Chapter The Dwarven Kingdom

'For everything, there is a first time.' Spock

Dudley stomped his feet on a ratty doormat and puffs of dirt rose up before slowly settling back down on his boots. Reaching to the top of the doorframe, he ran his hand along the surface and dislodged a key. Grunting he bent over to retrieve it and placed it into the lock. It clicked and he pushed the door open.

Bel looked at Gremmels and shrugged her shoulders. Hefting the two bags a little higher, she ducked her head and followed Dudley inside.

'Ya kin drop your bags here.' Dudley waved to a low table. 'Ya might also want to take yer boots off. Me aunt likes trying ta keep our quarters clean.'

Bel looked around noting numerous cobwebs and a set of footprints in the dust on the floor heading to a larger room. Dudley followed those footprints into the room with Bel and Gremmels trailing behind.

'Well this is it! Looks like ma aunt is still out.'

Bel started to point out the footprints when a large buxom dwarf appeared on a stairway from below.

'Dudley?'

Dudley's eyes flew open and he swirled to face the dwarf. "Auntie Carlaa? I didna expect ya here."

'Obviously. Did ya remove yer boots?'

Before he can answer, the stout dwarf with long braided pigtails bouncing off her shoulders as she stomped up the stairs, added, 'en where have ya been? I checked with yer master mining trainer and she said ya hadn't been ta class fer weeks. I spent all of yer sainted parents gold ta get ya trained fer a good paying career. Do you want to live like me? Being called out fer this or that military action? Do ya? That's no life fer ma nephew! Ya need a skill!' she stopped in front of Dudley and stood glowering, hands on hips.

Dudley sputtered something incomprehensible before waving a hand back in Bel's direction. Carlaa followed his motion and stared in silence at Bel and Gremmels.

'Ishnu-alah', Bel murmured as she stooped to pull off her boots.

Dudley continued to swing his arms between Bel and Carlaa.

'Auntie Carlaa this is Beleta Windsong and her warded saber, Gremmels.' He looked at Bel. 'This is me auntie.'

'By the light, Dudley!' Carlaa growled.

'Ishnu-ala Beleta', and she nodded to Gremmels. 'Welcome to our home. Has Dudley offered ya something ta drink? Please sit.' She waved to a low chair. 'Rest yer feet. I be needing to speak with me nephew a moment while I fetch ya some refreshments.' Carlaa reached to take Dudley's arm and steered him back towards the stairs. Calling over her shoulder she asked, 'Stout?'

Bel nodded as she stood holding her boots in one hand. Gremmels stretched and gave out a big yawn. Squeezing by him she placed her boots near the door and pulled off her bow and quiver to set them against the wall.

As Beleta made her way past Gremmels to the chair, she could hear a slightly muffled conversation between the dwarves. Bel tried not to listen but sainted parents and good job seem to be frequent phrases.

Bel sat ill at ease, pulling her dagger in and out of the sheath tracing the carvings on handle with her fingernails when everything became quiet. Soon she heard two sets of footsteps coming upstairs and the clinking of mugs. Carlaa appeared a big smile lighting her face and holding a tray of several mugs. Dudley followed with a huge jug. He was gloomily looking down at his feet. Carlaa held out the tray to Bel. The mugs were all different sizes and only two had handles. Bel reached for the smallest mug. 'No no deary. Take the large one. Dudley says ya two walked over from Menethil harbor. Ya must be mighty dry.' Bel took the largest mug. 'Fill 'er up Dudley.'

Bel politely held out her mug to Dudley as Carlaa set the tray on a low table and took the next largest mug. She carefully stepped over Gremmels' twitching tail to sit.

Slowly Dudley filled Bel's mug taking care not to produce a large frothy head on the Stout. He then moved to his aunt and poured her a full mug before filling the last mug on the tray for himself. He set the jug on the tray, lifted his mug, and sat on the stool near the wall. They all took several swallows in silence.

Finally, Carlaa set her mug down and belched. 'Much better'. Then looking brightly at Bel she asked 'So what brings ya to the Eastern Kingdoms Beleta?'

