Frolic and the Dwarves of Hestraen

CHAPTER ONE:

THE BEGINNING OF THE END



•••

"It's a good thing we got here when we did," said the chief dwarf, Marginal. "Looks like they were trying to get into the caves again!".



The caravan of wagons stationed just outside the cave, had been overturned, their contents spilled across the road and into the ditch on either side. The horses had clearly been spooked by something in the woods and were in serious distress.



"You think it's those orcs again Father?"muttered a young Frolic whom stood cautiously behind the chief, fearfully clasping to his Uncle's royal tribal fabric.



"Argh... those wretched bastards! Who else could it have been!" grumbled Scally, Commander in Chief of the Dwarf Army.



"Hm... they must've been quite desperate this time I suspect, to attack in the open like that." the chief wondered.



"Sire!" raged Scally. "I say we rage our armies upon those deranged orcs at once, now that we have the advantage in number! And end this insurgence permanently!"



"Oh... Calm down old friend." replied Marginal with a slight chuckle. "Your scaring the children you know..."



"Chief Marginal!" cried out the children whom had been watching the whole time from behind the cave's front gate. "Please don't kill the orcs! They didn't mean it! They were just hungry!"



"OH... OH OH" chuckled Marginal. "No one's killing anybody children! Oh my, Scally here was just angry that's all! Clearly he didn't really mean any of it it. Isn't that right Scally?..."

The chief gestured towards Scally in order to hint him to play along with the act.

"Just go along with it old friend..." whispered Marginal to Scally. "We must not scare the children now!"

"Hmph.." gruntled Scally. "Yes... I was just A-N-G-R-Y. I didn't M-E-A-N it."

"Haha... you see children, nothing to worry about! Now, why don't you all head back inside. I'm sure Lady Dara has prepared a nice lunch of frog legs for the lot of ya!"



•••

With that said, the children rushed back inside the cave and retreated back into the village. All but Frolic who remained attached to his Uncle like a snail on a leaf,



"Oh ho!... that means you too Frolic!" said the chief as he looked down to the adorable little dwarf child.

"No!" cried out Frolic. "I don't believe you or Uncle Scally!" he exclaimed. "I want to fight the orcs too Uncle! I want to be a soldier just like you and Uncle!"



Marginal then upon hearing this, bent down to his Son and smiled,



"Ah, but you're only a child Frolic!" he remarked quaintly. "You wouldn't last two seconds against an orc! But your uncle here is much better at fighting them."



Frolic frowned. "Well... you can't prove that Father..." he said. "And besides, it's not fair to tell me what to do when you haven't even fought an orc yourself!"

Marginal then let out a big sigh as he tried to explain the situation to his nephew in a way he could understand.



"My dear boy, as you know... we are a small continuity and each of us have our own roles: I am the chief, which means I cater to all the affairs of the community and your Uncle is the Commander of our army; which means he, along with all the other brave Dwarf soldiers of the continuity, fight and defend our homes from any danger that may befall us."



Now, Marginal gently patted his little son's, and with a smile, he remarked:

"And do you know what your role is my boy?... Along with all the other Dwarf children?... You all are the corefront, the heart and soul, and the future of this Continuity!"



Suddenly, there was a slight pause from Marginal, as he sensed that someone or something was heading straight to the caves from the woods. And whatever it was... undoubtedly ricked of ominousness.



•••

Intuitively, the chief signaled to Scally who stood behind both himself and Frolic, urging the commander to get ready to fight whatever was about to attack. However, he did so in a very nonchalant manner that went completely unnoticed by the Frolic.



"You hear me Frolic my son, YOU all are the heart, soul, and corefront of this Continuity! That's why we always ensure you and all the other Dwarf children, stay behind the cave walls at all times. So even when we, the elders, embark on expenditures — we can always trust that there would be an army of brave, little dwarfs, guarding our homes, family and livelihood."



The chief then gently ruffled his son's head in a sort of wholesome, comedic manner. Although, there was still this feeling of sadness and fear in his eyes as he did so.



"I need you to listen to me Frolic. You are my son. And if anything should ever happen to me, It would be your duty to carry on as the new chief. You know what that means right?... Looking out for the entire continuity, looking out for your brothers and sisters; but above all, ensuring the survival and existence of our race no matter what." he said.



"In time, you'll come to understand what I mean." He continued, his voice slowly gaining intensifying.



"Never forget what I have just told you Frolic - never. I love you." he said one last time with tears flowing down his cheek. "Now quickly, go join the others inside and tell Mallice to lock all the gates behind and to quickly alert the cave's soldiers at once!"



•••

Quickly, Frolic turned back and then ran to the safety of the other dwarves. And once the gates of the cave were sealed, the chief turned back to Scally with a somber yet nervous expression on his face — one, he had tried his best to hide.



"So, what is it Scally?" he asked very concernly.



*I'm not sure Sire. But one things for certain... It's not most certainly not another Orc!" replied an anxious Scally whose sword was pointed directly towards the woods, ready to charge at any moment.



"Hmm... I see." muttered Marginal. "So it wasn't orcs that scared the horses back then huh?..."



"Ha! Don't tell me you're scared now your highness." chuckled an anxious Scally.



"Ha! Of course not Old friend!" replied an anxious but now enthusiastic Marginal. "Don't worry I have already called for reinforcements. Whatever is approaching our home, is definitely not going to get through that gate!" cried out the chief.



"Prepare Yourself Scally!" commanded the chief.



Then, as the noise from the woods grew louder and louder with every passing second, the two dwarfs could feel the earth shake beneath them.



"Oh, it's a big one alright." muttered Scally.



Then, without warning, this bizzarre looking demon creature that walked on all fours, came shrieking out. It's vile shriek sounded like something straight from hell .



"An Ashantee?..." muttered Scally in fear.



"Dear God, it's the dwarf eater..." mumbled the chief.

•••

TO BE CONTINUED...