An Unexpected Confession

he four of them were in circle standing back to back with fifty trolls surrounding them, as what Reginleif and Celandine agreed at. Although Eanna was a skilled archer she did not even bother to pull an arrow or to even hold her bow, for arrows are good only on a distant fight—what on her hand rather was a two-edged small sword given to her long ago by Cuauhtémoc.
   The elven lady Sereelien carried a dagger, yet, trolls knew how adroit elves are even the least skilful of them could easily kill slay an orc by using a dagger, after all elves are one of the most clever beings of Neriwonda.
   Brinsop who was unable to fight as a dragon used Reginleif’s scimitar, while on Reginleif’s hand was a torch and a sword on the other.
   Celandine was afar, thinking how pleasurable it is to watch them dealing with the trolls, and though she knew that they were experienced warriors, she believed that they will soon be exhausted, for trolls won’t die from cuts or hews, and it will only increase the number of trolls. The only powerful weapon they had was the torch. And even if they succeed on killing fifty trolls, never would she be true to her word. So it’s a sure win she thought to herself, and wished that the Chosen One was with them to die.
   The trolls started to strike with their huge claws, trying to break up their strong defense. Eanna drove her small sword at the big raging troll, driving it right through the beast lurching it wildly as the troll shriek in pain. She pulled the sword and then kicked the beast forcefully and the troll rolled violently through the ground holding its pierced belly.
   The torch was waving left and right that confused the trolls and it was a good tactic, as Reginleif and Brinsop sliced viciously the trolls who tried to assault them, and then set the trolls green and grey skin on fire.
   Bright and swift was Sereelien, even if she was using a small weapon. She sliced none but with each strike of her dagger, trolls came falling on the ground.  A certain death for the trolls, for her attack was always right through the hearts of the beasts.
   “Their weak at the heart!” Sereelien told her companions.  “Cutting them will just increase their number. Strike them at the heart.”
   “Follow my lead!” Reginleif shouted as he slowly led their defense near a tree, then he raised the torch’s flame right through the leaves and the tree started to burn.
   The trolls became a little hesitated to attack as the flaming tree quickly grew its blaze. And each coming troll, they forcibly threw to the blistering tree counting every troll ablaze.

   Celandine saw how well they play her game as the trolls slowly lessened their number.
   “I underestimated them.” she whispered. “But let’s see…”
   The sorcerer whispered a silent chant and then a crack of thunder echoed in the air, and raindrops gradually fall from the sky till it became a complete rain.
   “You lying fraud!” exclaimed Reginleif as the flame weakens at the hard rain.
   “Did you hear me chant a spell aderyn?” she shouted back at Reginleif.
   “And for accusing me…”
   “You all slaughter them at once!” she commanded her troll army.
   The trolls came rushing for the fire has died down. Brinsop decided to polymorph back into a dragon for the game was no more. He scared the trolls off for awhile but to the dragon’s surprise, he can’t move a muscle.
   “I told you I will use a spell if you turned back to a dragon.” Celandine said laughing.
   The trolls, seeing that the dragon couldn’t move, continue their attack, but their focus was fixed at the two aderyns and the elf for they know that the dragon could do nothing.
   The assault became intense for even the torch flame died down. Sereelien’s shoulder was bleeding from a scrape, and trolls still numbering up to sixty or more.
   The three continued their defense, still back to back, although hope seemed lost.
   “Eanna,” Reginleif said behind the aderyn lady. “Before we die I want to tell you something.”
   “What is it?” Eanna replied gasping an air.
   “I want you to know that…” Reginleif was cut short as he slashed a troll’s hand and forced the sword in its chest. He pulled the sword from the troll’s body and then he came in front of Eanna, not minding if their defense would lose.
   “Eanna, I…” he started.
   “Behind your back!” Sereelien shouted. Reginleif swiftly turned and hewed the head of a troll coming, sending it ten feet in the air.
   “Reg it is no time for this, focus on the trolls!” said Eanna irritably.
   “I really need to tell you this!” Reginleif said as he ducked from a huge claw, and then cut the feet of a troll. He jumped unto it and plunged his sword right through the troll’s heart, as the troll wailed in pain.
   “I love you Eanna.” he finally said the word he hardly could release, but his voice was unheard by the aderyn lady for the wail of the troll was too loud.
   “Eanna, did you hear what I just said?” Reginleif said.
   “No Reg! I said stop it!” she retorted.
   “Curse this troll!” he angrily said to the wailing beast and then pushed his sword deeply to end the troll’s life.
   “You should know this…” Reginleif continued.
   “You don’t have to,” Eanna said, “I already knew.”
   “You did?” he wondered.
   “Yes!” she responded, “That you’re the one who accidentally broke my lamp. Sindri told me! I’m just waiting for you to confess!”
   “Though it’s very important to me, I did forgive you.”
   “That little kitchen dwarf!” he said to himself.
   “But it’s not about the lamp…”
   “What I really want to say is, I…” what Reginleif was about to say was cut off as he fell on the ground for a sharp wood was drove behind him, and then came falling beside her was Eanna for a club hit her head. Right just on time, the elven lady came to aid them, holding the scimitar with her right hand and the dagger on left.
   “Go on Reginleif, tell her what you need to say before we pass away.” said Sereelien who was in front of them determined to stop the trolls from coming close at them.
   It took Eanna’s attention, and as she sat she saw blood staining on the ground where Reginleif was lying. The spell rain has stopped, but it was too late. 
   “I… love,” Reginleif hardly said smiling at Eanna “…you Eanna…”
   Eanna picked Reginleif up in an embrace when suddenly the trolls came howling, for flaming arrows started shooting at the trolls.
   “The elves of Vennashan!” said Sereelien whose hope suddenly rose, for there not too distant from them was Ecklaer, leading an army of elves, and with them were catapults of flaming rocks.
   The ground and the grass started burning as the trolls panicked and they head out for their lives.
   Celandine who was dismayed on seeing the elves weighed things out. The elves were too many for the wyverns to attack, his troll army was panicking, and Brinsop was starting to get off of her spell. How she wished that she brought more of his army, but it was too late. Only her powerful lightning spell was her choice, but she couldn’t use it as well for it will surely drain her strength, and that she already did some of her evil magic.
   “Some other day you will pay for this Ecklaer.” she muttered angrily as she rode on a wyvern to retreat.

