Dwarf Tales (Closed)

[Mayu]

It had been a very beautiful day, the wind was blowing off to the east. Causing the tall grass in the forest to move with it, in the distance it looked like a storm was coming. But it was still a beautiful day, living in a forest all your life. Makes you enjoy the company of mother nature, to see what she would give and what she would take. Lucy had been working out in the Field most of the day, she stopped herself for a breather. Standing up her brown dress blew in the wind, her shoulder length dark brown hair swayed with the wind as well, but stayed close to her shoulders. Her dark brown eyes darted across the land scape, taken back by the beauty of the plant life. In the distance she noticed a few deer grazing, that made her smile a lot.

Then she heard some thunder, and that brought a smile to her face. But that also meant that she would have to hurry, and finish her work before it began to rain. She loved it when it rain, but only when she was inside. She began to hum, even though Lucy was home schooled she was very bright. She knew different languages, and different customs. which made her a very interesting girl, she would make a husband happy one day. But deep down because of how she was, she was afraid she would never find love. She was only nineteen so she didn't have much of a future, since she was shy around the idea of talking to a guy.

Finally done with her work, she brushed her brow and headed home. But she stopped smelling something, and a chill ran up her spine. Pressing forward she could smell smoke, and that scared her something was very wrong and she knew it. So she lifted up the bottom of her dress, and she took off running quickly. Following the path to her parents home, but after a few moments she saw there home was on fire. It scared her even more now, she didn't know what she would find. Until she heard screams, seeing hobgoblins dragging her mother out of the house. Her eyes went wide as she noticed her father being beaten up, before her eyes she saw one of those creatures slit her fathers throat.

"NO!" she knew of the danger but didn't care.

She ran to her father and cradled him in her arms, he was still breathing but barely. Lucy looked into his eyes and saw his life draining away, tears fell down her face as she heard his last words "Be Strong" anger ravaged her body as she rocked her father's torso in her lap. Her world was being destroyed within a matter of moments, she was in shock but wouldn't give up so easily, she was a fighter.

 

[LordLuck]

((<translated from the Hobgoblin's language>))

<Get that girl away from him! She'll get soaked into the blood, dammit!>, he screamed into a harsh, rough voice. The whole air was filled with cheers and mocking laughter as the hobgoblins cheered for this meager triumph. Lugg was the 'sergeant' of this ragtag group of humanoids, and he punched his way through the number of goblinoids around the humble homestead. Should the young girl look around, she would notice that it should be a dozen or less marauders around her late home, many plundering her family's meager savings and worthless objects while some other were even now skinning her father's sheep; her late father, that was.

Lugg took his vicious-looking, serrated blade - bloodstained. The weapon that had just claimed her father's life. He approached slowly, a grin into his deformed lips showed her his many broken, sharp, yellow teeth. <Now, what do we have here...>

'Eh, girl... what a pretty face ye got!", he spoke back into the common tongue, taking poor Lucy by her hair into one vicious grip, and pulling her away from her father's carcass. Another of Lugg's warriors kicked the dead man's body aside, his hands carrying a sack filled with her mother's bread and a couple of aging salsages.

Away from the burning homestead, a group of the beasts had gathered around her mother, her screams of terror and the unknown words of the inhuman creatures chilling the poor girl's blood as she dared not guess what were the hobgoblins putting her mother through.

 

[Mayu]

She was almost in shock, but it was then when she heard the thing coming at her. Before she could react she was grabbed by her hair, snapping out of the shock of what was going on. She knew she had to do something, hearing her mother she looked around for a weapon of some kind. Lucy would be damned before letting anyone take her, she had to help her mother or at least try to. She quickly grabbed a sword and stood up waving it around.

"Touch me and I will kill you all damn it!!" she maybe a lady but she was one to not screw with.

Remembering what her father had taught her in self defense, but she also remembered the hob's were also very strong for there stature.

"Leave my mother alone!" She demanded.

 

[LordLuck]

"Ah, a fighty one, eh?", Lugg mischievously added, ever more interested into the girl's defiance. She was alone. She was but a frail female, trying to intimidate a whole patrol of hobgoblins. "I shall have special pleasure when you warm by bedroll tonight!"

