Chapter 11: The Beauty of Frowning
Driving from England to Ireland is a very taxing trip alone, but if one subtracts cars with horse drawn carriages and paved highways with bumpy pathways while only traveling during the nighttime, let it be assumed the migration to Ireland was long and tiring. The caravan would stop once the sun poked its head above the horizon greeting the world with hues of blazing reds, yellows, pinks, and golds. The color would pour onto the carriages like thick paint, driving the goblins into submission. This would have been an opportune time to flee. To escape like a prisoner and desperately try to gain distance from one's captors'. Yet Mabrey contemplated no such thing. She was too busy assisting helping Beth.
About two days and nights into the journey, Beth's water broke. For the next day and a half she was in labor. Marak was there to help magically ease the pain Beth felt while Mabrey held the woman's sweaty hand. Sorei doted over the new mother as the baby emerged wailing.
"It is a boy." The doctor Marak had called over announced. Sorei had the expression new fathers usually did, filled with exhilaration and fear. Beth looked like someone had beaten her with a stick. She numbly held out her arms, her entire frame weary yet accepting. Her son was placed into her embrace and she cuddled the boy to her. It was only then that she took a proper gander at the infant. Tears spilled from her eyes like a tsunami.
"Y-you said I-I would c-c-cry…and I t-t-told myself I w-wouldn't!" She buried her face in her husband's arms. Mabrey took the opportunity to study the baby boy like the curious cat she was accused of being. He already had teeth. Sharp, pointed, serrated teeth. His nose was nonexistent replaced with two slits that puffed out whenever he breathed. He had no ears, and like his nose was replaced with holes. Raised, scaled bumps surrounded his deep green slit eyes. The only tuft of hair that lay atop his head was ebony black. His stomach was silver scaled, just like his father's.
He looks like a humanoid baby alligator. No wonder why Beth is in hysterics. Mabrey wondered if she would cry if she saw her baby goblin. It took a couple of seconds to realize what she just imaged. She left the carriage with the new parents and sat outside to chastise herself. She thought of leaving that instant and stumbling into some nearby village, but after reading some of the chronicles Marak had lent her, she knew some of the tricks that could easily bring her back.
My best plan is to wait until we get to the elf camp and while everyone is busy greeting each other I can run off and be rid of this awful nightmare. Yet in her heart, she knew that she was having fun for the first time in some time. She had friends she could joke and talk with, and the thrill of adventure traveling the countryside of England brought to her a joy like no other. Learning more and more about the culture she was submerged in was the crown jewel of that joy. She even knew some goblin words already. For example, simple phrases like eat, sleep, walk, run, light, night, and speak were coming second nature to her. Even Marak was amazed on how fast she caught on.
"Miss…what is your name?" Mabrey jumped and pinpointed where she heard this squeaky new voice. The child of the yellow feathered bird woman stood a couple of yards away. He was in front of a small group of four goblin children.
"My name is Mabrey." She took a while to absorb the differences between the group and found that she was not shocked about seeing them like she would have a while ago. The speaker had a yellow beak and feathers for hair. He replied that his name was Lendil. A long armed and legged girl, after ascertaining that Mabrey would not come over and harm them in any way, stepped next to Lendil and said her name was Chena. There were two male twins, one brown spot on the left dog eye and the other with a spot on the right. They sported wagging tails as they introduced themselves as Zaine and Blaine. The last child was named Jessa. She blinked her compound iridescent eyes as she hid behind Blaine.
"Would you like to talk with me?" Mabrey offered. The children all nod their heads and sat in a circle with the girl. They conversed of normal things children and adults would. What is your favorite color?What is your favorite animal? What do you want to be when you grow up? What do you learn in school? Mabrey found that these simple questions made her feel better, almost like she was refreshed. Speaking with the kids calmed her frantic thoughts and soon she was actually having fun.
Marak found Mabrey lying on a hill next to the carriages. He absorbed the sight. It was beautiful. The woman he dearly hoped would marry him was bonding with the children of his people. He was so worried that she would turn a blind eye and hide from the creatures he grew up with, and yet there she was. Little Jessa, the shiest goblin one could find, sat in Mabrey's lap and played with the human's hair. Thank you to whoever helped me find this treasure.
