"You know you're on house arrest, don't you?"
"Yes, Ma.. But I can't let that stop me!"
"I know you can't" the mother tugged on her son's cheeks "I'm so proud of you"
Her brother, Glein stood away from the two for a second.
"Sister, I can't believe I'm seeing you, I just wish it wasn't in these conditions" he said finally, grimacing "I wish you were meeting me as a King, you a princess and young Torli as the heir prince."
"Brother, I do not care for such trivial things anymore" the Dwarf woman retorted, twirling her beard in her finger "just, please, take care of my son."
"You have my word" Glein crossed his sword over his chest. "Give your mother a hug goodbye, nephew. We must go"
"Yes, uncle, " Torli turned to his mother and embraced her tightly "I promise I will return to you".
He grabbed his bow, arrows and sword, turned and followed Glein out of the door. His mother wept for a while. But regained control.
The men mounted their horses. Glein lifted Torli onto the back of his horse, and promised to source the boy a steed of his own. Thundad soon proclaimed that they were to go North. And then west through the Misty Mountains. Everyone agreed. The elf knew where he was going.
Torli had been thinking about the group's plans for a while. He was quiet. But he just didn't get it.
"Uncle," he whispered, "how are we, a pack of five people, going to stop a group of Orcs."
"We just need one, my boy. Take one to the elven Noblemen. Promise him the Earth if he gives us information. Then he'll tell us the plans. Then the nobles will listen to us. Hopefully they'll band together again. Fight the orcs. Save everybody."
"What if this doesn't work?"
"It has too" Freddard growled, his short fuse was getting worn thin by the kids questions. Torli stopped asking and looked down at the horses back between him and his uncle.
"Would you chaps like to find somewhere to bed down for the night" Percival piped up to clear the air.
"Yes, my little friend, yes" Glein agreed with the familiar air of cheer in his voice.
"There is a barn not far away. Owned by no man or beast. We can stay there" Freddard said, sounding almost fed up and he took his steed to the front of the pack.
Soon enough, the troupe found themselves looking at a square stone structure. Wide open at the front, but three red painted walls surrounding it. Although it looked damp and musty, Fresh straw lay the grounds.
"Someone's bedded here recently" Thundad said, dismounting his horse and picking up some of the straw to inspect it "this is still fresh"
"Calm down, elf. It was me. I slept here on my way to meet the dwarf. That's how I knew of its existence. It's safe" Freddard began to get hostile towards the elf, he dismounted his horse and puffed himself up.
"How can I trust you" Thundad began fumbling with his arrow as a threat.
"You what?" Freddard now started to walk more quickly towards the elf, puffed up and ready for a fight.
"Gentlemen Gentlemen" Percival said, carrying blankets inside the barn "now is not the time for petty arguments. We need to work together."
The arguing pair agreed and took their blankets from their horses and lay them down inside. Glein gave Torli a blanket and lay his blanket down too.
Torli lay his head down on the pillow, and within an instant he was asleep.
"What do you think of the kid" Thundad said, looking intently at the sleeping dwarf boy.
"I thought he was dead" Glein said "I'm a bit shocked. But he seems strong, and he has his mother's nature"
"He asks too many questions" Freddard piped up. "It's almost as if he wants information from us. I'm suspicious "
"Oh come come now." Percival lit his pipe as he spoke "he's just a kid. And a would-be heir to the throne. Master Glein is his Uncle. He'd have no reason to deceive us"
Freddard was unconvinced
"I'll keep a close eye on him" he said in a low deep growl. "I don't trust him."