Laughter echoed, and the group that now surrounded her mother never moved, as they exacted some terrible and foul act over the poor, older woman - her screams kept going on in sheer dread before being suddenly replaced by moans and wet noises. Lucy could only imagine what was going on. The sergeant, however, knew better than let the oportunity go.

Bashing her sword aside, Lugg aproached while another, unseed attacker grabbed the girl by the arms as forced her hand to let go the sword. Then, it was quite easy to subdue the poor girl. Lugg took her over his shoulder as if a mere piece of meat, showing her around and bragging about being her master in his rough, ugly yet powerful tongue.

More laughter. More mockery. Lugg even slapped at Lucy's behind as to show her his dominion, until laying her over the floor brutishly, above the leaves on the border of the Grove, away from her home. "Heheh... let's see what we have here...", he said as he groped her, trying to lift her skirts even though she struggled like a wildcat.

 

[Mayu]

Lucy growled but when the sword was slapped out of her hand she grunted as she was flung over his torso, she didn't want to end up like her mother. Or her father, well she would rather be dead then allow those things to take her virginity. When he pinned her down she struggled even more so. She managed to get her hand loose and scratched his face.

She didn't know just how long she could keep this up for, not wanting anything to do with his filthy hands. The thought of having sex with it made her stomach turn, growling even more.

 

[LordLuck]

Her sharp nails dug another sharp line against Lugg's features, and he bellowed in rage. Lifting one of his claw-like hands, he had it crashing down against Lucy's fair face - hitting her square on the cheek, the pain stinging her face as it would surely leave an impressiong of his rough hand. He wished to heard her whimper and sob under his girth.

The hobgoblin once again started to lift Lucy's skirts over her tummy, his rough hands caressing and groping her thighs, feeling of her with a smirk of sheer and simple wantom. This one had not been welcomed into a female's cavern into quite some time. All seemed lost for Lucy when she heard a rough, backing noise, and Lugg stood still for a moment - his face turning from a mocking smile into a serious expression... and he fell over her - a crossbow bolt protuding from his back.

Cries of battle were heard across the clearing as her saviours suddenly jumped from the bushes. Short, stocky figures garbed in shining armour advanced with screams for blood and combat, their weapons held high and their shields broad. Their faces were stern and grim, their chest covered with the rich, long and well-cared beards that waved around them as they've moved into the clairing.

Many hobgoblins were surprised to see such a group appear so suddenly from the nearby woods. Perhaps they've counted on scouts to warn them? Lucy could not know as she struggled to get away from under the heavy hobgoblin, as she could see the ones around her mother grabbing their weapons and buckling their belts, lifting their pants quickly in order to give fight to these new foes.

 

[Mayu]

She refused to make a sound, she wasn't going to give him a good time whimpering like a wounded dog. But watching as things progressed, she grunted when he fell on top of her. Seeing an arrow out of his back, pushing him off slowly. She stood up and noticed what they were, but she picked up a sword and went for her mother. Thrusting a sword deep into the hob that was raping her mother, but when she looked down she noticed her mother was mortally wounded.

Collapsing to her knees she watched as the last part of her family died in front of her. Looking down she grew very angry, slowly standing she began to battle a few goblins anger filled out her face. Wanting to kill everything just about in sight.

 

[LordLuck]

Lucy's fury was terrible to behold. As she picked up for Lugg's own blade, Keldrik thought that the young girl had managed to find a way to get herself killed. But instead, her blows were well aimed and took many a hobgoblin's life into her rampage amongst them. There was a woman at the floor, too mangled to be saved and blanketed into these foul beast's seed. Poor creature.

Keldrik laugthed at the girls display before bashing his way through the hobgoblins, his hammer singing a song of death with every swing. He and his men had been patrolling the Mountain side, wandering quietly into the Woods that grew against the slopes in order to pinpoint the position from the encampment from where these beasts were operating. They were sent to find the place, and return to their clan's Hold as fast as possible. The creature's presence was not welcomed in the land, and when Eymund noticed the smoke rising, they all expected the worse.

<Eh, close order, everyone! Send them back to their mothers!>, he bellowed in dwarvish as he shattered the skull of another foe.

