One guard turns to lead the way toward the gates, the other takes up a position to follow Wil once he's passed.
They are barely ten steps toward the gate when a voice cries out from the line.
"Willitan?! Wil! Oh, thank the stars, I was sure you were dead!"
There's a commotion nearby, and a sturdy halfling woman pushes her way through the crowd.
"Out of the way, you great galumphing..." she barks, her voice cracking with emotion, but leaves off once she reaches the edge of the crowd. Her red hair is poorly tied back, her clothes well-cared and clean as she can make them, but they've clearly seen long hard use and a lot of mending. Her eyes are wet with tears and her lips tremble with emotion as she raises a shaking hand toward her cheek.
"Willitan Lightfoot... it's really, truly you," she whispers. Relief floods over her, and she goes weak at the knees, grabbing at the hand of someone standing next to her.
The guard that took Wil's "name" turns at the noise, and watches the scene unfold. One eyebrow raises slowly as he turns from the crying woman to 'Friglade', clearly expecting to see how he responds.
78RPMLife sent a note to Machiabelly