12. Hope 2

Aaron stood frozen on the cobblestone street, his heart pounding in his chest like a drum. The man who had emerged from the inn stood before him, his bushy beard and unkempt clothes giving him a rugged, almost wild appearance. Aaron's mind raced, a whirlwind of suspicion and fear swirling within him.

He knew that in this world that trust was a luxury he couldn't afford, and this sudden, cryptic invitation from a stranger set every alarm bell ringing in his head. And there was something in his eyes—a sharpness, a calculating glint—that made Aaron's skin prickle with unease.

The man's voice had been gruff but not unkind when he addressed Aaron, but still that didn't matter to Aaron. His body language betrayed his inner turmoil. He took a half-step back, his shoulders tense, his hands clenched into fists at his sides. 

His eyes darted to the man's hands, looking for weapons, then to the shadows around them, searching for accomplices, and assessing his surroundings for potential escape routes.. The man noticed but said nothing, his expression unreadable.

"What do you want?" Aaron asked, his voice low and guarded. He tried to sound confident, but the tremor in his tone betrayed him.

The man shrugged, a casual gesture that did little to ease Aaron's suspicions. "Saw you in the inn, and around lad," he said. "Looked like you could use a hand."

Aaron's eyes narrowed. "Why would you care?"

The man's lips twitched, the ghost of a smile. "Maybe I don't. Maybe I do. Either way, you're out here, and I've got a warm forge and a spare cot. Your choice, lad."

Aaron hesitated, his mind a whirlwind of doubt and desperation. The offer was tempting, too tempting. A warm place to sleep, food, maybe even work. But at what cost? He glanced at the man again, trying to read his intentions. 

Was this a trap? Was he being lured into something dangerous? Or was this a genuine offer of help, a rare stroke of luck in a life that had been anything but lucky?

'Should I follow him? I've been on the streets since I landed in this mess. Never had a good day. Could this be my lucky break? He looks rugged, but I don't feel any ill intent from him, and if he wanted to ambush me and snatch me up I doubt that I could've resisted him, but he didn't. I will follow him, but as soon as I see anything wrong I will run as fast as I can,' Aaron thought to himself.

His stomach growled, a sharp reminder of his hunger, and he clenched his jaw. He couldn't afford to be timid, not if he wanted to survive. But he also couldn't afford to be reckless.

The man seeing Aaron silent didn't interrupt him and let him think.

"What's your name?" Aaron asked, stalling for time.

The man raised an eyebrow. "You can call me Garrick. And you?"

"Aaron," he replied after a moment's hesitation.

Garrick nodded, as if the name confirmed something for him. "Well, Aaron, I'm not going to stand here all night. You coming or not?"

Aaron's eyes flicked to the darkened alley behind him, then back to Garrick. He could run, disappear into the shadows and take his chances on the streets, but steeled himself.

"Alright," he said finally, his voice barely above a whisper. "I'll come."

Garrick nodded again, his expression unreadable, and turned to lead the way. Aaron followed, his steps hesitant, his eyes darting nervously around as they walked. He kept a careful distance between them, ready to bolt at the first sign of trouble.

The streets were quiet, the only sounds the distant clatter of a cart and the occasional bark of a dog. The two walked in silence for a time, the tension between them palpable. Aaron kept his eyes on Garrick's back, his mind churning with questions he was too wary to ask.

Finally, Garrick broke the silence. "How long have you been on the streets, Aaron?"

The question caught Aaron off guard. He hesitated, unsure how much to reveal. "A while," he said evasively.

Garrick glanced back at him, his expression unreadable. "That's not much of an answer."

Aaron shrugged, his shoulders stiff. "What do you want me to say? That it's been hard? That I'm hungry and tired and cold? You already know that."

Garrick's lips twitched again, that almost-smile made Aaron feel anoyed. "Fair enough," he said. "But I'm not asking out of curiosity. I'm asking because I need to know what I'm dealing with."

Aaron frowned. "What do you mean?"

Garrick stopped and turned to face him, his eyes sharp and assessing. "If I'm going to take you in, I need to know if you're worth the trouble. Can you work? Can you follow orders? Or are you just looking for a handout?"

Aaron's cheeks flushed with shame. "I'm not looking for charity," he said. "I can work. I want to work. That was why I was at the inn."

"Good," Garrick said, his tone matter-of-fact. "Because I don't have time for slackers. If you're coming with me, you'll earn your keep. Understood?"

Aaron nodded, though his stomach churned with a mix of resentment and relief. At least the man was being honest about his expectations. That was something, wasn't it?