And it was bad. Really bad. The homestead was destroyed, and in a few moments the goblinoids were vanquished. The newcomers finally approached the young, blood-stained girl carrying a sword. There were six of them, short and stocky, bulky and strong. One of them, apparently their leader, approached. He wielded a war hammer and a battle axe, and laid them at his waist as he lifted his helm's visor.

"Ye fight well, lass. Was this yer home?", he asked into a blunt voice, his tone low and rough - but much more likeable and kind than the hobgoblins.

 

[Mayu]

She dropped the sword as she watched them take over the rest of the Hob's, now there was nothing left for her here. But when she saw the leader, she looked at him and heard what he said in her own language. At first she wondered why they saved her, but knew she owed the leader of the group.

"Yes, they destroyed my home and murdered my parents" She said.

Lucy was rather depressed, since now she didn't know what to do. Her parents were supposed to be around for a little while longer, t hey never prepared her for life without them. But perhaps it was her own fault, looking down at the sword she sighed.

"My father taught me how to fight with different weapons, but I was to weak to make a damn difference. They died because of me, I should have been a man, then I would have been stronger" She looked down.

"I have nothing now" She said in dwarvish, she said looking at the leader

 

[LordLuck]

"Ach, do you do know our language, eh?", their leader spoke with a half-smile, both pleased and surprised by this human girl's domain of their harsh and rough speech. He could only imagine where should she have learn their dialect. "Lass, this ain't be yer fault. These savages have returned to plague the nearby dales, and even we, from the Mountains, must be on our guard."

The girl was beautiful, and very, very young. Of course that, as a dwarf, Keldrik was not too much older than her, should one compare their ages. Taking away his weapons, he approached her slowly - standing some inches shorter than her, himself. Keldrik had now found himself into a crossroads. What should he do with the girl? He could not leave her to die in the woods, alone. Should he do that, she would probably fall prey to wolves or worse things that prowled the land at night.

"Say, girl... it was lucky for us to be near when we saw the smoke comin'... what do ye plan on doing right now? I... guess... you should come with us back to our Hold... it's safe from these creatures, although it shall be very different for you as you have lived on the surface for so long."

 

[Mayu]

Lucy looked at him, tossing the sword to the ground as he walked closer to her. Looking at the other men she thought for a moment and spoke in his language. "Yes, I'm fluent in your language, and Elvish. My father taught me" She said kindly. But then when she heard about her going with him she looked at him.

"Is that a good thing? I have never met a Dwarf that really likes a human. Since I know your men don't seem to like the idea" Lucy said softly, and then thought since he was calling her girl.

"And please call me Lucy" Lucy said with a gentle smile on her face.

 

[LordLuck]

"Who said I liked you, girl?", his words were both abrub and dry, as if he had pondered her words even before she spoke them, "We simply can't let you be here alon on the wilds, now, can we?"

"The next farmstead is many miles away, and is as vulnerable as yours.", Keldrik said as he looked back to his man, seeing some nods of understanding, yet some more of simple acknowledgement. They were his companions, brothers in arms since the first of them ever raised a pick-axe. Nobody would question him, for his was the reason.

"Should ye wish to come... otherwise, ye may remain here. We'll be going back all the same.", the dwarf refused to refeer to her even though she had told him her name - and had not offered her his own. He simply waved his hand in dismissal to his men, who started to run their gauntlet-hands into the hobgoblin's pockets, taking anything of value or use. "Perhaps ye could remain there until the Merchants come."

 

[Mayu]

Lucy almost laughed at how he reacted, she knew how they were. However very surprised he actually cared, well perhaps it was more of a duty thing then anything. Taking a deep breath she just nodded "I'll go with you, and sweet what happens" She said simply. Looking down at her mothers body however, she knelt down for a moment and closed her mothers eyes. She had some money on her so when ever she could find a place to buy some new clothing she would, looking up she walked beside the men not saying anything.

 

[LordLuck]

Closing his helm without any further cerimony, Keldrik had overseen his warriors were ready to depart in moments. Not much of worth to be salvaged from the worthless carcasses of the hobgoblins. Just... something wasn't really going right with him. Nobody would ask him about just picking up the human girl, Lucy, in her time of need and guinding her to their concealed Hold. Every other patrol-leader would have done so out of charity and simpathy before such a disaster into her life.

