One ordinary morning in Gummi Glen, the gummies were gathered for breakfast. They were hungry, so they ate the porridge Grammi had made, although it was only Tummi who showed any specific appreciation about the meal.

"Now eat up! There's more where this comes from." Grammi said and poured some more porridge into the bowls of Gruffi and Tummi. Tummi licked his lips and started eating with pleasure, but Gruffi huffed.

"Like I didn't have enough to worry about this day."

"Now what's that, Gruffamondo?" Gusto said as he were to swallow his water.

"There's the quick-cars, there's the basement pillars, there's the water wheel in the underground river..." Gruffi were summing up everything that needed to be checked and fixed on his fingers while Gusto really wasn't paying attention. Gruffi noticed and gave him small eyes. "...so I was' hoping' to get some help with this to get it finished by the end of the week."

"Sorry Gruffi, I can't help you." Tummi said. "I'm gonna work with my garden today."

"Me neither. I've got a grandiose project to finish!" Gusto gesticulated with his arms do demonstrate that it was a massive picture.

"And I'm afraid I have to spumerate some nells... eh- numerate some spells." Zummi stumbled and shook his head. " I'll be busy all day."

Cubbi hurried to finished his bowl and jumped down from his chair. "And where do you think you're going?" Gruffi noticed him as he was about to leave.

Cubbi turned back. "I'm off to the castle to see Cavin." he explained. He saw the blaming look on Gruffi's face and his smile faded. "But it's ages since I've been there."

"And what if you didn't have time this morning?" Gruffi asked as he stood up from his chair with a raised eyebrow with his hands on his hips.

"Now let him go, Gruffi. The young ones needs to have some fun." It was typical for Grammi to give in to the children, especially when it came to Cavin. Grammi had a special soft spot for the human boy. "Greet him from me, darling. It's so long since we've seen him. Why don't you invite him over? I'm sure he'll want that!"

Cubbi cheerfully gave a bounce of happiness. "Thanks Grammi. I will!"

And by that the little pink gummi bear were off. Gruffi sat down again, moaning while reasting his chin in his hand. "Cubs!

#/#/#/#/#/#/#/#/#/#/#

Cubbi were a bit too quick when he climbed out of the secret round swing-door in the wall, because he had to hurry back inside when someone suddenly appeared from his left. After he made sure he were alone, he climbed out again. So he decided to run towards the stables, where he knew he would find Cavin if not at once, then some part of the day. But also this time he were to quick, because he almost ran into Sir Tuxford who were coming right ahead. He hurried to find cover behind a case that stood there. He would be visible from one side, but they were walking in the other direction, so there were little chance he would be seen, he thought.

"And then there is the stables. Don't forget to feed the horses and provide them fresh water." The knight said.

"Yes, Sir." Cavin answered from where he was walking behind him.

As he walked past him where he stood, Cubbi saw that Cavin followed him in his heels, with a pair of heavy saddle bags in his arms. Cubbi waited till Sir Tuxford had passed before he gave Cavin a hint to where he was.

"Pst! Cavin!"

Cavin stopped a short moment looking around.

"Over here!"

Cavin looked down to his left, and then chocked a gasp. "Cubbi! You could be spotted! What are you doing here?" he whispered.

"To see you, of course." Cubbi replied.

"Shhh! Not so loud!" Cavin hissed between his teeth.

"Now, what's taking so long, lad?" Sir Tuxford said impatient.

"Hurry and hide! I'll be in the stables." he whispered to Cubbi before turning back to Sir Tuxford.

Cubbi looked after him, and then went to another corner. He thought Cavin had been a bit short to him, and he hadn't been so happy to see him as Cubbi had hoped. "Maybe if I invite him over to the Glen like Grammi said, he'll be happy?" he said to himself and then he hurried to the stables.

#/#/#/#/#/#/#/#/#/#

"Now what took you so long, lad?" Sir Tuxford said with a raised eyebrow.

"Sorry, Sir Tuxford. I... got a pebble in my boot."

The knight shook his head, and Cavin moved ahead towards the horses that stood ready for Sir Tuxford and King Gregor. Near them stood six guards waiting with their horses prepared, for a long days' march.

