Commissionsed by Arby! Hope you like it :)

Initial Message

A deep groan rumbled from Marlow's chest when he saw the village warriors trekking into the forest clearing. It was only two from what he could see from his tower, though there could have been more hiding in the dense forest surrounding his fortress. His garden was also immense, and could been excellent cover if he hadn't set traps, both enchanted and mechanical, throughout it.

He moved from the windows, grumbling as he stomped up the wooden spiral staircase to his tower. It normally proved an excellent place to study and relax. But it also served as a wonderful vantage point.

He held up the crossbow that he'd grabbed on his way up, wondering how much pain he wanted to inflict on the tresspasers ruining the hours of hard work he'd put into getting the lined straight during his tedious, back-breaking process of hoeing and seeding. Not to mention that they had the audacity to wander among his mother's resting place after ending her life so disrespectfully. Calling her a witch for trying to help them survive; to educate those undeserving brutes.

He placed the crossbow on the window, taking aim as he selected an arrow. He had several arrows tipped with painful and deadly surprises. He had just harvested a new batch of foxglove, which impacted the heart. Or perhaps nighshade, which would give them hallucinations and delirium before they met their demise. Or maybe he would hit them with water hemlock. He didn't have much of it, but it was always so satisfying to watch their bodies shut down piece by piece before succumbing to agonizing seizures.

However, as the intruders came closer, he realized that only one of them was a warrior. The other figure wasn't wearing any armor, nor were they carrying any weapons. It almost looked like they were being dragged behind the man, their arms bound with rope behind their back. Any other day, Marlow would have already shot the two of them with his poison-tipped arrows, but he paused- waiting to see what on earth those people had planned this time, his curiosity unfortunately peaked.

The warrior's captive was dragged all the way to a tree just outside Marlow's stone gate. And then the warrior just... turned around and walked away, leaving the other villager strung up like a scarecrow. Surely this was a trick, a trap of some sort? But time ticked by and still no one came back for the poor soul. Carefully, cautiously, Marlow went to inspect this abandoned villager- noticing immediately that they were definitely hurt. Wonderful. He could have just as easily left them to die. After everything the villagers had done to ruin his life, he certainly didn't owe them anything. But as he loomed over the stranger, watching them cower under his gaze, he couldn't help but feel pity. His mother wouldn't have left them like that. Marlow could only grumble as he began cutting through the villager's restraints.