More than glad to keep quiet as well, all the dwarves welcomed Lucy's presence with quiet nods and winks. Except for one. One of them had approached her, as if trying to start a conversation - before being quickly shushed by Keldrik as the group made their way into the woods, and upwards the rigdes that formed the first part of the slopes of the Mountain. They were still into dangerous territory, and Lugg's company could be only one of numberless patrols that could be roaming the area in search for loot.

It was not until they were climbing against rock, and the trees were replaced by shorter bushes that the same dwarf approached her again, offering her a canteen of leather. "Lass, would ye be wantin' some water? The trip can be tiring fer those not used to..."

Keldrik merely looked to Eymund as the slightly younger dwarf approached the girl. And something stirred into his stomach. She was beautiful. Even for dwarven styles, she would be found attractive - her wide hips surely had their effect, even though she was not bearded herself!

 

[Mayu]

Lucy was silent just keeping to herself, but she noticed one Dwarf coming up to her. She smiled at him kindly, when someone asked if she needed water she nodded. "Yes but I wont drink a lot I just need a little" She said kindly. "but I'm not worried about getting to where ever it is we are going, I'm used to hard work so hard travel wont be that hard" She said kindly and bowed her head her way of thanking them and honoring them, she did get some water and she did drink. But made sure not to drink all, just enough. Once done she pulled her hair back and out of her face. Looking down at herself, she took some of her dress and ripped off some fabric and tied it around her hands, since she knew they would be climbing.

 

[LordLuck]

And it was in great timing, indeed, for in a couple of moments the slopes started to become even steeper, the crag's face turning out to be just before one abrupt fall against the nothing. From that side of the Mountain where Lucy had lived, it raised slow and smoothly - but turning towards the east, it turned out to be much more... brief.

After hours of marching uphill and climbing the rocks when the path became more uneven, Eymund started to whistle a song. A working song for the smiths, Keldrik recognised the tune. And while they've climbed up, it happened that Keldrik ended up in the back of their line. The twilight would come soon, and they had to be indoors before the cold wind of the mountain reached them at sundown. As they've climbed, the dwarf suddenly noticed Lucy's backside, waving around as if meaningfully as she climbed the rocks.

A single, mischievous smile tainted his lips before he even knew that he had been staring at the human girl's ass. Damn it, Keldrik; he thought quietly. Grinning, he kept going on. They should not be too far, now.

 

[Mayu]

She didn't make a sound, she didn't even talk to anyone. She was to busy thinking of her ruined life, she was now alone in hate world and she hated it. But as she started to hear them whistling it snapped her out of her mind. Her back and hands, even legs were killing her, but she didn't want them to view her as a weak woman. So she was tortured in her mind only, but when they finally stopped she silently sighed.

 

[LordLuck]

A sigh that some of the dwarves, accustomed to be on the edge of their senses when working in the complete darkness of the underworld, had heard but politely disregarded. Lucy could feel that, although they had been kind in welcoming her, she was being more tolerated than received amongst them. Would it be the same in their Hold? Would people still look down on her in that particular way?

Up ahead, only the stoney rock fords of the Mountain stood in plain sight. Climbing upon them, the dwarves reached a place between the crags that Lucy could notice a carved doorway into the Mountain. A piece of mansonry completely concealed by some kind of illusion from the ones that climbed the slopes.

"Here we are, lass." spoke Keldrik as he offered Lucy a hand in order help her climbing. It was not a sight of showing her weakness, but rather a simple compliment of her stout position. She had not complained once through the tiring trip. She could see a smile between that bearded face.

 

[Mayu]

Lucy was beyond tired, but again said nothing. Getting to the hold, she heard one of them ask to help her. Lucy smiled at him and took his hand "Thanks" Getting to the hold worried her, because once inside she saw many people in there. She hung her head, looking down on the ground. Wanting to just vanish, she wished to god that she could be invisible. She stayed with the group until they could tell her what to do.

 

[LordLuck]

The great, stone gates opened and as soon as they were inside, Lucy could feel a hot, warm and confortable environment inside the earth - so unlike the cold wind that was now roaring outside, smashing itself against the stone Mountain. And indeed, there many other dwarves inside the long corridor that lead into the Hold proper. Walking quietly with her new acquaintances, Lucy watched in wonder and unease as all the people on the 'street' would turn and stare bluntly at her. There were not even one non-dwarf amongst the miners that carried coal or the sentinels that stood at attention.