   The next day, even before the sunrise, Drinn, Halvene, Ganhywn, and Eliour started to gallop north towards Thorriat-Elleg to warn the dwarves of the coming peril. Drinn knew that someone might have taken their Amulen Stone, as what happened in Hywel and Firolwen. They crossed a bridge with a raging waterfall beside them when it was early in the morning, and then the road continues, ascending gradually.
   The suns were high at one in the afternoon, but still the gentle wind was cold enough. Looking back far south, they could see the long trail of the Amarashans marching slowly for they were high enough to see the road they’ve been through.
   “Drinn!” came the voice of Ganhywn. “That is Wintertroph.” the Quariumoran pointed out the high mountains, with freezing peaks north-west. “The mountains of the giants.” he continued.
   The air became colder when the road where they were was beside the towering mountains of Wintertroph, and so they decided to eat and to rest for a few hours.
   “Are we still far from Duin Hall?” Drinn asked.
   “Will be there in a day and a half.” answered Halvene.
   “We couldn’t waste time. If we could reach and warn the dwarves earlier, the more they can prepare for the coming of the Amarashans.” said Drinn. “I suggest that we rest for an hour only, and then we set off to Duin Hall at once.”
   “I agree.” the elf replied.
   “How many days can you make it to Quariumora?” Drinn inquired of Ganhywn.
  “When we reach the part of road near the ocean, maybe a day or so and I will be in our city.” The Quariumoran answered.
   “I want you to go back to Quariumora and ask King Dunates to send help for Duin Hall.”
   “I will do anything that the Chosen One would tell.” replied Ganhywn.
   And so as they had agreed, they hit the road again after an hour.
 