Bel carefully lowered her mug noting that both aunt and nephew had drained their mugs and she had only downed a few small sips. 'I'm traveling to Stormwind. To visit family.' She added feeling somewhat evasive.

Carlaa just nodded. 'Lots of humans in Stormwind.' She reached over to the jug to fill her mug again.

Bel simply took another small sip from her mug and fought to keep her face neutral. Did this dwarf know she was a halfling? No. Bel decided. She was probably making an observation about the largest city of the humans.

Dudley looked from his aunt to Bel and back again. Clearing his throat he started. 'Aunt Carlaa, Bel's a fine hunter and leather worker. Look at these boots.' He pointed to his feet still encased in his leather boots. Carlaa looked at Dudley's boots and then scowled back at him. He swallowed hard. 'Whoops, sorry auntie.' and bent over to remove them.

'No, no, Dudley. Keep 'em on. I think we should go out fer a meal.' Looking back at Bel, 'Have ya eaten yet?'

Dudley jumped up. 'Excellent idea. I am starving, aren't ya Bel?' He asked hopefully.

'Yes I could eat. Should I stable my saber?'

Carlaa grunted instead 'Yer saber kin join us. We're not like humans in Stormwind. Warded companions are welcome everywhere.'

'Great!' Dudley reached over to collect Bel's mug, 'Let's go to the Stonefire Tavern'

'Would ya like to freshen up?' Carlaa asked Bel. 'We have hot water in our place. The gnomes are such clever folk.' She smiled.

Bel nodded. 'Down here' Carlaa pointed the way.

When Bel finished washing, she returned to find both Dudley and Carlaa waiting. Quickly she slipped on her boots and started to reach for her bow.

'Yer won't need that dear. Ironforge has never fallen.'

Bel pondered the statement as the four of them trooped back out into the broad stone passageways. She glanced over at Carlaa several times but finally decided she had not cast an insult on the Kaldorei race for having lost their homeland.

Bel noticed they continued to attract attention all the way to the tavern. Carlaa smiled at her when she noticed Bel watching the dwarves looking at them.

'We don't get too many daughters of the Moon passing through Ironforge. They be talking about yer long legs for a long while. Maybe those ears too.' She added.

A short round-faced, red-cheeked, matron met them at the door. She called out in a singsong pleasant voice. 'Carlaa, I see ya brought us a guest. Come, our best table. Park yer saber by the wall here daughter, we'll git some fresh rabbit fer him.'

Bel signaled Gremmels to the wall and took a seat at the chair pulled out for her by wide-eyed young male dwarf. The round face matron shooed him away, 'Git'em some mugs Tommy.'

Bel watched him scurry away to the bar and was surprised to spot a dark-haired male human standing talking to the bartender. He took a bag from the bartender and Bel's sensitive ears could hear the clicking of coin as the human slipped it under his open vest.

Her attention was pulled away when Carlaa spoke up. 'Their haggis is the finest in Ironforge. Isn't that right Gwenna!'

'It sure is Carlaa. My pop,' and she waved to the bartender. 'is a master chef. He trained with the great chef Riknussun!'

Bel nodded to the round-faced Gwenna who stood waiting to take their order. 'Good choice, deary. Tommy will bring some rum.' The matron turned to the kitchen and Bel could hear her shout out 'three haggis, neeps and tatties, one rabbit.'

From the corner of Bel's eye, she caught an exchange of nods between Carlaa and the dark-haired human. When she turned to ask about the human, Carlaa raised her mug into the air.

'Ta good foods, good drinks, and good companions!'

Bel quickly grabbed her mug. As she took a long swallow, she let her eyes wander the room for the human. She was frustrated at not getting a better look. She thought he looked much like the Captain Vandread traveling with Yenna.

'Well Dudley, lit's hear the story of yer adventure, shall we?'

Dudley grinned at his aunt. Winking at Bel, he started. 'Keep me honest now, hunter.'