The journey continued. Nights drug on while the days slipped away like darting fish. Mabrey spent her time with Dani's family, the children, Beth and her baby boy Tellun, and Shamus. She hardly saw Marak due to the constant needs of others during their travels. One time, he overworked himself and was caught during the daylight hours. He returned to the carriage Mabrey slept in and sat next to her. She awoke and sat up immediately.
"Marak! What in the world were you doing to keep you out this late?" Marak drew the curtains closed and wiped away the blood pooling on his face. Mabrey fumbled for a handkerchief Lendil had given her a couple of days before. She leaned forward to help the Goblin King. He did not watch her. The lack of total devotion he usually forced upon her concerned Mabrey. She finished cleaning and stared intently on the goblin that had her running not too long ago.
"Three of my older subjects' carriage horse twisted his ankle. As I mended the creature I heard what I did not need confirmed. They…hate me for moving us from our ancestral home." He sighed roughly, never meeting Mabrey's bright yellow green eyes. This insecure Marak frightened the girl. What had happened to the man who teased her and drove her insane?
"Seriously, with the way you are now, I am sure that running away would be as easy as breathing," Mabrey said. She waited, trying to judge if he was going to take the bait or not. She was not sure if he did, but she continued anyway. "A goblin who sulks all the time will have weak magic. If I left you right now and you tried your leashing spell, I could break it with one twist of my wrist. If you used your magic mirror, it would shatter from such an unconfident man! Even Lendil's magic could surpass yours right now. I am sure that if I-" Marak placed one clawed finger on Mabrey's still open lips. She gasped. That was unexpected.
"Little cat, I am pleased. You are battering my character to toughen me up. Really, I do not deserve your praise. I promise I will never waver again, lest I want young Lendil to snatch you away from me." The tip of his claw touched her skin and left a small dent when he took his finger away. "I will be strong for my brave cat." He swayed over and gently pressed his lips on her forehead. Before she knew it Marak was up and getting ready to leave.
"H-Hey! Your eyes will start to bleed again!" Marak faced her, his eyes sparkling with his lips twisted into a handsome smirk.
"I am going to teach old goblins new tricks, and if this shows them how serious I am, then let this method be the way to drive the point." He bowed to her and left. She placed a hand on the area Marak's warm lips had seared her skin. She did not know she was blushing.
Shamus watched as Marak bounded out in the direction of the Kingdom's three biggest critics. Shamus smiled lightly. That girl was doing wonders for the King. Those three were always hounding and bugging the poor man until he doubted which way was left or right. Shamus usually assisted during these situations, but the girl appeared to have a stronger impact. If she could help Marak overcome the three old goblins, there would have no problem handling the elf King. Shamus let the thought sink in and shook his head. He hoped Marak would be strong enough.
Eventually, the time of traveling by foot ended and sailing on the water began. The goblins had bought two large ferries, using this as a means of transportation. Marak explained that these purchases were the reason why he ventured over to the United States. That and to retrieve his goblin subjects. He also sold the land on Hollow Hill in order to buy the new location's title on the south eastern tip of Ireland.
"You really thought this out." Mabrey and Marak were lending their weight to the rail of the ferry. Black water rushed by and sometimes splashed them in the face. The horses and their burdens were entrusted to one ferry with some goblins while the other housed the rest of the goblin population.
"Kings do not lie around and let others think things through," Marak laughed. This conversation occurred during the second and last night on the water. Moonlight lit the water ahead of them and bounced off the land far ahead. There were large mountains that appeared to be icebergs from the deep straight ahead in the not too far off distance. Mabrey was amazed that only further in those rocky monsters would be where the goblin race would settle with the elves. She thought about her amazement. Really, mountains were what astonished her now, not the claws and fangs of the people she spent her time with on a timely basis. Mabrey watched Marak watch the water. The lady moon also graced his features. In his own way, Mabrey grudgingly thought, he is very handsome.
"Land ho!" Shamus yelled from the captain's wheel. Mabrey woke from her daydreaming and made a double take. Could Shamus drive every piece of mechanic around?
"Come on, little cat. We shouldn't get your feet wet." Marak took the girl's small hand, and she let him. They helped others onto the rough path before them until they reached their final destination on the rocky shore. An elf stood there, his face emotionless and weary. Long sleek ebony hair framed his features, a long nose, mouth, slanted black eyes, and strong jaw. He was bound to steal the heart of every girl of the world. His low lilting baritone voice was beneficial to this claim.
"Welcome, Goblin King. We have been waiting for your arrival."