ago. His face was a mix of determination and fear. "If something happens, I'll help fight. I'm not scared."
Thomas ruffled his hair. "You're brave, Emory. But for now, your job is to stay safe with Lila. Can you do that for me?"
Emory nodded, though he still held on to his little sword like he might need it at any moment.
Lila tugged on Thomas's sleeve, her voice softer than before. "Will you come back inside with us?"
"I can't," Thomas said gently. "I have to stay here with the militia. But Jack will be with you, and I'll come find you when the night's over."
She nodded, though the worry in her eyes didn't fade. Thomas hugged her tightly before standing, giving a reassuring look to the others.
"Go back inside now. Jack, make sure they stay safe."
Jack nodded but didn't look completely reassured. "You better stay safe too."
"I will," Thomas promised, giving his brother a firm nod. "We'll hold the wall."
As the children disappeared back into the village, Thomas returned to his post beside Marcus. The quiet stretched on, the air thick with anticipation. The men shifted uneasily, their hands never far from their weapons.
"I hate this waiting," Marcus muttered. "Feels like we're just sitting here, waiting for something to happen."
"That's all we can do," Thomas replied. "Until Lord Aric comes back."
The night dragged on, the sounds of the forest eerily absent. No howls, no distant rustling, just silence. It was unnerving. Every man on the wall was tense, their eyes darting between the trees and the sky, half-expecting something to leap out from the shadows at any moment.
A few hours later, one of the militia spotted a flicker of light far beyond the treeline. Torches. The men immediately stiffened, gripping their weapons as the small group of lights approached.
"It's them," Marcus breathed, recognizing the formation.
Lord Aric and his knights emerged from the forest, their armor gleaming faintly under the moonlight. Their expressions were grim but not panicked, and Thomas let out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding.
"They made it," he muttered to himself, relief washing over him.
The gates creaked open to let Lord Aric and his men pass through. As they entered the village, Lord Aric dismounted his horse, his expression calm but serious.
"Militia, hold the wall for the rest of the night," Lord Aric ordered, his voice carrying authority. "We've cleared out the creatures for now, but we'll need to remain vigilant."
Thomas caught the eye of one of the squires, who gave him a subtle nod, signaling that the mission had been successful. The monsters were gone, for now, but they'd have to stay on guard.
As the night dragged on without incident, the tension began to ease. Eventually, Thomas descended from the wall and made his way back to the house where Jack and the others were waiting.
Jack opened the door before Thomas could even knock, his face a mix of relief and exhaustion. "Everything alright?"
"Yeah," Thomas said, stepping inside. "Lord Aric and the knights handled it. No attacks tonight."
Lila, who had been sitting by the fire with Milo, Finn, and Emory, jumped up and ran to Thomas, hugging him tightly. "You're okay!"
"I'm okay," Thomas said softly, hugging her back. "We're all okay."
Milo, Finn, and Emory joined them, all of them clearly relieved that the worst hadn't come to pass.
"I told you they wouldn't get through," Thomas said with a tired smile, though the weight of the night still hung heavy on him.
Jack, watching from the side, gave his brother a nod. "You did good."
"You too," Thomas replied, appreciating the way Jack had kept the younger ones calm. "Let's get some rest. It's been a long night."
As they settled in for the night, the family huddled close together, the weight of the evening slowly lifting. But Thomas knew they weren't out of the woods yet. The monsters were still out there, and the village would have to remain on guard. But for tonight, at least, they were safe.