The dinner continued and more food was brought out, dish after dish of unfamiliar meats. Carlaa, Gwenna, and even Dudley would describe the animals and how they should be hunted and properly prepared. Finally the last of the rum was drained from the thick tall mugs and both Carlaa and Dudley pushed back from the table with a loud sigh. Bel smiled to herself at how familial the action was. Gremmels was asleep along the wall, bits of rabbit fur stuck to one long fang.

Bel cleared her throat. 'I should be going.'

Carlaa's eyes flew open. 'By the Light, absolutely not! Ya will stay the night. And right now we should all go 'en enjoy a long massage.'

Dudley sat up abruptly. 'Such a treat auntie! The last campaign must've been profitable?'

Carlaa gave him a grunt but Bel saw a smile crinkle around her eyes. Before Bel could politely decline, anxious as she was to leave for Stormwind, Dudley cut in. 'Bel this is a real treat. The gnomes are famous fer their massages.' His smile grew wider. 'They even do feet.'

Carlaa looked back over at Bel. 'Ya won't easily find a place ter stay in Stormwind at this time of night. And the humans are all a mite uneasy about large predators in their city, even warded companions. Ya will stay with us tonight. We will send ya to Stormwind fresh in the mornin'!'

Bel could hear the finality in Carlaa's voice and knew she shouldn't refuse. 'Thank you, Ishnu-dal-dieb.' She sighed.

'Good' Carlaa stood. 'Now let's fer that massage.'

At this Bel pulled out her money pouch but Carlaa waved it away. 'It's ma treat. Fer takin care of my Dudley.'

Dudley grinned broadly before setting off to Tinker town. He led the way chattering as he walked and pointing out the various buildings and halls.

"Massages are given over here.' Dudley called out.

Bel's eyes widened at the clustering of gnomes in the front of a cavern entry. She could hear the whispers in a sweet singsong language Bel didn't recognize. The gnomes were like small children, barely coming up to her mid-thigh. Bel found their heads disproportionally large compared to their bodies. Large round eyes blinked up at her and as she passed within she heard small gasps.

An elderly male with long thin mustaches and thick gray long hair pulled back into a pigtail pushed his way through the crowd and greeted Carlaa warmly.

'Carlaa and Dudley, very nice to see you. And you bring a friend. A Kaldorei, if I am not mistaken? One of the lovely daughters of Elune?'

Carlaa grunted back at him. 'Yep. Kin we git started? My last campaign left me a sore knot in this muscle.' She pointed to her calf.

He smiled widely. 'Of course, of course, and welcome Kaldorei. Would you mind having your saber wait here?' Beleta flicked a small hand signal to Gremmels and he stretched out in front of the doorway contented to sleep off his meal.

The gnome continued, 'Would you also permit me the honor of personally directing your massage? I would like to show my staff the finer points of the Kaldorei pressure points.'

Bel nodded. He clapped his hands sharply and several gnomes scurried back with towels and thin white tunics.

He smiled as he handed one to Bel. 'Its made for humans, so it might still be a little short on you.'

Carlaa marched into a dressing room and with a snap closed the curtains. Bel decided dwarves were more shy than the Kaldorei and elected to undress in private also. She and Carlaa stepped out into the large room with many low tables. Dudley was already lying on one. He was moaning with pleasure as two gnomes were extending and bending his feet.

The elderly gnome reappeared to lead Beleta to one of the larger tables as Carlaa flopped face down next to her on another table. Two rather burly male gnomes immediately jumped up to start walking on her broad back.

The elderly gnome was rubbing a sweet smelling oil into his hands. 'Please lie face down Kaldorei. I like to start with your ears.' Bel squinted at him but he simply smiled back. 'I'm a professional dear.'

Five more gnomes gathered around him as he approached her head. He started speaking to the group in gnomish but Bel turned to look at him sharply. 'Ah yes. Well in common then.' He rubbed his hands again. 'Kaldorei have very sensitive ears and in some situations it is an,' the gnome cleared his throat, 'well an erogenous zone.' He paused. 'Be careful to start here on the neck and run up the outer part of the pinna of the ear. They carry stress here at the base of the ear.' Bel closed her eyes with a sigh. She could feel tension melting away. This was a new and very pleasant experience.