Rolling green hills greeted my eyes the next morning. I had walked as far as I dared by the time night had fallen the day before. I had already passed the border between my old home and this new land that according to the map Foster had given me was called the Shire.

As per the rules I had been given I could not make a home here. I wanted to though. It was close to my old home and the land was still somewhat familiar.

I continued on my way through this land. As I entered the hills I noticed something I found to be odd. There were doors and windows built into the hills. Coming from fae lands I had expected the people to the east to be more civilized than us. We lived in trees and cubbies in the earth that we could find. Nothing too special. But here in the Shire, they lived in hills made to look like homes.

I kept to myself as I passed by the homes and people traveling on the roads with me. I tried to avoid them at all costs. I didn't want the Elder Council to think I had tried to stay in the Shire.

When I had reached the highest point in the Shire I noticed a tall man walking away from the home I was about to pass. He seemed frustrated with something. He had a long beard and was wearing a grey robe with a matching pointed hat. He also carried a walking stick almost as tall as he was. As I passed the home heading in the same direction, I noticed a faint blue glow out of the corner of my eye. It was a magic rune, much like the ones I was taught as a young fae. My curiosity had been piqued. Instead of continuing on my journey right away, I would wait and see what was going to happen.

I waited until no one was coming to climb on top of the house-hill and hide in the grasses. I figured it to be the best spot to see what was coming to whomever lived inside.


Just after dusk had finally set in I woke from my nap. I had eaten a small meal earlier and felt that just in case I needed to leave in a hurry, rest would be a good thing considering I hadn't slept well the night before. Almost as soon as I had finished putting my meager belongings back into my carry-sack, I heard a knock on the door below me. I peered over the edge. I t was a short stocky bald man. The door opened and after a few words the man entered the house. I had the feeling he wasn't welcome.

As time passed more and more of these short stocky figures showed up at the house. Eventually there were twelve of them there in all. Then when I was least expecting it, the tall grey robed figure from before showed up and entered the home as well. Instead of being smart and staying up on top of the hill, I climbed down to try and find a place to peer in. I wanted to see what was going on inside considering the hill I had been on was shaking slightly due to all the noise.

I soon found a small window I could peer into. What I saw inside surprised me. The house was overrun by dwarves. I had always been told that they never left their mountains. But here they were, twelve in fact, in the Shire. It was then I noticed too that the tall man was actually a wizard and that that had been how he knew the runes. The dwarves and wizard were laughing about something while the inhabitant of the home was running about trying to catch plates and the like. When he stopped to catch his breath he finally noticed that all the dishes were still in one piece and the dwarves and wizard were laughing at him. I too giggled. It was a sight to see.

I then felt a sharp point in the small of my back.