"Why are you helping me?" Aaron asked suddenly, unable to keep the question in any longer.

Garrick didn't answer right away. When he did, his voice was low and measured. "Let's just say I know what it's like to be where you are. And I had someone help me once. Figured it's my turn to return the favor."

Aaron wasn't sure if he believed him, but he didn't press further. For now, he would take what he could get.

The streets grew narrower and darker as they moved away from the main streets. The buildings here were older, their wooden beams warped with age, their windows shuttered against the night. The air was thick with the smell of damp wood and rotting garbage, and the occasional cry of a cat or the scuttle of rats made Aaron's skin crawl.

Garrick led the way with confident strides, his boots crunching on the cobblestones. Aaron followed a few steps behind, his eyes darting nervously to every shadow and alleyway. He couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched, though he saw no one.

The silence between them was oppressive, broken only by the distant sounds of the city. Aaron's anxiety grew with each step. What if this was a trap? What if Garrick was leading him into an ambush? He glanced at the man's back, his mind racing. Garrick didn't seem like the type to resort to such tactics, but Aaron had learned the hard way that appearances could be deceiving.

As they moved into a quieter residential area, the tension in Aaron's shoulders began to ease slightly. The houses here were small but well-kept, their windows glowing with the warm light of hearth fires.

Garrick finally stopped in front of a modest building, its wooden sign creaking in the breeze. Aaron squinted in the dim light, making out the shape of an anvil and hammer painted on the sign and a writing beneath it that read "Garrick's Forge".

"Here we are," Garrick said, his voice breaking the silence. "Home sweet home."

Aaron stared at the building, his heart pounding.

Garrick pushed open the door, and a wave of heat washed over Aaron, the intense warmth a stark contrast to the cold of the night. He stepped inside, his eyes wide with wonder and disbelief, as Garrick led him through the shop. 

The interior was dimly lit, the flickering glow of a single lantern casting eerie shadows on the walls. The air was thick with the scent of hot metal and coal smoke. The shop was cluttered but organized, tools and half-finished projects scattered across the workbenches. The floor was littered with wood shavings and bits of scrap. A large anvil stood in the center of the room, its surface scarred from years of use.

Garrick led Aaron through the shop to a door at the back. He pushed it open, revealing a narrow staircase leading down. "This way," he said, his voice low. Aaron followed, his heart pounding as they descended into the darkness. The air grew warmer as they went, and the faint sound of crackling flames reached his ears.

The heat hit him like a wall, the flickering light of the flames casting dancing shadows on the walls. The air was thick with the smell of coal smoke and hot metal, and the sound of the bellows filled the space with a rhythmic whoosh.

arrick crossed the room to the hearth, tossing a few more coals onto the fire. The flames roared to life, casting a warm glow over the room. He turned to Aaron, his expression serious.

"This is where I work," he said. "And if you're willing, it's where you'll work too."

Aaron's heart skipped a beat. "What do you mean?"

Garrick folded his arms across his chest, his eyes fixed on Aaron. "I'll give you food and shelter," he said. "In return, you'll work for me. You'll do whatever I ask, no questions asked. You'll learn the trade, and you'll do it well. But there are conditions."

Aaron swallowed hard. "What conditions?"

Garrick's gaze was steady. "You'll work hard. No slacking, no complaining. You'll do as you're told, when you're told. And you'll keep your mouth shut about what you see here. This forge, my work it's not for public knowledge. Also, I ain't your nanny, so don't expect me to spoon feed you anything. Understood?"

Aaron nodded his head slowly 'Sounds tough, but it isn't going to be worse than what I went through'

Garrick's expression softened slightly. "I know it's a lot to ask," he said. "But if you're willing to put in the effort, I'll make sure you're taken care of. You'll have a roof over your head, food in your belly, and a trade to call your own. It's more than most get."

Aaron looked around the forge, the flames casting flickering shadows on the walls. He thought of the cold, hungry nights on the streets, the constant fear and uncertainty. This was a chance, a real chance to change his life.

He took a deep breath and met Garrick's gaze. "I'll do it," he said, his voice firm. "I'll work hard. I'll follow your rules."

 Garrick nodded, a hint of approval in his eyes. "Good. Then we have a deal."

Aaron felt a surge of hope. This was the beginning of a new chapter, a step into the unknown. But for the first time in a long time, he felt like he had a chance.

And that was enough.

A/N: I am really sorry for the irregular uploading schedule, things have been hectic and I don't have any stockpile of chapter so I was unable to upload a new chapter until now. If you enjoy my book please add it to your library and if you have any suggestions comment them and let me know. These really help me.