   The next day the road descends increasingly, Thuddin-Imal mountains were on the left and the ocean of Quariumora in right.  It was then that Ganhywn departed ways with them and head to the ocean. 
   Drinn, Halvene, and Eliour continued on the road, they were galloping fast and swift, and it was about four in the afternoon when the elf suddenly stopped as if something has taken his attention. His blue eyes were fixed at the northern sky, as if trying to figure out what his keen eyes had seen.
   “What is it Halvene?” inquired Eliour but the elf answered not still looking on the northern sky.
   “Is there something wrong?” added Drinn for strange was the expression on the face of the elven warrior.
   “Hide!” Halvene exclaimed.
   Drinn and Eliour followed the lead of the elf not knowing what the elf had seen. They hid themselves underneath a big tree with an enormous twigs and leaves.
   “Now, can you tell us what it is that you saw?” again Eliour curiously asked the elf, as Drinn and Eliour gazed carefully on where the elf was looking. And they saw far at the northern sky, vague forms flying in cluster.
   “Dragons…” Halvene replied still watching the northern sky.
   “And to my guess those are black and white dragons.”
   “Is there any dragon in north?” asked Eliour, “For to my knowledge black dragons live in Amarash. And the good ones live in Firolwen and Fortress Hill.”
   “Yes there is.” Drinn came answering.
   “The land of Kayel is filled with dragons, but why are they coming here in Neriwonda?”
   “They are summoned by the sorcerer.” answered Halvene. “Any creature with wickedness or witless, Celandine can have power over. She can take over, even their entire will.”
   “The dragons of Amarash were nearly wiped out by Celandine herself during the battle in Firolwen.” Drinn said. “So she’s gathering dragons from other land.”
   They concealed themselves more as the dragons pass by above them. Black, white, red, green, and blue dragons, but most were white and black dragons.
   When the dragons were far from where they were, and that the road seemed safe enough they continued on the road. It was about four in the afternoon when they reach a wide open field of lawn, and of prairie and of wild flowers, which was a few kilometers away from Duin Hall, the great hall of dwarves. The hall was tightly shutout as if they knew the danger approaching them.
   They reached the great oval door of Duin Hall in no time, and it opened for them freely even before they asked. As the great door was being opened, they were surprised for dwarves gathered in the entry hall. They were in their different kinds of armors and were armed with axes, shields and battle-hammers. They look not like the Kitchen Dwarves. Their heights range three feet to four, well built and was barbaric in form.
   “What’r ye’re business here the three o’ ye?” said a dwarf in his strong dwarven accent. “I’m king Hilran the ruler o’ Duin Hall.”
   “We come to warn you of the coming peril,” Drinn said, “But it seems that you already know of it.”
   “I’m Drinn of Hywel and with me are Eliour and Halvene.”
   “We dwarves are grateful for what ye’ve done, en it looks that ye come from a long journey, but ye three may leave now, or else ye’ll be with us on this comin’ battle with ’em stinkin’ Amarashans.”
   “En aren’t ye the son o’ Ecklaer?” King Hilran asked the elf.
   “Yes I am.” Halvene said, “And this man speaking is the Chosen One.” The hall was suddenly filled with whispers of dwarves at the words of Halvene for every living person in Neriwonda very well knew the prophecy.
   “Are ye sure o’ what ye’re saying elf?” said the king.
   “Yes I am.” Halvene replied.
   The king turned his attention on Drinn and said “Then how would ye prove it young man?”
   “We did not come here to prove anything or to prove who I am.” Drinn said. “We come here to aid Duin Hall; an army of Quariumora will come in no time to support as well. We will be with you in this battle if your highness allowed us.”
   “Ye are a wise young man. Ye’re surely be of good help with me people whether ye’re the Chosen One or not.”
   “If I may ask you your highness,” interrupted Eliour, “How did you know that the Amarashans are coming?”
   “Close the gate!” shouted the king.
   “Ye three will come with me, and we’ll talk about it somewhere else. I guess the enemies are still far from here.”
   The dwarven king led them into the inner chambers of Duin Hall and offered them foods and other dwarven meals.
   “This is me general,” king Hilran introduced a dwarf accompanying them, “general Paaldriid.”
   “He could talk to animals, and birds brought him news o’ the comin’ o’ Amarashans.”
   “But we did expect it…”
   “You’re Amulen Stone was stolen isn’t it your highness?” Drinn inquired.
   “Aye, but we capture the one responsible,” King Hilran replied, “He’s detained in a prison. We have the stone, but the intruder destroyed it.”
   “I have brought an Amulen Stone king Hilran.” Drinn said.
   “Nay, its useless now,” the king sadly said, “The intruder even crushed the Pomenant; it’s where the stone was place, en it’ll not work without it. The Pomenant has the same importance as the stone.”
   “You said it’s an intruder,” Halvene said, “Did you mean that it’s not a dwarf who did it?”
   “Aye, it’s as you have said elf.” answered the king. “The intruder was the most unlikely creature that’ll do it.”
   “It’s an aderyn.”
   “Geironul…” Drinn said.
   “He’s from Firolwen—he did steal the Amulen in Firolwen too. But I believe he’s been overpowered by Celandine. He was bitten by a werewolf.”
   “Can I see him your highness?”
   “Aye, come with me lad.” the king replied.

   Geironul was sitting inside the prison with a downcast spirit. His clothes soiled and his right arm wounded. His eyes dark, and his appearance showed that he was possessed of something dark.
   Drinn came near the prison bars, and though Geironul saw him he didn’t mind Drinn.
   “Can I talk to you Geironul?” Drinn calmly said, but the miserable aderyn didn’t even dare to look at him.
   “Can I go inside the prison cell king Hilran?”
   “Nay!” exclaimed the dwarven king. “He’s dangerous lad, he did killed eighteen of me soldiers.”
   Drinn again look at Geironul and said “I know you are good Geironul.”
   “I’m a traitor. It’s not Vibac who killed Master Cuauhtémoc and slaughter the people of Firolwen. It is I.” said Geironul. Drinn felt the aderyn’s guilt that he even acknowledged himself as the one to blame for the tragic battle in Firolwen.
   “And now I did the same here in Duin Hall.”
   “I’ll get you out of here Geironul.” Drinn said. “Not just this prison but the prison of you heart. I promise you.”
   “You don’t have to, the Amarashans will slaughter us a day from now.” said Geironul.
   “Not this time.” Drinn said. “Your heart is good Geironul.”