Almost a hundred meters into the Mountain, the corridor ended into one large Square, from wich many other tunnels lead to. There were dwarves working, selecting tools to their mines, while others bore large sacks of coal. And there were the women. As short and stocky, but usually thinner, most of the dwarf-females showed finelly cropped beards - so unlike the long, braided ones the male spotted.

"Come with me.", Keldrik said, as he forcefully took Lucy's hand and guided her about the poorly lit tunnels. The dwarves were confortable without the light, but Keldrik knew already that it would not be so with the girl. "Let's see what I can do with you..."

The other warriors were dismissed, and after some moments running into the tunnels, the couple arrived before a golden door, guarded by wardens bearing war-hammers. A temple? A Hall? She could never know.

"By the way... I am called Keldrik Ironfist, girl. And we must figure out what to do with ye..."

 

[Mayu]

Lucy was taken back by the forceful grab as she walked with him, this was a different world and didn't know what to do with herself. And Ironfist didn't know either, she could tell on that. "I don't want to cause any trouble among anyone" Lucy was really afraid, people looking at her and seeing that she didn't look like the women at all, everyone had beards and human women didn't grow them. But she also wouldn't put a fake beard in, she would dress like a Dwarf but that was as far as it would go.

"I'm sorry to have caused you grief Keldrik"

 

[LordLuck]

Sensing that the girl was feeling somewhat responsible for his short and abrupt awnsers, Keldrik found himself at a loss. How should he act? How could he act? What could he do for her in order to try and ease her feelings? He was a warrior, not a councilor. He had never needed to sow soothing words over someone's ear - let alone a human woman.

"I... it's not your fault, Lucy.", he finally uterred her name as he held her hand tight. "I could not let you alone out there, yet I do not know what to do with you here."

Keldrik took a deep breath. He knew how to sunder goblins and dodge giants like every dwarven warrior should, but he could not think of any words that would make Lucy feel better. She had just lost her family, for Moradin's sake! And now she was seeing herself as a bothersome trouble to her saviour's life.

"And ye have caused me no trouble, girl. I was happy to manage to get there in time to save ye, although I am sorry for not arriving earlier.", he said as he looked up to stare at her eyes. She surely had a pretty face. Keldrik would hate to see her fine visage tainted by tears. "Come. Let's talk with the Priest. Fate brought me to you, and now I bring you here. We'll face anythign togheter, aye?"

And this time, kindly leading her forth, Keldrik took Lucy inside the large, stone hall that was the Hold's Temple for the Dwarven Gods, the Morndinsamman. Perhaps the Priest could shed some light in them.

 

[Mayu]

Lucy smiled looking at him kindly, he actually called her by her name. Which was odd because she knew it wasn't his thing, but he was trying his best. When they went to the temple she saw the beauty of it, but something in her made her sing. Her voice carried through the halls, as she sang a song that only the Dwarfs were supposed to know. And yet here she sang it, causing the people in there to look at her, confused as to why she knew there sacred song.

 

[LordLuck]

Keldrik was simply outstanded that a human girl could have singed so perfectly in a tongue that was not hers - a sacred, secret hymn only taught and spoken aloud between the dwarves. And all the others present felt it as well. Lucy could see that only a couple of attendants stood inside the Temple before a taller, thinner dwarf - whose long, white and braided beard touched down to the floor.

Dressed into rich, ancient garbs, the cleric descended from the stairs that lead to an anvil. Perhaps an anvil-shaped altar. All the while, Keldrik poked at Lucy's waist in order to have her stopping her singing - for it was sacred, and she was not supposed to do anything that could taint the nature of the reliquaire.

"Stop it! Stop it!" Keldrik shushed her, nervous at the Priest's approach. He had to do something to make her stop. Not thinking of anything better, the dwarf took one of his large hands to grope at her backside. Tightly.

 

[Mayu]

She stopped feeling an arm around her and noticed an old man coming, thinking of what her father taught her. She bowed to her knees in respect to the wise one who stood before them. Looking over at her newly discovered friend she smiled "It would only become tainted if a human sang it that had evil in his heart" She said softly which she knew was true. But she remained silent, unsure of how this was going to go.