"Where exactly are you going, Your Majesty?" Cavin asked as he fasten the saddle bag behind the Kings horse.

"To the other side of the forest to see to the village nearby." the elder King replied. "We have heard that Igthorn had a visit there recently. Thank you, lad." King Gregor said as Cavin held the rains of his horse before the King climbed into the saddle. "Better to figure out if there is anything we need to fear from him."

Then Cavin moved on to Sir Tuxford's horse and fastened the saddle bag behind and helped the knight up on its back. "All set then?" the Knight asked.

"Yes, Sir." Cavin asnwered.

"I'm sorry you cannot come along lad, but you know there's plenty to do at the moment."

"I understand, Sir Tuxford. But I'll be alright." Cavin said while he tried to hide how dissapointed he was.

"Good, lad. And see to Unwin, if he's alright. I'm sure he'll be grateful for that."

"Yeah, right." Cavin muttered while looking away.

"Let us be off then!" The King said. "The sooner we learn of Igthorn's plans, the safer we all might be."

Cavin watched His Majesty and Sir Tuxford leave through the gate along with their escort. Then he sighed and returned to the stable with lowered head.

The horses neighed as he arrived. They were hungry, and an impatient stallion started biting the poles in his box.

"Yes yes, you'll get your food. Stop nagging." Cavin said and patted it's mule. "But duties to His Majesty comes first, you know."

He went to the hay piles outside to grab a pile when suddenly Cubbi jumped out. "Hi, Cavin!"

Cavin got startled and dropped the hay on the ground. "Oh, Cubbi! You've got to be more careful!"

"Sorry." he said and picked hay out of his hat. "Where were the King off to?"

"To find out of Igthorn is up to something." he said and picked up the hay again before he walked towards the impatient stallion. "He's been spotted several places recently, and the King is worried he might have... plans." he said as he threw the pile over to the horse, who started eating greedy. "I was actually supposed to come along." he said disappointed. "But I wasn't allowed."

"Well, how great you didn't. Then we can go have fun instead!" Cubbi jumped up on the frame on the horses box.

"No, I can't." Cavin explained and went to find another pile of hay.

Cubbi followed him. "But why not? They'll be gone for a while, won't they?"

"Yeah, but that's not the problem." Cavin picked up a new pile hay. " You see, Unwin..."he interrupted himself to blow a straw away his face "...hurt his foot. He fell off his horse and broke it during a battle practice. So now I have to do all his chores as well as my own. And not only that!" He threw the pile into another box and let his fingers through his hair in frustration while me made a face. "He can't move around on his own, so I have to bring him stuff, like food and water and all. He's nagging my head off! I think he does it on purpose just to bother me."

"Aw, what a drag." Cubbi said. "Is that why we haven't seen you for a while?"

"Aha." Cavin said leaning to the box for a moment with a sigh. "I haven't had a break in several days!"

"Well, I was hoping you had some time so we could go and have some fun, but if you're stuck with duties..." Cubbi looked up at him. "How about tomorrow?"

"I don't know, Cubbi." Cavin scratched the horse's mane while it started eating. "Just right now it's a bit much going on. I can't just run off like that now." But when he looked down, he saw how disappointed Cubbi became. "But... if I manage to finish off today's chores, I might get some time off, either tomorrow, or another day. I don't know, I can't promise anything."

Cubbi lightened up. "I'm sure you will. Sir Tuxford can't keep you occupied all the time."

"Well strictly spoken, he can." Cavin said thoughtful. "But lately, I've been working none-stop. I have earned a day off sooner or later."

"You sure deserve that." Cubbi said. "I'm sure he'll agree. I'll come back tomorrow then."

"Alright." Cavin said as he walked him out of the stables and prepared another pile of hay."Greet the others from me, will you? I've really missed you guys."

"I will. Promise!" Cubbi said and waved when he were off.

"But be careful now. Don't get spotted." Cavin called after him.

"I AM careful." Cubbi said as he disappeared behind the piles.

Cavin sighed and led his fingers through his hair again. "I wish you would be." he mumbled to himself, but got interrupted by another horse neighing from inside the stables and turned back. "Yeah yeah, I'm coming, I'm coming!"