   A green lamp was what Reginleif quickly noticed when he opened his eyes. He was lying on a bed for he’s been asleep for a few days. He stood up slowly and his back ached. He noticed a cloth tied around his body and then he looked all over the place and recognized it. “I’m sure, I’m in Vennashan.” he whispered.
   “You’re finally awake.” said a female voice who just entered the room and it was Eanna.
   “How long have I been sleeping?” he asked.
   “Three days, and I guess you’re hungry.” she replied and sat beside the bed.
   “I guess I was badly injured.” answered Reginleif.
   “Yes you are, for your stupid actions.” she said with a small laugh.
   Reginleif was speechless for he knew that the aderyn lady had known his secret and he was ashamed of what he did.
   “Want to know what my answer is?” she said but Reginleif answered not, he was melting in shame and wished he could undo what happened in Lone-needle.
   “I feel the same Reg.” she continued.
   “You do!?!” exclaimed Reginleif as he quickly bend in pain for his wound ached.
   “Careful Reg.” she said.
   “You do?” he asked again in a pleasant tone.
   “Yes.” she answered smiling looking at Reginleif’s eyes.
   Reginleif was thunderstruck and knew not what to say. His heart was pounding and thought that it’s going to explode within him. He’s trying to find words to say but the more he think of a nice word the more his heart beat faster. And so he ended up by saying “I finally did it after a hundred years.” and they both laughed.
   “Where are Brinsop and Sereelien?” he continued.
   “They’re with the villagers.” she replied.
   “Mrs. Kettlery visits you every hour. She so worried about you. I assumed she will be in here in a few minutes.”
   “We’re about to leave, the elves will accompany us Brinsop, Sereelien and I. The Amarashans might attack us again so it is better that we travel many. We already did tell Ecklaer of what had happened, and about Drinn.” Eanna said. “You will stay here until you get well, Mrs. Kettlery will take care of you.”
   “But I’m already.” he said.
   “Your wound ached just awhile ago.” she replied. “And you couldn’t stand.”
   “We will see each other again in time Reg.” she held Reginleif’s hand. “Thank Quinlan you woke up before we leave.”
   “You take care, Eanna.” he said and Eanna answered him back with a smile, and then she stood up, waved her hand goodbye before she went out of the room.

   The suns were setting in the Thuddin-Imal Mountains as the dwarves made further defense in Duin Hall for the Amarashans were coming close. Drinn, Halvene, and Eliour were with king Hilran and General Paaldriid; they were on a high place in the Hall of Duin looking at the coming army of Amarash.
   “It is worse than what me expectation.” said General Paaldriid. “We’re not ready for the dragons. They brought dragons with ‘em. I do hope that the walls would stay strong.”
   “It is still a good thing that they did not bring all the dragons with them.” said Eliour.
   “What do ye mean?” asked General Paaldriid.
   “We saw all the dragons as we travel on the way here.” Eliour replied.
   “My guess is that Vibac is preparing those dragons for a larger battle.” added Halvene.
   “Aye, his toughest rival, his own brother Zuriel.” the dwarven general said and then he carried his battle-hammer and set himself ready.

   Night came and an orc horn echoed in the air as the thump of the marching army of Amarash grew stronger. Drinn and Eliour were with the dwarven soldiers in the first chamber ready to fight if an enemy managed to get in, Halvene was in the upper chambers kneeling at the low arrow loops of dwarves, General Paaldriid was with the dwarven weaponries of catapults and huge arrows, and King Hilran was in the most inner chamber with the elite dwarven soldiers.
   An orc horn was then blown loudly and the Amarashans rushed towards Duin Hall. The ground was fairly shaken and Drinn started to recite a poem loudly.

“On Whom You Trust”

Another battle is about to come
To steal liberty, to steal freedom
To kill the inhabitants inside this peaceful hall
To destroy everything good, they will leave nothing at all

To steal, to kill, and to destroy, is what they came here for
Will we let them pass right through this door?
Surely for them we should show no mercy
They are but wicked with no sign of leniency

Do not fear my comrade dwarves
We trust on Quinlan, he holds our lives
If we may die, we will die fighting
Oh for freedom, to die we’re willing

Some trust in weapons
And some trust in dragons
But our trust is in Quinlan
By faith we already won!

   Drinn shouted the last part of the poem and the encouraged dwarves answered with deafening shouts.